Courtesy Montreal Gazette:

In each of the last three years, Alouettes kicker Damon Duval was entering the option year of his contract, making him eligible to sign with an NFL team. And yet, each time, he has chosen to remain in Montreal.

And it has nothing to do with being the son-in-law of team president Larry Smith. Nor is Duval concerned he’s not talented enough to play down south.

“I didn’t grow up with money. My mother had me at 17 and my father didn’t go to college,” Duval said. “My goal isn’t to be a millionaire and be in commercials.

“Money is important, but so is the lifestyle, and I enjoy the (Canadian Football League) rules. Our day lasts four hours. That means I can see my family, go home and play with my kid. Will I have $3 million in my bank account when I retire? Not likely. But I’m having fun and enjoying it.”

Let’s not kid ourselves here. Duval, expecting a second child in early August, is earning at least $100,000, so he’s well taken care of by this organization. But his contract’s not exorbitant compared with the league’s other elite kickers. And Duval handles all of the kicking responsibilities exclusively, as Montreal’s punter and kicker.

He’s the only Als player at camp that’s unchallenged. Even Anthony Calvillo, who knows the job of starting quarterback is his, has five other pivots to contend with. But Montreal has no other kickers.

And Duval maintained competition wouldn’t have changed anything.

“I know what I have to do, and I push myself. I’m my worst critic,” Duval said. “I can be cut like the next guy if I don’t do my business. People figured I was in when I married the president’s daughter, but I don’t look at it that way.

“That aspect hasn’t been hard. It’s been easy from the beginning. What I do out here is business and the rest is family. I don’t mix the two.”

Duval probably could have found myriad NFL opportunities had he gone looking. Rob Bironas, Tennessee’s place-kicker, was beaten out by Duval when the two were at Auburn. And Atlanta has been seeking kicking assistance forever, or so it seems.

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