I'm a little surprised that this topic hasn't been floated in here yet.
https://3downnation.com/2026/09/17/cfl-suspends-josh-hagerty-two-games-for-striking-liam-talbot/
Long story short, the Montréal v BC game got really heated. During the game, Josh Haggerty, not once, but twice, in the course of special teams play punched Liam Talbot below the belt that he had to go for season ending surgery with life altering implications.
There's a lot wrong with this picture.
1) Why is a 6yr vet targeting a rookie continuously?
2) Yes, I've heard of linemen doing this from time to time, but this was violent force.
3) Is a 2 game suspension adequate for this?
4) Does this match the league's explanation of past precedent or should this set a new precedent?
5) Is there enough grounds for this to turn into a criminal investigation such as McSorley or Bertuzzi?
Personally I am revolted. Honestly that it happened at all and then was deemed a 2 game offense, it turns me off football. This is sport? This incident made headlines in the USA too and they don't even care about the CFL.
If the CFL won't do something further then BC should. Buck Pierce, Amar Doman or SOMEONE has to act, show some leadership. The message this is not who we are as a team should be sent.
What do you think MOS would do if it was his player?
Quote from: Waffler on September 18, 2026, 01:31:33 PMPersonally I am revolted. Honestly that it happened at all and then was deemed a 2 game offense, it turns me off football. This is sport? This incident made headlines in the USA too and they don't even care about the CFL.
If the CFL won't do something further then BC should. Buck Pierce, Amar Doman or SOMEONE has to act, show some leadership. The message this is not who we are as a team should be sent.
What do you think MOS would do if it was his player?
Don't forget Haggerty was on the Bombers briefly before he was with the Lions I don't believe he ever saw the field due to injury, but Miller and O'Shea knew him well enough to want to bring him in.
Quote from: Waffler on September 18, 2026, 01:31:33 PMPersonally I am revolted. Honestly that it happened at all and then was deemed a 2 game offense, it turns me off football. This is sport? This incident made headlines in the USA too and they don't even care about the CFL.
If the CFL won't do something further then BC should. Buck Pierce, Amar Doman or SOMEONE has to act, show some leadership. The message this is not who we are as a team should be sent.
What do you think MOS would do if it was his player?
I don't think there will be any additional discipline from the Lions, but they will for sure think a little less of him. His teammates and coaches will all see the video.
I know everyone makes mistakes but this is just so far outside of football. He's not trying to do anything other than punch him in the balls. I think this will mess with chemistry on defense for the Lions, and long term it's going to hurt the Lions more to keep him than to get rid of him.
Hope that other guy is okay.
How this differs from any other shenanigans that linemen often participate in is that they do that to throw the other team off their game.
This is malicious intent to injure. You can't tell me from looking at the footage that those are playful uppercuts to the groin.
I've read the league thinks the suspension would be appealed immediately by the PA if it was longer, which would be really disappointing if that truly was the case.
This was discussed, in the other team news thread. But it probably should have had its own thread from the beginning.
What I find odd is why not just kick or knee him in the nads. Why would you want to touch his junk? That's just weird, and he might get smacktalked about this until the end of time. If you knee the guy while you're running or falling or whatever you might be able to get away with it.
Why do something where it's so obvious you're going to get caught.
And I bet this isn't the first time. So every player who ever got hit by this guy needs to come out and me too him to death. Problem is, most guys would be ashamed to admit it, just like the mtl player was until he needed surgery.
Quote from: Tecno on September 18, 2026, 09:19:52 PMWhat I find odd is why not just kick or knee him in the nads. Why would you want to touch his junk? That's just weird, and he might get smacktalked about this until the end of time. If you knee the guy while you're running or falling or whatever you might be able to get away with it.
Some think it was not a punch but a grab and twist motion. If you look for it that does seem what he did. That's why hand, not knee. Purposeful mutilation. I'd be talking to a lawyer if I was Talbot.
Quote from: Tecno on September 18, 2026, 09:19:52 PMThis was discussed, in the other team news thread.
I wasn't aware there was an other team news thread. I'll look for it next time.
The question remains, does Buck let him see the field again, and can BC cut him loose for violating his code of conduct clause of his contract.
Its not like he's a star, he's only in the league because of his passport.
Does he get a mandatory drug test, this definitely feels like roid rage.
feels to me like as long as he wasnt caught at it BC coaches were fine with it. Likely nothing was said after the first incident and the it was repeated
There's been dirty crap like this for a few years now. Maybe not as extreme & obvious, but when others get away with smaller things, the envelope keeps getting pushed.
