Calvillo leaning towards retirement

http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=436389

There was speculation that Anthony Calvillo would call it quits after suffering a season-ending concussion in August this season; the veteran QB appears to be leaning that way as well.

“I'm favouring retiring, that's for sure,? Calvillo said on Monday. The first ballot Hall of Famer missed the final 11 games of the season with a concussion suffered against the Saskatchewan Roughriders in Week 8.

He had 1,322 yards and six touchdowns to five interceptions on 115/196 passing on the season.

If it is the end of the line for Calvillo he'll go down as perhaps the best CFL quarterback ever. He's the All-Time passing leader with 79,816 yards and 455 touchdowns on 5,982 completions.

They've elaborated on the story since I first posted it here:

"The fact that the concussion has kept me off the field for so many weeks is concerning, but the biggest thing is that I'm still not 100 per cent," he said. "That's what bugs me the most.

"Now that (the season) is over, I want to step away from football and make sure I really and truly make the right decision, but I am favouring not playing."

Calvillo has been making the decision on whether to continue from year to year in recent seasons after consulting with his family and Wetenhall.

This year it is tougher, because he wants to keep playing but has a strong feeling that he probably shouldn't.

"Of course I want to play, but physically can I keep doing it?" he said. " That's what I have to ask myself.

"The scary part is that feel I'm not fully healed yet from all the symptoms and I know my threshold has gone down for taking a hit. I've learned a lot more about concussions and that's what scares me the most because it wasn't a hard hit. It's a hit I've taken many times before."

If he retires, he is looking at going into coaching, but he also wants at least one summer off to spend with his family.

And if he coaches, the Los Angeles native wants it to be in Montreal.

"This is my home, this is where I want to be, this is where I want to raise my kids," he said. "So my first objective is to get healthy and try to stay here in Montreal."

He said the desire to coach grew this season when he was unable to play but spent time in team meetings and talking to teammates in the locker-room. He watched three quartrerbacks prospects, Josh Neiswander, Tanner Marsh and Troy Smith, take turns being the starter.

Smith, the 2006 Heisman Trophy winner, looks poised to take over next season if Calvillo opts to retire.

"I was trying to help out as much as I can while I was hurt and that excited me being there to help an individual grow up and be a success," Calvillo said. "So coaching has definitely gone higher up in my list."