JUST IN: Simoni Lawrence's two-game suspension likely headed towards an appeal/grievance by the #CFLPA (via @FarhanLaljiTSN). #CFL
— CFL on TSN (@CFLonTSN) June 19, 2019
MORE: https://t.co/EFAvwRpwTb pic.twitter.com/Bx6XPBdWWp
This looks bad on the CFLPA. Bad choice.
Section N beat me to it. Some strong comments from Burris on the subject. Sounds like he's still pretty PO'd about Lawrence going after his injured knee a few years back and rightfully so.
https://3downnation.com/2019/06/19/t...-henry-burris/
Last edited by adb; 06-19-2019 at 12:12 PM.
“RUN THE DANG BALL!" -Leigh Anne Tuohy character from the film The Blind Side
"Next time, take a case of Pil into the huddle. If you don't get a beer, get the hell off the field!" -New special teams coach for the Riders
"When the Eskimos are out on defense it looks like there are two or three number 47s out there." -Duane Ford
"...I guess we'll have to agree to disagree, I enjoy the banter though..." -Looner
I agree that it looks bad on the CFLPA.
I'm not sure how much of a choice they have, when a member wants to appeal his discipline. I'm not saying that they have none - it seems to me they dissuaded Hebert from appealing last year - I'm saying that I honestly don't know. It could very well be that they've tried to talk him out of it behind the scenes, but have little choice to represent their member that pays his dues and is facing the loss of 11% of his annual income and potentially the ability to hit some bonuses in the contract.
I think the 2 games was fair. I hope it stands up. At the same time, I can understand why Simoni would want to appeal (at least in some ways). Already he's getting profiled as a dirty player and I've seen people say "this wasn't the first time", when this is, reportedly, the first time in his fairly lengthy CFL career that he's been fined or suspended. I don't think he has a chance to clear his name on this - the video speaks for itself, but I would expect that's the reason, as much as anything, behind his interest in dragging this out.
The CFL has an opportunity, through the new language in the CBA, to expedite the appeal process and have it play out this week I believe.
2 games is a pretty unprecedented move, I could see this reduced to 1 game by the appeal. In the context of a short season even 1 game is impactful to the $$. I'm glad to see the league taking a more firm hand on this, though, to hopefully establish a new standard going forward.
"Because this Eskimo experience is not made for just anyone" - KP
... and Jim Morris goes 3/3 in week 2![]()
"No dress rehearsal, this is our life" - Gord Downie
I don't get what BC did to be favored.
Esks are favoured by 4 to 4.5 points.
In the first week, these prognosticators managed a combined record of 12-12, which is what you'd expect if they were closing their eyes and throwing lawn darts at team logos. Their opinions don't need to be taken seriously. (Of course, I went 2-2 in the pool, so the same could be said of me!)
Out of my mind; back in five minutes.
There's an interesting discussion between Naylor and Lahlji about the CFLPA and their decision about the appeal (https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/video/3-downs...or-cfl~1709512), and it confirms that yes, in fact, they do have the choice whether they carry the appeal forward for their member, but it's not as cut and dried as whether it is the morally right thing thing to do or not. The discussion touched on the fact that the PA has preached that player safety has been their number one concern, and implied that it would look bad to appeal in light of that. They also talked about the fact that Ken Georgetti is a labour lawyer and not a football guy, and that part of his job is to make sure that employers don't have all the control/power to do whatever they want.
One of the key points they discussed was that the case for turning down the grievance/appeal would generally be done if it didn't have merit. That's not a test of whether the punishment was fair necessarily, but could be more about is their precedent for it, or is this establishing new ground. In this case, I think it's close to universally felt (outside of Hamilton) that the punishment is fair and even welcome, but it's probably also pretty clear that there isn't actually a precedent and this is new ground - there may be a responsibility of the CFLPA to take up the appeal just to show that it got a fair hearing, and in the end, could even solidify this as the new standard if its allowed to stand up even through the appeal.
Good informative discussion that cuts through a lot of the emotion and reaction.
Is it game day yet?????
You guys will win handily.
R.I.P. Coach Harris
#CFLPA returns fire over Simoni Lawrence suspension and appeal. pic.twitter.com/NdssAAYCL7
— Dan Barnes (@sportsdanbarnes) June 20, 2019
"No dress rehearsal, this is our life" - Gord Downie
Man, that next set of talks for the CBA in a few years is going to be unfriendly.
It wasn't exactly hugs and unicorn farts this time...
Well, gentlemen, by all means, I think we ought to have an introspective moment of silence for poor old Tin-Tin.
It seems the CFLPA has no concerns about player safety, unless someone is concussed by an executive.
I think that's a wholly unfair comment.
The CFLPA sacrificed a lot in salary cap gains to be able to get long-term health coverage for their members. By my understanding, the cost of the premiums of that coverage might be as much as $350,000 a year. To me, this clearly shows that they're concerned about member health.
The CFLPA has also pushed (successfully) along with the league to reduce padded practices and increase bye weeks, while reducing short turn-around games - these are all player safety initiatives, even if some of us don't agree with all the thought process behind them.
The CFLPA has a role that they have to perform in representing a player's right to a fair hearing. Whether they appealed this or not, would not allow to go back in time and change what happened on the field. They are not in a position to abandon members that make a mistake, and it's a tough position to be in where they have obligations to represent their interests while ultimately representing the other player too.
I wouldn't have had an issue if the CFLPA made the call to not take the grievance/appeal forward. While I think they'd be on shaky ground from a union representation perspective, it would have felt like solid moral ground to say that they believed the punishment was fair through that inaction. It would have even been my preference that they went that route. That said, I think it's highly unfair to draw the conclusion that they have no concerns about player safety when there are multiple pieces of evidence to the contrary.
Brandon Bridge signs a 1-year deal with #Alouettes. Back to the team that drafted him in 2015. Glad to see @Air_Canada_7 get another opportunity. @CFLonTSN @TSN_Sports @SportsCentre @CFL pic.twitter.com/72fsBnb56r
— Farhan Lalji (@FarhanLaljiTSN) June 21, 2019
Great. Now the Als have three second-string QB's. My bet is that Adams will end the season as their starter.
Out of my mind; back in five minutes.
CFL transactions today showing B C Lions have released national OLineman Jonathan Harke formerly from U of Alberta. Drafted by the Lions as the 42 pick overall.
EDIT: Wrong thread.
It's so wrong that Lawrence is allowed to play today.
"Here comes the rush...Ray looking endzone, Fred. Stamps. TOUCHDOWN!" - Fred Stamps' TD with 8 seconds left against the Stampeders in 2009