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

[Lincoln Locomotive]

Looks like public criticism of the Argos allowing Kelly to participate has forced their hand....

There was a backlash of comments from many of the female employees from the CFL including from the Bombers, who were offended that Kelly was participating with the Argos rookie training camp.
Mike O'Shea commented that he felt all women in the CFL's employ need to feel that they are working in a safe work environment and it was important to recognize their take on the situation, not particularly his,   I agree.

https://3downnation.com/2024/05/12/qb-chad-kelly-not-participating-in-team-activities-toronto-argonauts/

[ModAdmin]

Looks like public criticism of the Argos allowing Kelly to participate has forced their hand....

There was a backlash of comments from many of the female employees from the CFL including from the Bombers, who were offended that Kelly was participating with the Argos rookie training camp.
Mike O'Shea commented that he felt all women in the CFL's employ need to feel that they are working in a safe work environment and it was important to recognize their take on the situation, not particularly his,   I agree.

https://3downnation.com/2024/05/12/qb-chad-kelly-not-participating-in-team-activities-toronto-argonauts/

Smart move by the Argos but why they didn't do this earlier and initiate it on their own is a mystery and a bad decision.  Bowing to public pressure to deal with the problem is not a good look.

[theaardvark]

Factually not true, contract expired not renewed.

Hence the "" around "fired".  She had been renewed a number of times, he thing that was different this time was that she had made a complaint...

[ichabod_crane]

If Kelly wasn't a top-3 QB he'd probably can his butt.  As it stands, after this year he may still can his butt, or trade him off (probably the best scenario).  Unless Kelly wins another GC, of course...

Kelly only helped win the Grey Cup in 2022 in a backup role off the bench when Argo's starter went down in that game. If Bethel-Thompson does not crater in that game (think it was called an injury....who knows it that was the truth?), Bombers probably win that game. I would not call less than half a game him "winning" the Grey Cup. Not sure how much backup work he did during the regular season for the Argos. Bethel-Thompson surely took a high percentage of the snaps that season.

Following year Kelly becomes the main man after Bethel-Thompson bolts for some mickey mouse league, wins league MVP, then royally stinks the joint out in the second half vs the Alouettes in the Eastern Final. A thing of "beauty" it was too! I believe based on the timeframe I have read of the allegations his nonsense with that trainer occurred just before the Eastern Final last year (I could be wrong). This is why his head maybe was not in the game and he threw up easy interceptions like shooting fish in a barrel!

The guy has talent, but seems obvious he can be thrown off his game if he is not mentally into it. This entire fiasco may end his career in the CFL. Maybe he can pull off a Michael Vick rebound although Vick was convicted of a crime (dog fighting rings & gambling) and served time before coming back to the NFL. Vick was never quite the same player after returning. Just like that Houston Texans QB who went to Cleveland. They signed him for a crazy ton of money and he is stinking the joint out so far. I sometimes wonder how these NFL GM's get their jobs as signing that clown had warning signs all over it!!

In retrospect Brady Olivera got shafted for the MOP award last year. A total difference in character from Kelly the LOSER! They should revoke that award like the IOC does with cheating Russians or whomever grossly shames themselves in the Olympics and give it to someone more deserving!

[ichabod_crane]

Yup, the buck stops there.

USA President Harry Truman could not have said it any better!! THE BUCK STOPS AT THE TOP!! Take responsibility and action or give up your position Pinball.

https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/education/trivia/buck-stops-here-sign



To be fair, Kelly has been CONVICTED or JUDGED about nothing yet except in the court of public opinion and many allegations. EVERYONE deserves their day in court whether we like it or not. That is what our justice system is built around. Railroading anyone even if it looks cut and dried is not something I would condone on anyone. Maybe if he loses his civil case the Argos will do something more....I have no clue.

Mini Mack Heron and Jim Thorpe were tossed out for life in the early 70's by the Bombers for some dope issues (maybe more than that-some criminal behaviour?). Bernie Ruoff canned over pot after 1979 season! That looks so ridiculous in todays day and age where I see pot shops on almost every street corner! People forget that is how Trevor Kennerd and Bob Cameron got kicking/punting jobs in 1980 with the Bombers since Ruoff was canned and went to the Tiger Cats afterwards for many more years.

[ichabod_crane]

I feel every day that Kelly is in camp should not count as part of his suspension. I didn't see Lawler once last year during his suspension just in comparison. To be clear, Kelly is suspended for the 2 preseason games. Training camp is some kind of loophole? The whole Argo franchise disgusts me over this. They seem to believe that only winning will bring back fans despite much evidence to the contrary and will bend or break any rule they want to.

Toronto has suddenly become LOSER city with it's pro sports teams. Leafs crash and burn AGAIN in the playoffs. CRaptors stunk the joint out last two seasons. Jays are terrible this year and probably won't even make a wildcard spot. Argos in major doldrums now. Toronto FC seem to be the only hopeful team on the horizon this year for sports fans in Toronto!

When Argos had Doug Flutie, arguably the best player the CFL has ever seen the Argos still did not draw great crowds unless it was  the labour day weekend rivalry or playoffs. Too many wannabe Americans in Toronto who think ONLY THE NFL is worth watching when I see way too many 6-3 games every year during the NFL season....snore! Only a few teams worth watching in the NFL due to long history or great players/teams (KC, Dallas, used to be New England, Forty Niners, Bills, Packers). I follow the Vikes as their old head coach was Bud Grant, but they have NEVER won the Super Bowl yet after 4 tries. DA MIKE DITKA BEARS (The Fridge, Jim McMahon) had some characters and even a popular rap song in 1985! A lot of over hype and mega cash involved down there. Of course everyone wants to play down there as could be set for life with the paydays down south and who can blame players with short careers.

