Argo QB, Chad Kelly sited in harassment/wrongful dismissal charges

[TecnoGenius]

Wow, if you thought this was getting attention on this forum, check out the riderfans forum Kelly thread: up to 54 pages!!  And no, it's not much different from the banter going on around here...

Kelly has been very successful at one thing: making himself top of mind among fans league-wide!  Winning?      

[theaardvark]

Wow, if you thought this was getting attention on this forum, check out the riderfans forum Kelly thread: up to 54 pages!!  And no, it's not much different from the banter going on around here...

Kelly has been very successful at one thing: making himself top of mind among fans league-wide!  Winning?      

The old adage goes,  if they spell your name right, any publicity is good publicity.  Well, in this case, not so much.

Regardless the outcome, you can bet there will be boo's greeting Kelly in 8 or even 9 venues this year.

Polarizing figure, for sure. 

[Sir Blue and Gold]

After all this if Kelly does play it's going to be interesting to see how he looks.

He put forth one of the all time worst CFL playoff performances (at least in recent years) last November and then his off season has clearly been distracting and awful.

Football is a mental game especially with kickers and quarterbacks. Wonder where his head is at and if there are any alarm bells ringing in Toronto.

[TecnoGenius]

Regardless the outcome, you can bet there will be boo's greeting Kelly in 8 or even 9 venues this year.

Hehehehe.  That would be awesome.

However, home fans tend to overlook a lot of bunk to support their star players.  HAM never booed Simoni.  It took a ton of evil stuff to finally get SSK to turn on Marino.

[dd]

Egad, we re still talking about this guy??

[theaardvark]

Egad, we re still talking about this guy??

He is regarded as the best player in the CFL, definitely the highest paid, and the QB for the franchise of the Toronto-centric CFL.

So, yeah...

[Jockitch]

CFL has suspended Kelly for pre-season and the first 9 regular season games --- YAHOO

[GOLDMEMBER]

This had to be done or the league would suffer. Time to grow up Chad!

[Ridermania]

Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly has been suspended for 2024's preseason games and a minimum of nine further games for violating the Canadian Football League's (CFL) Gender-based Violence Policy. Mr. Kelly will be required to undergo confidential assessments by an independent expert and attend mandatory counselling sessions conducted by a gender-based violence expert.

Both the counselling sessions and the assessments must be satisfactorily completed before the CFL will consider Mr. Kelly's reinstatement. If he is unable to satisfactorily complete those sessions and assessments, the CFL reserves the right to modify his discipline.

The decision is the result of a thorough third-party investigation into allegations made against Mr. Kelly.

"Players are the ambassadors of our great game," said CFL Commissioner Randy Ambrosie. "They are expected to be leaders in the locker room and role models in the community. It was important that we performed our due diligence to properly review this matter from all points of view. That in-depth investigation found that Mr. Kelly unequivocally violated the CFL's Gender-based Violence Policy.

"Mr. Kelly's suspension is the direct result of his behaviour. The addition of mandatory counselling focuses on his need for self-reflection and understanding of his actions. He must take full advantage of this opportunity for personal betterment in order to return to the CFL."

Any future violations of the Gender-based Violence Policy by Mr. Kelly will result in further discipline.

The facts surrounding the Toronto Argonauts' conduct in this matter, as laid out by the investigators, will be reviewed with the Club.

All CFL and Club personnel are required to complete gender-based violence training. Discipline resulting from violations of the Gender-based Violence Policy is determined on a case-by-case basis.

https://www.cfl.ca/2024/05/07/chad-kelly-suspended-minimum-of-9-games-for-violating-gender-based-violence-policy/

[blue_gold_84]

About time!

[Blue In BC]

I wonder if the Argos can claw back the advance money from the new contract? I don't know if the league will allow that $300K to not be applied against the Argo SMS. I wonder what the statement regarding that this was the minimum suspension? The next step could be permanent banning.

However, if they do then there is an opportunity for Rourke to sign in Toronto that didn't exist yesterday due to SMS constraints / or need at the position.

Obviously I have no idea whether Rourke has any interests in returning anywhere to the CFL at the moment. He may wait it out to see if he gets other offers from another NFL team.

Interesting developments. Not good for the league or the Argos.

[Pigskin]

I like it. It sends a clear message.

[bluebeard]

Think we have seen the last of Mr. Kelly.  A tiger does not change his spots and his repution just follows him.

[Waffler]

Not good enough. I wanted him gone at least a season. He's a serial offender of various sorts, maybe just this one in the CFL, but we know that the NFL won't touch him. He takes a hit in pay but is back for the playoffs. It's the East, you are in it even if you go 2-7 to start. Being a poster boy for the Argos got him off easy. 

[theaardvark]

Like Manzeil before him, he is hoist with his own petard.

No doubt the Argos can use a league suspension to invalidate his contract.  If the league has sufficient grounds to suspend, the team has sufficient grounds to terminate, and since the infraction happened before this year of contract started, all bonuses should be recoupable.

Now, Pinball needs to get on the phone with Rourke and say, "Come home, young man."

And then that Idea goes out the window, the Giants just claimed Rourke off waivers.

Now Toronto is pooched.