MontrealAlouettes.com
MONTREAL – Three free agents at different points of their careers chose to join the Alouettes for one simple reason Monday: to win.
From the if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em files, longtime Als rival Arland Bruce III jumped at the chance to come to Montreal, and it turns out that GM Jim Popp wasn’t the only one who helped recruit him to the Alouettes family.
“I remember bumping into Anthony in the elevator at the Grey Cup in Edmonton in 2010,” recalled Bruce. “13 is what I like to call him and I just told him he was a wonderful player and he said he wished he could throw to me one day. That really stuck with me over the years.”
“I just know that when I got off the plane today I felt something special,” continued Bruce. “The only reason I play this game is to try to win championships. I’m hoping to bring consistency and a level of confidence to this group. I’m ready for the challenge and now all I need to get is a Rosetta Stone so I can learn some French!”
But Bruce isn’t the only member of the AC fan club who became an Alouette on Monday. Quarterback Quinton Porter is also well-versed in the ways of the Als’ legendary pivot.
“Anthony is a big reason why I’m here today,” admitted Porter who like Calvillo back in 1998 arrives in Montreal after failing to make his mark with the Tiger-Cats. “He’s a legend. I’m not here to take his spot. I’m here to learn from him and see the type of preparation he puts into every game. I’ve been a fan of his and a fan of his game for a long time.”
Porter’s expectations now that he’s officially a member of the Alouettes have nothing to do with the team depth chart.
“As a group we don’t expect anything less but a Grey Cup,” shrugged the 30-year-old quarterback. “I’ve been trying to win a Grey Cup for the past five years and it hasn’t happened. I couldn’t pick a better system to get there than here with the Alouettes. Anything I can do to help us be there is where my mind’s at going into this.”
While Bruce and Porter were welcomed to the family at a media op at a downtown Montreal hotel, defensive back Byron Parker got his first props two days earlier after he spilled the beans online that he’d signed with the Als over the weekend.
The Als’ Twitterverse was set ablaze once the news got out Saturday.
I appreciated the warm welcome from guys like B-London and I just can’t wait to be out there on the football field with those guys,” said Parker. “Getting the chance to now play with all the guys I’ve played against for so long like Jamel and S.J. is just amazing. Being on their side now with the winning tradition that they have, I just look forward to competing with them every day at practice. If you can cover big guys like that, you can cover anybody in this league.”
