Montreal Alouettes' Brandon London (14) celebrates with teammates Duron Carter (89) and Dave Stala after scoring a touchdown against the Saskatchewan Roughriders during second half CFL football action in Montreal, Monday, October 13, 2014.Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press
Many pro athletes are essentially interchangeable commodities, or even disposable assets – but not ones like the extraordinary Anthony Calvillo.
The former Montreal Alouettes quarterbacking great was an indisputable gem of the Canadian Football League gridiron.
The CFL is a quarterback league, and while many will quibble with the idea that Calvillo was "simply the greatest," as Hall of Fame pivot and former teammate Tracy Ham called him on Monday, he is certainly in the conversation.
On a day when Canadians gave thanks, the fans at Percival Molson Memorial Stadium in downtown Montreal stood and roared in acknowledgement of pro football's career leading passer.
Calvillo, who retired in January, has joined a select club in having his name inscribed on the stadium's ring of honour with the likes of Sam Etcheverry and Junior Ah You, among others.
"Those names are part of history … I'm going to be part of that history as well. Thirty or 40 years from now when they're retiring another number, people are going to be wondering who I was and who are all these other old names because that's the way it goes," Calvillo said after the game. "I'm just glad to be part of this great team's history."
Occasionally, the line between sports and numerology gets smudged. Calvillo's jersey was retired on Oct. 13, the Als' first offensive play from scrimmage was a pass – for 13 yards (it was thrown near the 13-yard line, painted red for the occasion).
At half-time, the club held a ceremony for Calvillo that featured tributes from teammates past and present and a congratulatory video message from former National Football League great Brett Favre.
"It was special, just the whole setup, the Montreal Alouettes have always done things right," Calvillo said. "I was just so nervous to get off the field. As an athlete, I hate when stuff like this goes on, I just want people off the field so we could play. At the end, I was just trying to get off that stage, enjoy the moment and let these guys get back to work."
Note that Calvillo referred to himself as an athlete in the present tense, a small slip for a man who insists he was contentedly doing housework on the morning of his big day, and who is widely expected to join the Montreal coaching staff next season.
By the evidence on display Monday, he may be joining a team that is on the upswing.
In drubbing the Saskatchewan Roughriders – coincidentally the other team in the running to sign Calvillo when he left Hamilton to join the Als in 1998 – 40-9, Montreal posted its highest point total of the season.
"We had to go in there and get the win for [Calvillo]," said receiver Duron Carter, who caught a pair of touchdown passes, including a 61-yarder in the second quarter that tilted the game in the Als' favour.
Since Calvillo went down with a concussion in Regina in August of 2013, the Als have turned to five different men to replace him..
Current starter Jonathan Crompton, he of the majestic flow, is now 5-1 since taking over as full-time starter in August; he is anything but intimidated by replacing a historic great.
"Seeing what he did in his career, seventy-something thousand yards, I mean come on. I don't think anyone's going to come close to that, but the fun part is striving to get there," the North Carolinian said.
In 20 CFL seasons, Calvillo racked up 79,816 yards and 455 touchdowns – along with a 62.4-per-cent career completion rate.
Crompton finished Monday's game having completed a shade under half his passes – and frequently threw into tight coverage – although his three touchdown connections mean he has now tossed as many scores as he has interceptions in the CFL.
"Jonathan Crompton is winning," Calvillo said, "and as a quarterback I think there's too many high expectations … in his limited time, he has done a lot for himself and this football team by winning ball games. It's a great start for him."
The Riders have quarterback questions of their own.
Tino Sunseri, subbing for the injured Darian Durant, was 7 for 12 for 72 yards. He also fumbled after being drilled by Montreal linebacker Chip Cox and threw an interception.
His day started promisingly enough – the Riders (9-6) turned an Als' fumble into an early touchdown when he connected with running back Anthony Allen from 11 yards out.
It would end with him being lifted in favour of Seth Doege.
In the big picture, the Riders are still in good shape for the post-season, whereas Montreal (6-8) suddenly finds itself in a three-way tie atop the mediocre East division.
It's still early of course – Montreal GM Jim Popp, the man who brought in Calvillo, said "we're not even near to where we need to be to peak as an offence." But with all four remaining games against divisional opponents, the Als can at least dream of another fitting tribute to Calvillo: playing in a game he reached eight times.
That would be the Grey Cup final.