Courtesy Montreal Gazette:

Anthony Calvillo is the Alouettes’ starting quarterback, while Adrian McPherson appears to be the star of the future. Chris Leak? All he did was lead the Florida Gators to a national championship, being named the outstanding player in the title game.

Where does that leave Brad Banks? Potentially fighting for his future with Montreal, although not necessarily his Canadian Football League livelihood.

Banks, one of five pivots on the Als’ training camp roster – Ricky Santos is the last remaining candidate – often is forgotten and overlooked although he’s entering his sixth CFL season. Banks was left behind last week, when Montreal traveled to Toronto. But he’s expected to play the second quarter Tuesday night, when the Alouettes conclude their exhibition schedule at Molson Stadium against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (7 p.m., CJAD Radio-800).

“I do have a sense of security because of things I’ve done in the past, my relationship with the coaches and the front office,” said Banks, 29. “But I also have to make sure I hold up my end of the bargain. You’ve still got to go out and play. But I don’t feel my future’s on the line.”

There’s always a way to keep five quarterbacks around once the regular season begins; the Als did precisely that in 2008. But do they want to? They can dress three per game, and a fourth undoubtedly will find his way onto either the practice squad or injured list. A fifth? That’s likely to be determined. One of the determining factors will be whether the fourth-string and, potentially, fifth guy on the depth chart are willing to accept their roles, and the possibility of a pay cut that would accompany it.

Banks certainly provides the Als with a security blanket, having played for Ottawa and Winnipeg. But Leak’s younger, at 24, and Als management appears enamored of him. Plus management has always gone for the name factor on its teams, signing the likes of Lawrence Phillips and Jarrett Payton. Leak’s also improved his arm strength, according to Matt Dunigan, the Hall of Fame quarterback and TSN studio analyst.

“We’ve got a lot of confidence in Brad Banks,” Als head coach Marc Trestman said. “He gives us a level of experience and maturity, and he’s throwing the ball extremely well. With a third quarterback, it’s good to have that comfortable feeling … to know you have a guy that has maturity and gives the team hope when he’s in there.

“Practice is where guys make the team,” Trestman added. “But the opportunity to play is critically important. (Banks) has to step up and play. Is it a defining moment (against Winnipeg)? I don’t think so.”

Trestman said he expects McPherson to start the second half against the Blue Bombers, leaving Leak and/or Santos to potentially fight over some fourth-quarter crumbs. Although Trestman isn’t yet prepared to designate McPherson as Calvillo’s backup, it certainly appears the coach is leaning that way.

“I hope that’ll be the case come (tomorrow) or Thursday,” Trestman said. “I hope we’re on the edge of our seats when he plays. He has shown he has all the ability in what we’ve asked him to do. He functions in the huddle. He’s charismatic with his teammates and is making progress in the passing game.”

Banks was the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy in 2002, with the Iowa Hawkeyes. He was the top-rated quarterback in Division I-A, passing for 2,573 yards along with 26 touchdowns. He started two games for Ottawa in 2004, but was behind Kerry Joseph the next season. The Renegades folded in ’06 and Banks went to Winnipeg in the dispersal draft. There, he was behind Kevin Glenn.

If anyone was adversely affected by the Renegades’ fate, it was Banks. “I thought about that,” he said. “I’d probably still be there, although there’s no telling. I’d probably be playing more.

“I think every game’s important,” he said, looking ahead. “You approach every game like it’s your last.”

Calvillo, the CFL’s reigning outstanding player, said he’d like to play up to three quarters but realizes that’s impossible and will have to settle for considerably less. It will be Trestman’s call when he exits.

“I just want to go out and execute the offence,” Calvillo said. “Plus I want to deal with the potential of getting hit. I want to feel the pressure, take care of the ball and work on my footwork … get back in that kind of environment.”

The Als still have 74 players on their roster, which is high. But that doesn’t necessarily mean there will be massive cuts in the days ahead. They started last season with 11 players on the injured list. Three more were put on the nine-week injured list.

“We have a lot of players,” Trestman acknowledged. “Part of the reason they’re all still here is because we think they’ve got an opportunity to make the team.”

Read more….