Quinlan Signs With the Als

Despite going undrafted in last week's draft, Kyle Quinlan is getting his shot to play quarterback in the CFL. The 23-year-old McMaster product signed a deal with the Montreal Alouettes.

After leading McMaster to their first ever Vanier Cup championship last November, many thought Quinlan would be a shoe-in to get drafted. His performance in the championship game against laval was nothing short of amazing. It was the type of performance that gets players noticed. So when the six-round Canadian draft came and went last Thursday and Quinlan's name was not called it took some by surprise. Many felt that he at least deserved an opportunity, and now he will get one. Montreal bringing him in is not a PR move; Quinlan was brought in because the Alouettes feel he can compete for a job. The best he can hope for is to be named the team's third-string QB, with Anthony Calvillo and Adrian McPherson firmly entrenched as the Als' Nos. 1 and 2 QBs, respectively.

Hamilton is becoming something of a training ground for Canadian quarterbacks as Quinlan joins Brad Sinopoli as former Tiger-Cat training camp invitees who have found CFL homes, yet neither of them found homes in Hamilton. That might not be such a bad thing, especially where Quinlan is concerned. With him being a McMaster player, there might have been pressure from fans to get him on the field. That won't be the case in Montreal.

Quinlan beating out Ricky Santos and Josh Neiswander would do more for the future of Canadian quarterbacks than any rule change or ratio alteration ever could. I, for one, will be cheering for Quinlan to succeed.