Is Anthony Calvillo the Greatest of All Time?

With Anthony Calvillo's assault on the record books underway – he broke the career mark for touchdown passes last Friday, and, barring injury, will break a few more before the year is over – one question is being posed by the media and fans alike:

Is Anthony Calvillo the greatest player to ever play in the CFL?

The simple answer is no. Anthony Calvillo is one of the greatest to ever play the game, and is definitely the greatest player of the last decade, but he is not the greatest of all time.

It is hard to compare players at different positions, so the focus here will solely be on Quarterbacks, and even among that smaller group, Calvillo is not the best.

I am not old enough to have seen some of the greats, like Russ Jackson or Ron Lancaster, play. I've heard stories and seen highlights, but clips and anecdotes are not enough for me to make an informed decision.

I was but a pup when Warren Moon finished his career in Edmonton with a fifth consecutive Grey Cup, and while I remember what Moon did in the NFL, I can't say for sure how great he was. I don't doubt that he was, but I can't speak to it since I didn't see it.

I did get to see all-time greats like Danny McManus, Matt Dunigan, Damon Allen and Tracy Ham play, and while they were all phenomenal Quarterbacks, I would not rank any of them ahead of Calvillo.

So while I can't comment on players I never saw, and while I don't think a group that I did see play deserve mention above Calvillo, there is one player that I am old enough to remember and who, for my money, will always be the greatest Quarterback, if not player, in CFL history.

I think it is pretty obvious that I am talking about Doug Flutie.

Flutie won six Most Outstanding Player awards in seven seasons, won three Grey Cup championships, and was voted in 2006 as the greatest player in CFL history by TSN.

But with Doug Flutie it wasn't just about the stats or the awards or the championships. Doug Flutie brought magic to the field, and with all due respect to every other player I've seen play – including Anthony Calvillo – no one else has come close to replicating that "Flutie Magic."

No other player before or since has dominated the way that Doug Flutie did. If Flutie had played in the CFL for his entire career, his name would be all over the record book.

Anthony Calvillo is one of the best to ever play in the CFL, but the label of "The Best" will always be used to describe Doug Flutie.

Most Hated Tiger-Cats: #1

The moment you have all been waiting for, the naming of my #1 Most Hated Tiger-Cat. Before I unveil my top villain, the man who wore the Black & Gold jersey and inspires anger in almost every Ti-Cat fan, I'll recap the first four entries on my list:

#5: Brock Ralph
#4: Jesse Lumsden
#3: Mike O'Shea
#2: Adriano Belli

All those guys are more than deserving of being placed on this list, especially O'Shea and Belli, but there can only be one person at the top. Now without further ado, my #1 Most Hated Tiger-Cat is...

#1: Anthony Calvillo
Numero uno on the list, and it's not even close. Anthony Calvillo is easily the most hated player ever to wear a Tiger-Cats uniform. If you wonder why, we shall just look at the stats.

Calvillo was selected #1 overall by the Ti-Cats in the CFL Dispersal Draft that occurred after the U.S.-based teams ceased operations in 1995. He was expected to be the future at the QB position for the Cats. What he did here in his three seasons hardly qualifies. In 1995, Calvillo threw for 2831 yards, 19 TDs and 21 INTs. In 1996, he threw for 2571 yards, 13 TDs and 13 INTs. In his final season, Calvillo managed only 2177 yards, 12 TDs and 11 INTs. As you can see, each year Calvillo regressed from the season before.

In 1998, he signed as a free agent with the Montreal Alouettes, where initially he backed up Tracy Ham. Once Calvillo took the reins of the team, a legend was born. The same guy who couldn't win a football game if his life depended on it in Hamilton – the team went a combined 18-36 from 1995-1997 – suddenly turned into one of the greatest QBs in CFL history.

Since going to Montreal, Calvillo's achievements mark him as one of the best ever:

• Two-time Grey Cup champion (2002, 2009)
• Three-time Most Outstanding Player (2003, 2008, 2009)
• Four-time CFL All Star (2002, 2003, 2008, 2009)

Calvillo also ranks second in almost every significant statistical category for QBs. He is undoubtedly a future Hall of Famer, and when all is said and done, he might be considered the greatest QB to ever play in the Canadian Football League.

WHERE THE HELL WAS THIS WHEN HE WAS IN HAMILTON!?!?

Calvillo was a bum when he played for the Tabbies, and miraculously morphed into who we see today as soon as he left. It is for that reason that I have selected Anthony Calvillo as my #1 Most Hated Tiger-Cat.

Just like I did with the "Greatest Tiger-Cats of My Lifetime" list, I turn to you, my readers. Do you agree with Calvillo as #1? Is there someone on this list that shouldn't be or someone who isn't that should be? Sound off in the comment section below. If you have a Top 3 or 5 or 10, feel free to share it. I stand by my list, but I am not above hearing from my loyal readers on if they agree or disagree. Let 'er rip.

PREVIOUS: Adriano Belli (#2)