The Montreal Alouettes have a sense of surprise. The team announced Thursday evening, in the middle of its match against the Edmonton Elks, that it had acquired the rights of Quebecer Laurent Duvernay-Tardif in the CFL.
Updated yesterday at 10:01 p.m.
The offensive lineman’s rights have previously belonged to the Calgary Stampeders. In return, the Sparrows give up two conditional choices.
This means that if Duvernay-Tardif decided to play in the Canadian circuit, rather than returning to the NFL or retiring from football, it would be with the Alouettes that he would line up.
The general manager of the Montreal formation, Danny Maciocia, commented on the news in a press release. An understandable way to do it, considering that he was on the field for his first game as head coach of the Alouettes at the time of the announcement.
“Laurent wants to be a football icon in Montreal and Quebec,” he said. We can only come out winners from this transaction, because even if he never dons the Alouettes’ uniform, he will be able to encourage us and openly show himself as one of our supporters without feeling any remorse. »
“We wish Laurent the best of success for the continuity of his football career and are satisfied that if it continues in Canada, it will be in a city and a stadium that he knows very well,” he added. And if he ever joins the Alouettes, he will finally be able to display the letters MD on his jersey, as he wanted to do. »
After his team’s loss on Thursday, Maciocia told the media that the trade had been made the day before.
We have been working on this since last year, to have his rights in Montreal, knowing that one day he may play. If not, he will be a good ambassador for the Alouettes.
Danny Maciocia, General Manager of the Alouettes
Duvernay-Tardif, who won Super Bowl LIV with the Kansas City Chiefs, juggles his career as a doctor and a professional athlete. He preferred not to seek a contract this summer and instead began his residency in medicine. He is therefore currently a free agent and will be able to join an NFL team next September.
Low probabilities
The news instantly – and obviously – reacted on social networks, Laurent Duvernay-Tardif being one of the most popular sports personalities in Quebec.
Only, the chances of seeing him play in the CFL are rather slim. In an interview with The Press in June, the principal concerned had indicated that he would prioritize his medicine this summer, then that he would consider “what will be on the table in terms of football this fall”, admitting, moreover, that he had seriously considered announcing his retirement during of the last few months.
“I thought about announcing my retirement, but when I talked about medicine with the teams who were interested in my services, they understood,” he explained. There is no general manager who can say that I am not making the right decision. It is possible that there will be less interest than there is currently [cet automne], but no one can question my choice. »
Duvernay-Tardif then made it very clear that the odds of him being back on the football pitch were “50-50” and that if he did decide to play again, it would be for a team aspiring to the Super Bowl.
“It’s not a question of money anymore,” he hinted. The most important thing will be to be part of a team that has a chance of winning the Super Bowl. »
The athlete had been questioned more specifically to find out if it was possible for him to join the Quebec team, in the event that things did not work out in the NFL.
These are great marketing ideas! But no, I don’t think that’s a possibility. I feel like if I put my medicine on the back burner again, it’s going to be to win another Super Bowl.
Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, last June
“I say it in all humility and I don’t want to appear to be big-headed, but I’m betting on myself,” he added. I allow myself to look at what is best for me from a more holistic and macro point of view instead of just looking at it from a football point of view. I am happy in my current position. »
As they say, only crazy people don’t change their minds. But if we rely on these statements, the chances of seeing Duvernay-Tardif in the Alouettes’ uniform are almost nil.
With the collaboration of Miguel Bujold, The Press