ROUGHRIDERS SET TO HOST MONTREAL
REGINA — The field is tilted when comparing the CFL careers of quarterbacks Darian Durant and Anthony Calvillo.
Calvillo has a sizable edge in terms of longevity and championships won with the Montreal Alouettes. Calvillo, 40, is in his 20th CFL season and 16th with the Alouettes. Durant, 30, is in his eighth season with the Saskatchewan Roughriders and fifth as the starting quarterback.
Today’s game (2 p.m., TSN, CKRM) at Mosaic Stadium marks the ninth time the quarterbacks have gone head to head in a regularseason game.
Calvillo holds the advantage over Durant with a 6-2 record. Calvillo was also the quarterback of record in Montreal’s victories over the Roughriders in the 2009 and 2010 Grey Cup games.
Durant feels those championships are among the reasons Calvillo has the advantage in any comparisons between them.
“He’s a champion
and that’s first and foremost,” Durant said Friday in advance of today’s sold-out game. “He’s still playing at a high level at the age of (40). It gives me hope that if I can perfect my craft and work as hard as he does, I can have a lengthy career like that. That’s the goal of any quarterback is to play as long as you can and to play to be 40.”
Calvillo remembers watching Damon Allen play 23 seasons in the CFL before retiring in 2008. Calvillo recalled Friday being asked in his younger years if he thought he could play for as long as Allen.
“Honestly you don’t,” Calvillo said. “You’re really trying to enjoy the moment and take it year by year and try to help your team win. Now I’m in that position where people are saying, ‘He has been playing for that many years.’ It has truly been a blessing.”
Calvillo has changed over the years, especially his attitude toward playing against young quarterbacks like Durant.
“I always used to get upset when I would lose to young quarterbacks and I’ve never admitted to that before,” Calvillo said. “I remember when I would lose to Durant when he was young. I thought that I could not let these young quarterbacks beat me. Now he’s a veteran and he has been fun to watch.
“He’s having a spectacular year. The fact he continues to take care of the ball is a huge growth advantage for him. They have that solid defence and that great running game. Right now, he’s leading the way.”
Durant has helped guide the Riders to a 5-1 record this season, good for a share of first place in the West Division with the Calgary Stampeders. He has completed a league-high 15 touchdown passes. He has also completed 94 of 139 pass attempts and 1,299 yards without an interception.
Calvillo, who has completed 455 touchdown passes and thrown 255 interceptions over his career, has been impressed by Durant’s accuracy.
“I haven’t watched all of the games Darian has played, but I have looked at his numbers,” Calvillo said. “You just don’t see that. It’s part of his growth and his maturity and that’s me from the outside looking in. He has that team rolling.”
That’s not the case for the Alouettes, who have a 2-4 record after losing four of their last five games. The Alouettes fired head coach Dan Hawkins on Aug. 1 and general manager Jim Popp took over as head coach. The Alouettes were thumped 3813 by the Toronto Argonauts on Aug. 8 in Popp’s 2013 debut on the sidelines.
Montreal’s lack of offensive production has been among the reasons for its struggles. Calvillo has also been off his game, completing 111 of 188 pass attempts for 1,237 yards, six touchdowns and five interceptions. Calvillo’s struggles have been reflected in his demeanour during the TSN broadcasts of Montreal’s games.
“It’s definitely hard to have fun when you’re 2-and4,” said Calvillo, who turns 41 on Friday. “The one thing I continue to tell myself is I will never quit and I will continue to keep fighting to help this team win. I look back at my career (when I have struggled) and it was the same kind of questions that keep coming up: ‘Can he still play? Is he still as good?’ For me it’s part of the football cycle and part of football life.
“Now that I’m closer to the end of my football career, people are saying that I’m not playing as well and I’m not enjoying it. ‘He might consider retiring this year.’ If I was to end my season today, that might be the case, but we still have a long year to go. We’re just not used to being in this situation.”
Durant, whose 31st birthday is Monday, understands the situation the Alouettes are in. He also appreciates the opportunity to play against Calvillo. Durant’s focus remains on the Riders and not what is happening with the Alouettes.
“I think you look back later on when your career is done or towards the end and then you realize how great (Calvillo) was,” Durant said. “In the heat of the moment it’s all about getting the win.
“I can’t worry about his accolades or the different things he has accomplished. I just have to make sure our team is ready to go and that we come out on top.”