The Montreal Alouettes released 14 players this afternoon including receivers Travon Patterson and Felton Huggins as well as young Canadian quarterback Kyle Quinlan. 

Quinlan was the last of 4 pivots to play in Tuesdays pre-season loss to Toronto. And although he finished 2-of-4 passing for 45 yards, he made his presence felt with a 41 yard completion to Huggins.

Alouettes GM Jim Popp says that while a making a good play in a pre-season game can help a player stand out with management, it's not going to be the deciding factor in whether to keep a player or let him go.

“It surely can help him. But everything that’s taken place up to this point is what’s happened in practice to get a chance to perform in a game and then once the game happens, the cards have to fall in your lap for things to happen for you. Those guys did make plays and they did things but there are just other guys who are evaluated to be ahead of them or who know more at this stage when we have to cut down.”

The team lost a number of leaders this off season with the release of Eric Wilson, Anwar Stewart and Ramon Guzman, and Popp says it's nice to see some of the younger guys stepping up to fill the role.

“Guys like Shea Emery has bounced back and he’s right there, and he’s won two grey cups in a small amount of time and he’s emerging as one of those guys.  Billy Parker has been with us a little longer and he’s been so consistent and solidified back there that he’s a natural leader. Some of the new people coming in, it’s hard to say that they’re going to be leaders, i’m talking about vocal leaders, until they get comfortable in the locker room.”