Toronto, ON (My Sportsbook) - Now, after reaching an exclusive CFL milestone, Anthony Calvillo can kick back for a week and relax.

Calvillo, 32, became just the fourth quarterback in CFL history to reach the 6,000-yard passing mark, achieving the milestone in the Montreal Alouettes' 58-20 road victory Thursday night over the Toronto Argonauts. Calvillo completed 25-of-37 passes for 354 yards before leaving in the fourth quarter, giving him 6,041 yards on the season, an Alouettes team record.

"It wasn't a major goal of mine to reach 6,000," Calvillo said. "It wasn't that important to me.

"The most important thing was to make sure we were playing well going into the playoffs at this point in the year."

Calvillo's accomplishment didn't surprise Alouettes coach Don Matthews, who boldly predicted earlier in the year that his quarterback would pass for more than 6,000 yards this season.

"What he has done all year has just been remarkable," said Matthews. "I was very happy that I was able to predict it for him and he was able to fulfill my prediction.

"That makes me the happiest."

The game meant nothing to either team. Montreal (league-best 14-4 record) had already assured itself of first place in the East Division and Toronto (10-7-1) cemented second spot. Subsequently, the Argos didn't dress a number of their starters _ notably running back John Avery, safety Orlondo Steinauer and defensive linemen Eric England and Jonathon Brown _ to rest them for their conference semifinal showdown versus the Hamilton Tiger-Cats at SkyDome on November 5.

The Toronto-Hamilton winner faces Calvillo and the Alouettes on November 14 at Olympic Stadium before 50,000-plus rabid Montreal football fans.

Thursday's game was billed as a potential conference final preview, but Montreal has dominated the season series, winning all three games. The six- foot-two, 185-pound Calvillo said if the Alouettes do play Toronto on November 14, the 38-point victory will be meaningless in terms of establishing schemes and trends.

"It's not even close to what they're going to be showing," he said. "It wouldn't even be worth us watching this game to prepare if we see them again because it's nothing what they do.

"We realize that and we know the guys they weren't playing were some big-time players. We know this is not their team."

But there is no denying that the Alouettes are Calvillo's team. From the day Matthews arrived, he has given Calvillo plenty of say in establishing the weekly game plan and allows the 11-year CFL veteran to call his own plays. Matthews favors a wide-open passing attack, which is certainly Calvillo's forte.

He was named the CFL's outstanding player last year after leading the league in passing with a then club-record 5,891 yards. Given his performance this season, Calvillo is favored to be the East's nominee for the award this year as well.

But there have certainly been some lean years.

Calvillo began his CFL career in 1994 with the expansion Las Vegas Posse, a team that was a dismal 5-13 before folding after just one year of existence. The Utah State University grad was selected first overall by Hamilton in the expansion draft but was released in March 1998 after three losing seasons _ including a 2-16 record in 1997.

Calvillo then joined the Alouettes as a free agent but had to serve as a backup to veteran Tracy Ham before assuming the starter's job in 2000. Since then, Calvillo has been a model of consistency, having surpassed 5,000 yards passing in each of the last three seasons under Matthews.

Calvillo credits Matthews for much of his success.

"When coach Matthews took over three years ago, he sat down with me and said, `Listen, we're going to change things up. We're going to allow you to do some more things and exploit the things we think you're capable of doing. Right from the start it showed he had confidence in me and that goes a long way.

"For me, personally, it meant a lot."

But for now, Calvillo will welcome the week-long rest before starting his preparations for the East final.

"My body is going to enjoy a whole week off," he said. "As you get older you start to appreciate (that).

"We had a short week and my legs and my back were really tight coming into the game. For the veterans and I'm sure for these young guys they'll realize how important it is to get that bye week because all you have to do is win one game to get to the Grey Cup."

CANADIAN WIN: Mathews is 2-0 since deciding to become a Canadian citizen.

Matthews, who was born in Amesbury, Mass., became a Canadian citizen prior to Montreal's 52-21 win over Ottawa last week. On Thursday, the Alouettes defeated Toronto 58-20 at SkyDome.

Matthews has been involved in Canadian football in 1977 when he joined the Edmonton Eskimos as a linebackers coach. The next year he was promoted to defensive coordinator and the Eskimos won the first of five straight Grey Cup titles.

Matthews' first CFL head-coaching job came in 1983 with the B.C. Lions, and since then he has patrolled the sidelines for Saskatchewan, Baltimore, Toronto, Edmonton and Montreal. His teams have appeared in eight Grey Cup games, winning a record-tying five.

With Matthews becoming a Canadian citizen, the CFL has four Canadian head coaches _ B.C.'s Wally Buono, Winnipeg's Jim Daley and Hamilton's Greg Marshall.

SWAN SON: The Ottawa Renegades cap their miserable season Saturday at home to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, and it could be the end of the line for both head coach Joe Paopao and general manager Eric Tillman.

Both are in the final years of their contracts, and with Ottawa (5-12) firmly entrenched in last in the East Division, they're hardly in the driver's season in negotiations for new contracts. Team president Brad Watters has continually stated that in order for Tillman and Paopao to be retained, the Renegades had to be showing signs of being a contender heading into this year.

And Ottawa looked very strong to start the year, winning its first three games. But injuries quickly began to mount, resulting in the club having lost 12 of its last 14 games.

The overwhelming sentiment is that Tillman, who has been a CFL GM in B.C. and Toronto prior to joining the Renegades, won't be back with the club next year and could re-surface in Calgary as the club's general manager. But Matt Dunigan holds down both the GM and coaching positions with the Stampeders and reportedly isn't interested in giving up either portfolio.

There is talk too that Paopao could remain in Ottawa, despite the club's bad record. Paopao is well liked by his players and a first-class individual who represents the organization very well, on and off the field.

Stay tuned.