Truly thankful for Canada

MONTREAL - It was appropriate that on Thanksgiving Day in Canada, an American who has carved out a living north of the border gave thanks.

Montreal Alouettes' quarterback Anthony Calvillo was truly in a thankful mood on Monday. He broke the existing professional record for career passing yards in a game against the Toronto Argonauts at Molson Stadium and capped it off with a 29-19 win.

"It is (special)," Calvillo said addressing a media and standing only a few feet away from Damon Allen, whose career record of 72,381 set in 2007 lasted less than four full seasons.

Allen attended the event dressed in a natty businessman's attire, wanting to witness history in the making, comfortable in his own accomplishments to give way to a fellow quarterback whom he deeply respects. He followed Calvillo into the Als's dressing room when Calvillo finished addressing the media.

When Allen spoke, Calvillo, who at age 39 is one of the oldest active players in the CFL, was still dressed in the Alouettes uniform; a uniform he has worn since 1998. He signed with Montreal as a free agent, hoping to resuscitate his career, which had come undone following three trying seasons in Hamilton. That was preceded by one season in Las Vegas as the starting quarterback of the now-defunct Las Vegas Posse.

Few who had witnessed Calvillo in his first four seasons in the Canadian Football League could honestly admit he would carve out an 18-year career in which he would one day top the list for career passing yards at the professional level.

"Here we are on Thanksgiving Day in 2011 and I've always been appreciative of what this country has allowed me to do and so many other Americans to do - and that's come up here and play professional football and they've embraced so many of us for 100 years (in 2012).

"I've established my career here. I've made my home here. I found my wife here. My kids are going to school, learning French. This is home now for me. When it's all said and done this is where I'm going to end up. A special tip of the hat to Canada for allowing me to be in this position today."

Allen struggled through the first of the game completing 13 of 21 passes for 134 yards and threw one interception. There had been an expectation that Calvillo would easily total 258 yards in the first half to erase Allen's name from the record book. The Als had a record of 8-5 going into the game and were facing a team with a league-worse 3-10 record and a 13-point underdog.

Earlier in the season, the Als throttled the Argos 40-17 at Molson Stadium. It was a game in which Calvillo broke Allen's CFL record for career passing touchdowns. But breaking Allen's career passing yards came in the third quarter, in which he romped for a 19-yard touchdown run, proving that age 39 he still has the legs. He surpassed Allen's career passing mark on the final play of the quarter. It happened on a pass to his favourite receiver, Jamel Richardson, who broke a tackle and scooted 50 yards in total for the touchdown. Calvillo was 45 yards shy of the record prior to the throw.

An elated Richardson threw the ball into the crowd, not realizing that Calvillo might want the ball as a memento. But the fan who caught the historic pass from Richardson threw the ball back.

"I think we're going to have to get a hold of the fan and give him something special for this game," the classy Calvillo said.

Allen said the record-setting play was entertaining because of how it developed.

"The fact he did it then is special because it was a touchdown at the same time," he said. "It made it quite dramatic."

Calvillo admitted he feels a sense of relief now that the record chase is behind him. "I think this out of all the records was tougher to handle mentally. As much as I kept on telling everybody that I'm trying to concentrate on the game, it was definitely more difficult than I thought. It was very emotional. I think that's what kind of pushed me more over the edge. Now that it's over with, I'm glad that it's over with."

Following the record-setting play, the game was halted for a formal tribute to Calvillo. It included video messages from Warren Moon, Allen, American broadcaster Chris Berman, who said Calvillo was known in the U.S. as the Kurt Warner of Canada, and CFL commissioner Mark Cohon. Calvillo did not speak. He asked the team not to tell him how it planned to commemorate the historic moment. All he knew was that the game would be stopped.

"I'm all about speeding it up and getting back on the game, but seeing what they did up there is something I will remember for a long time," he said.

Calvillo finished with 18 completions on 33 attempts for 263 yards, registering the lone touchdown and an interception. He ran twice for 20 yards, including his 19-yard TD.

Calvillo has had greater and more meaningful games in his career, but what he did to singlehandedly take over the game against a Toronto team -- that didn't want to be road kill -- portrayed his brilliance. He can still make plays with his arms and his legs.

"He can run," Allen said. "I don't know why you guys (in the media) are so surprised he can run with the football. He's been running with the football his whole career. Is that indicative of who he is as a player? He's every essence of the (expression) pocket passer.

"I had the privilege and the opportunity to play this game for 23 years," Allen added when asked about losing his record. "I was able to throw for 70,000 yards, but I also ran for 12,000 yards. I'm currently third in rushing in CFL history. That puts me in a different dynamic in the game. In my first 10 years, everyone looked at me as a runner. It wasn't till you got to the point where you passed (50,000 yards) and then (70,000) and you realize, 'Oh, he can pass, too? I didn't realize that.'"

Allen became a complete quarterback through time, and the same could be said about Cavillo. Both players have reason to say thanks because neither would have been able to establish their legacy in their homeland. Canada made them legends.

Perry Lefko keeps you connected to all the news in the CFL on Sportsnet.ca.