Football to Americans is like hockey to us Canadians...they think it is THEIR game when the rest of the world is close to catching up if not surpassing them at times.

[dd]

I don't know if the rest of the world has passed the Americans in producing football talent, the best football players still come out of US schools and programs, hands down/not even close. Yes, some Canadians are making it south of the border, but there's more football players produced in Florida than in all of Canada combined x 100!!

[theaardvark]

Kelly has not been convicted of anything in regards to these issues, no.

But sufficient evidence has been uncovered to suspend him a minimum of half a season, and could be permanent is he does not successfully complete his courses. 

This is not a court of law, and conviction in one has a very high standard to meet, and for very good reason.

This is a tribunal about whether a player with toxic tendencies should be allowed to play in a league that prides itself on its stance on diversity and protection of the rights of women.

Playing in the CFL is not a right, but rather a privilege.  As of this moment, while Kelly may have proven to have the talent to play here. he has not proven himself worthy of that privilege from a purely human standpoint.

Conduct is a large part of the CFL.  Marino lost that privilege on the field with his actions.  Kelly has lost it off the field.  It looks like they want to give him the same chances they gave Manzeil, although I do not know why.  The league should have learned from that instance, leopards do not change their spots, and all we got from that was disappointment.

[ichabod_crane]

I don't know if the rest of the world has passed the Americans in producing football talent, the best football players still come out of US schools and programs, hands down/not even close. Yes, some Canadians are making it south of the border, but there's more football players produced in Florida than in all of Canada combined x 100!!

I was more referring to the brand/style of football, not football players per se. To me the CFL game is more exciting and wide open compared to the average NFL regular season game. Playoffs they are a closer comparison as best on best at that time. Many dudes I know only follow the NFL because they gamble on it....don't follow it much otherwise as just a Fairweather fan. Do you like 6-3 snooze fests? Only if outstanding defence involved, but usually it's due to ineptitude or horrible QB play!

It is obvious American colleges produce more players than the rest of the world combined. That I don't dispute and training much better down south (+ lucrative scholarships and even sponsorships now) although I think Canada's university and junior football has grown leaps and bounds in the last 10-20 years training wise. Canada just does not have the same following or money involved for college ball like down south so the money will always be an issue here for our football programs.

[dd]

Agree. CFL game is far more entertaining and fun to watch plus given a 9 team league, you can get to know the teams fairly well. The NFL kicking game is horrible. Let's watch a kicker kickoff through the end zone one more time!! What a waste of time! Talk about pointless. Just spot the ball on the 20 and forget kickoffs. And punts, love to watch the free catch/ no return all the time——not!! I don't watch the nfl at all during regular season and only tune in during playoffs. Way too boring to watch, snooze fest is right!!

[ichabod_crane]

Agree. CFL game is far more entertaining and fun to watch plus given a 9 team league, you can get to know the teams fairly well. The NFL kicking game is horrible. Let's watch a kicker kickoff through the end zone one more time!! What a waste of time! Talk about pointless. Just spot the ball on the 20 and forget kickoffs. And punts, love to watch the free catch/ no return all the time——not!! I don't watch the nfl at all during regular season and only tune in during playoffs. Way too boring to watch, snooze fest is right!!

I know they tweaked the kickoff rules in the NFL for the upcoming season, but don't think it will change too much. A total waste of time 90% of kickoffs as with the legs most kickers have now and team strategies they just boot it through the end zone. TOTAL WASTE OF MY TIME to watch such nonsense! Bathroom or beverage break for kickoffs. Surprised the networks even show them! I've been harping on the uselessness of NFL kickoffs for many seasons already. Such a joke.

Punting not much better. Fair catch rules. The odd time a returner gets some room and takes it to the house or a big return. The return games are not featured much in NFL ball outside you better have a very accurate field goal kicker and a punter who does not often shank.

[theaardvark]

Kick through the end zone / fair catch are lame.  But, like watching 3 hours of cars turning left, when the pileup occurs, that's excitement.

Rarely on kickoffs does a kicker shank it short, but it can happen.  More often, a returner flubbs a fair catch.

Not saying the standard execution of these plays is exciting, or endorsing them over CFL rulez, but its not 100% boring.  Just 99%

[J5V]

I've never been a fan of Pinball Clemons and his handling of this issue hasn't done anything to make me to change my mind. I know some folks really like him but I've always considered him a bit of a phoney. His attempts to talk around this issue and his fake emotions about the young woman at the centre of the storm have been disingenuous His "If you want to blame someone, blame me" statement smacks of false bravado. It's not about you, Pinball. We just want to know why you're handling the issue the way you have, which is poorly in my opinion.

[Pigskin]

Argo's sign Arbuckle.

[dd]

I've never been a fan of Pinball Clemons and his handling of this issue hasn't done anything to make me to change my mind. I know some folks really like him but I've always considered him a bit of a phoney. His attempts to talk around this issue and his fake emotions about the young woman at the centre of the storm have been disingenuous His "If you want to blame someone, blame me" statement smacks of false bravado. It's not about you, Pinball. We just want to know why you're handling the issue the way you have, which is poorly in my opinion.

I met Pinball once, thought he was a pretty good guy, and thought he was better than this. He clearly dropped the ball on this and nothing he can say at this point in time really means anything. Actions speak louder than words, especially after the fact when it came out in the media.