Has the time come for Calvillo to retire?

[West Coast Als Fan]

He's not getting any younger, and he's accomplished everything there is to accomplish in this game. Really, what does he have to play for at this point? As we saw this season, he is less mobile and gets hit more often than before. Now it's time for him to think about what his quality of life after football will be if he continues to play.

It is clear to me that the window of opportunity for the team as currently constructed has passed. There are some good components still here, but the Als are in need of a rebuild. Calvillo can obviously still play. He had a game for the ages today. But the ideal time for a player to hang up his cleats is a year too early, not a year too late. As good as AC is right now I don't see him doing anything but declining as time moves forward. If he decides to hang on another year it might set the inevitable rebuild back another year. That's another year of not really addressing their weaknesses.

A year from today we might be looking back wondering how good we used to be. The fall, when it comes, will be worse if management hangs on to guys who can't cut it anymore due to nostalgia. There's no room for such sentiment in pro football. The job of a coach or a GM is to always be looking for someone to replace the guy he's got right now. I still think AC is a great player, but I don't see him being able to win a championship next season. I think those days have passed. He can still make the team credible (at least on offence) but he isn't going to remain dominant. We saw this down the stretch this season. When the games mattered most, the Als couldn't close. That's not all on AC, of course, but he was not able to single-handedly will this team to victory the way he used to. He put up 500+ yards today and still the Als lost. That should tell you all you need to know.

The reason I bring this up now, is because it looks apparent that Henry Burris is over and done with in Calgary. I think that while Hanl isn't as good as AC he may have more left in the tank. Or maybe it's time to see what McPherson can do as the #1 pivot. But I think the time has come to at least think about life after AC and I'd prefer that the Als do that sooner rather than later. Don't wait for it to be a year too late.

[ro1313]

I dont think its time for him to retire yet!
He played a great game today but the D let the team down

Next year they should platoon AC and McPherson.
Like they did with Ham and AC

[Mobidoy]

Simple answer NO

Also, I dont think defense let the team down, let me explain:

33 Anderson, Dwight CB
31 Estelle, Mark CB
22 Boulay, Étienne S

Wow, 3 High profile starters out.... what did it change ? Have you noticed that, has the injury list was growing, the pressure on QB was not something that other teams were taking into account ? How about QB Sacks ? I know this does not explain it all but, when your big play guys are out, you need to step back and cover pass instead of rushing the QB. Get those guy in and our DE and DT have help to create holes and get to the QB.

72 Robertshaw, Jeff
41 Emry, Shea
52 Guzman, Ramon

Ok, now 2 big pieces to cover run and make a QB pay if he gets out of the pocket..... Did I forgot to say they also help to put pressure on ???

39 Brown, Jerald DB
1 Crawford, Tad S
43 Surla, John LB

Humm, there goes D depth !!! In case you noticed, that is only for this game !!!


51 Matte, Kristian T
59 Bourke, Josh T
81 Watkins, Kerry WR

Who do we have in there... A drop one pass then do the long plays receiver....
59 who is that guy ? Oh yeah, an All Star left tackle.... Left ? Aint that Calvillo blind side ? Yeah I would also be less secure missing the guy who save my back on every single plays !!!

So if someone let our team down, I dont think it is our QB, our Defense or the coach !!! The god of Healthiness did not made the cut at training camp !!!

PS: this is my 2 cents and no bashing intended... Just the way I saw it !!

[cliffyd]

Next year they should platoon AC and McPherson.
Like they did with Ham and AC

If anyone deserves to go out on his own terms, it's AC. But I would hate like hell for him to be a shell of his former self too. I think this would be the best way for him to come full-circle with his illustrious career. Pass the torch to McPherson the way Ham passed it to AC. If Mac5 is the Alouettes quarterback of the future, then give him the chance to be that.

Mcpherson's the same age AC was when he became the full-time starter, he's been in the system for 4 full years and he has proven himself capable of leading this team when called upon.

Milanovich can start drawing up an offence that can highlight Mac5's quick feet and powerful arm. Get the rest of the Offence used to his play-calling and let him drive the car, so to speak.

And if it`s not McPherson who will be the future, then get finding that next great QB now. Because AC has taken far too much abuse and while he has had a rejuvenation in recent years, time always catches up to you.

[ro1313]

So if someone let our team down, I dont think it is our QB, our Defense or the coach !!! The god of Healthiness did not made the cut at training camp !!!

Thats pretty much what I meant.
Too many injuries on the D

[sectionu2]

We lost and to be honest i am not that upset, i doubt that with our D we would have made a run for the GC, we just don;t have the D.
My take is, if Wpg get's in they have a chance their D is good, hamilton would get beat up bad by either BC or Edmonton, their D is just not there.

[West Coast Als Fan]

Like I said, it's not that I think Calvillo is a spent force. But I'd rather see him quit a year too soon than a year too late and I believe the Als need a rebuild of some sort. And a true rebuild doesn't happen as long as Calvillo is still around.

But there are rumours that Trestman might leave and if that happens I think Calvillo might follow suit. If not, Trestman only has one more year on his contract so it may play out that way a year from now. I just hate to see an opportunity like Burris get away if we're going to need a new QB a year from now. Maybe McPherson is the future, maybe not. But if they plan to keep him then he needs to start platooning more with AC next season so that the transition can be smooth.

[ro1313]

Burris is 36-37 years old and at best has a couple seasons left
Do you want to risk losing McPherson because of 2 years?

Besides I would rather have AC play for 2 more than have Burris

[sectionu2]

Burris is 36-37 years old and at best has a couple seasons left
Do you want to risk losing McPherson because of 2 years?

Besides I would rather have AC play for 2 more than have Burris

[Lillikins]

I agree! Why are we even talking about AC retiring???? What does his age have anything to do with it if he's still producung better than anyone in the league? Have you seen his numbers? He's nominated for MOP...he passed for what 513 yards on Saturday (second best in the play-offs league history!)...he's had amazing years and an amazing season. Are you basing this on the three last games we lost pathetically? Are these AC's fault? As I remeber their were dropped passes, missed tackles, horrible speacial team plays and bad play calling. Let's all hope AC returns next year and we have a healthy team that will be competing in the Grey Cup. What killed us this year were the INJURIES.