Alouettes season review | Quarterback controversy on the horizon?

Two days after their heartbreaking elimination in the Eastern final against the Toronto Argonauts, the Alouettes players are navigating between still-deep disappointment and hope for the future. But from their traditional end-of-season review on Monday, we will especially remember the powerful hints of an imminent controversy behind the center.

A little background, first: after an excellent start to the season, quarterback Cody Fajardo is injured. His reserve Davis Alexander took over for the next four matches and emerged victorious each time. In addition, his performance on the field demonstrates obvious skills and talent. Fajardo then resumes his starting position until the end of the campaign.

But now, Fajardo will end the last year of his contract in 2025, while Alexander could become a free agent in a few months. And we saw it this season with the Alouettes and several other teams across the CFL: you should never underestimate the importance of a quality reserve quarterback in your lineup.

However, by virtue of his performances, Alexander showed that he could do very well as a starter. Thus, many clubs could be tempted to acquire his services. Will the Birds be able to convince him to stay in the nest, even as a reserve? Will they take the risk of letting him go? And what will happen to Fajardo?

Fajardo signals his intentions

The latter, in any case, was clear: he wants to stay in Montreal. In front of journalists, he repeatedly repeated that he had the impression of playing “the best football in [sa] career” in 2024. The 32-year-old also took care to point out that he led the CFL in pass completion percentage this season. While revealing that shortly after his return to play, he again injured two ribs against Ottawa, which affected his “rhythm”, according to him.

A bit as if he were listing the arguments he intends to present to convince management to keep him. He also specified that he had spoken with general manager Danny Maciocia earlier in the day.

“You have a quarterback, let’s say, a little older and you have a young quarterback who has played well. We had our discussions. No decision has been made. A lot can happen over the next few days. The good news is they know I want to be here. I expressed my desire to be the quarterback of this organization. I feel like I can still play at a level enough to win the Gray Cup,” he explained.

Asked if he would be ready to accept a restructuring of his contract which would allow the Alouettes to retain Alexander’s services in addition to his own, Fajardo did not reject this option… without however being very keen on it.

“I want to be part of a Gray Cup winning team,” he said. It will depend on what the numbers look like. I have to take care of myself and my family. Also, you want to be on a team where you know you’re going to be the guy that’s called upon, not a team where you feel like if you have a bad game, you’re suddenly not going to be that guy anymore. »

“Sometimes having two incredibly talented quarterbacks is not a good thing because it divides people,” Fajardo added. The fans, the guys in the locker room, the coaches… It’s not always the best formula. I completely trust the coach [Jason] Maas and Danny so that they make the right decision. »

Alexander “doesn’t rule anything out”

Met a little before Fajardo, Alexander was more modest in his comments on this subject. We nevertheless felt he was ready to move to a higher level – whether in Montreal or elsewhere.

“It will depend on the situation [des autres équipes]. I like being here, I like the organization. But of course, it also has to make sense to me and my family. Maybe I’ll come back and I won’t be the starter. I’m not sure. I’m not ruling anything out,” he said.

What is certain is that his performances this season have also caught the attention of his teammates.

“We knew he had a lot of talent. […] He won all his matches and he had a bit of magic. He also has a [bras] cannon. When we have young people coming up, it puts pressure on the veterans, but at the same time, I think that this kind of competition improves the whole mind. And I think for Cody, it helped him push a little harder too,” analyzed guard Kristian Matte.

We will dare to predict without much fear of being wrong that the leaders of the Alouettes will be entitled to a few questions on this pretty puzzle that awaits, while they will carry out their own assessment Tuesday afternoon…

They said

I started playing football when I was 8 or 9, and I’m 39 years old. I’m never going to leave football, no matter what level. We’ll see when it’s time. I’m always going to want to be involved. It’s an exceptional sport.

Kristian Matte, who says he has not yet decided whether or not he will retire

It’s a bit of a dance, football. We couldn’t follow this dance. We had chances to come back, but we weren’t able to capitalize. We had all the tools to surrender, but we used them poorly.

Marc-Antoine Dequoy, on the loss against Toronto

It was truly a crazy year. I’m really proud of myself, of everything I’ve been through. It’s strange because those were some of the best times of my life, combined with some of the worst times of my life.

Davis Alexander

We sincerely believe that the best team is not going to the Gray Cup this year. We gave them this match.

Tyson Philpot

I have always been very interested in history [des Alouettes] and how it was before. The guys told me that it was the place where guys retired in the CFL, that there were 5,000 or 6,000 people in the stands. When we see what we’ve accomplished here and the fans support us, it’s incredible. I take great pride in it.

Austin Mack