CFL (Non-Bombers) off-season news

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

One thing I don't want to do when discussing these things is to minimize one offence. Harassment should come with consequences and I am glad the league has taking these steps. Full stop.

It does shine a light on some other transgressions which maybe do not have consequences that reflect the severity of the crimes. Gambling on games is treated with a lifetime ban, harassment of women comes with a half season along with therapy and re-education training, but all others are a game or two at best.

To answer your questions, both Kelly and Ajou were suspended for 9 games and, in addition to the suspension, must successfully complete certain training sessions in order to be re-instated by the league. There is no opportunity to complete training or apologize to minimize the suspension. It's all part of it.

These events occur in a weird semi-judicial space were the employer judges the crime and hands out the sentence and rehabilitation requirements, when most employers would simply terminate the transgressor and leave them to the legal system.  Of course the CFL wants to do all they can to handle these issues in house so no fingers can be pointed and no stigma attached to their business practices. Secondary would be helping young men avoid criminal charges on their records.

If Ajou does not accept the accusations he could refuse to take the re-programming sessions and sign with a UFL team and go onto play in the NFL with no repercussions if no charges are ever laid. His only real penalty would be not signing with a CFL team, which may happen even if he takes the training sessions.

[Tecno]

His only real penalty would be not signing with a CFL team, which may happen even if he takes the training sessions.

I'm not sure he's good enough a player to even warrant anyone even thinking about him again 9 games down the road.  Now, if he was Kelly (or Kenny), that's a different story.  If you're gonna be "bad", best to be a league-top-5 at your position!

I do get a slight sense of shadenfreude though, at the greenie fans' expense!  I think it would be hilarious if they drop below EDM this season.  Of course, that won't be because Ajou was kicked out... <eyes towards LDC and BB...>

[Tecno]

It does shine a light on some other transgressions which maybe do not have consequences that reflect the severity of the crimes. Gambling on games is treated with a lifetime ban

Uh, Lemon = 1.5 year ban?  Strange definition of lifetime.  (It *should* be lifetime, BTW.  No love for Lemon after he destroyed Nichols' career, BTW#2.)

[Tecno]

This is important) any worse than what Kenny Lawler was CONVICTED OF when he was here?

What about Duron Carter smuggling weed in *airports*.  Ya, weed was legal, but it's 100% not legal in federal buildings and transportation hubs!  Not only did the league look the other way but apparently the criminal justice system (and both Canada & USA border services!) did too!

It's a weird world, and the contradictions rarely make sense.

[Ridermania]

CFL Trade

To Ottawa:

Playing rights to National defensive lineman Luiji Vilain
Toronto's 2026 fourth-round pick (31st overall)

To Toronto:

Ottawa's 2026 third-round pick (23rd overall)
Ottawa's 2027 conditional third-round pick (can be upgraded to a second round pick)

Vilain, 28, played five games over two seasons in the National Football League with the Minnesota Vikings (2022-23) and Carolina Panthers (2023), registering four total tackles. In addition to his time with the Vikings and Panthers, Vilain also spent the past two seasons with the Cleveland Browns (2024) and Dallas Cowboys (2024-25). The six-foot-four, 250-pound Ottawa, Ontario native was originally selected by the Toronto Argonauts in the third round, 25th overall in the 2021 CFL Canadian Draft.