More than a few douches on both the Lions & Als.
Quote from: Waffler on September 18, 2026, 09:34:56 PMSome think it was not a punch but a grab and twist motion.
I found one of the instances but not the other yet.
It really looks like a punch because it's all so quick. To do a grab and twist should take longer than a couple of frames.
Plus, the CFL press release said blow, not grab.
Was the first incident so effective that he had to go for the second shot?
I'm not seeing the "football play" here at all.
This is "Longest Yard" crap.
Quote from: BomberFan73 on September 19, 2026, 01:38:47 PMThere's been dirty crap like this for a few years now. Maybe not as extreme & obvious, but when others get away with smaller things, the envelope keeps getting pushed.
More than a few douches on both the Lions & Als.
The history of football seems to suggest it was worse in the past, players used to die regularly on the field in it's early days.
Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on September 19, 2026, 05:09:49 PMThe history of football seems to suggest it was worse in the past, players used to die regularly on the field in it's early days.
So did cross checking players into the boards in hockey, but that's changed for the good.
It used to be players just cut blocked guys they wanted to get even with and that was in the rules, now they've taken that out, so players are resorting to this type of behaviour, which is brutal and there's no place in the game for it,
Garnes of Edmonton got ejected for a nut punch in todays game.
Quote from: gobombersgo on September 19, 2026, 08:53:46 PMGarnes of Edmonton got ejected for a nut punch in todays game.
Surely you jest? With all the focus on this stuff right now, who would be crazy enough to not be on their best behaviour?
Quote from: Tecno on September 19, 2026, 02:07:53 PMIt really looks like a punch because it's all so quick. To do a grab and twist should take longer than a couple of frames.
I used to be the patio bouncer at Wise Guys back in the day, and I can tell you from experience, the old "grab, twist, and yank" is REALLY, REALLY obvious, because it's usually accompanied by high-pitched screaming or squealing. However, people are also generally very quick to comply when that technique is applied.
Quote from: Tecno on September 19, 2026, 10:10:13 PMSurely you jest? With all the focus on this stuff right now, who would be crazy enough to not be on their best behaviour?
Yup, and the Replay Centre gave Mital an unnecessary roughing penalty for his own nut punch but he inexplicably didnt get thrown out.
Both players punched each other in the gut. Both should have been tossed.
Interesting: TSN didn't mention "Nut Gate" even once in the Fri pre-game show. And in the broadcast I didn't hear any mention of it except Luke making a veiled reference and then saying something like "not to bring that up".
I guess TSN sat down and decided to sweep this one under the rug. I wonder if Johnston told them to? You'd think it's the job of the news media to report... news.
I haven't watched the Sat games yet. Maybe they mention it more in those?
Quote from: Tecno on September 19, 2026, 11:51:08 PMInteresting: TSN didn't mention "Nut Gate" even once in the Fri pre-game show. And in the broadcast I didn't hear any mention of it except Luke making a veiled reference and then saying something like "not to bring that up".
I guess TSN sat down and decided to sweep this one under the rug. I wonder if Johnston told them to? You'd think it's the job of the news media to report... news.
I haven't watched the Sat games yet. Maybe they mention it more in those?
That's not TSN's role, they're in the game of promoting the CFL as a product.
Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on September 20, 2026, 12:43:15 AMThat's not TSN's role, they're in the game of promoting the CFL as a product.
They've talked about controversies and dirty play in the past though. Like when Marino was suspended and then blacklisted. They weren't afraid then. Why now?
If he had been punched in the face they'd be taking about it.
Quote from: Tecno on September 20, 2026, 11:15:03 AMThey've talked about controversies and dirty play in the past though. Like when Marino was suspended and then blacklisted. They weren't afraid then. Why now?
If he had been punched in the face they'd be taking about it.
100%
I still remember that TSN was the reason Dyson was ran out of the league. They played God with his career.
Is it because Hagerty is Canadian? Or they don't want people to know how dirty our nice, family friendly game has gotten?
Quote from: Tecno on September 20, 2026, 11:15:03 AMThey've talked about controversies and dirty play in the past though. Like when Marino was suspended and then blacklisted. They weren't afraid then. Why now?
If he had been punched in the face they'd be taking about it.
Could be the embarrassment factor. Do you want to, as a professional sportscaster, be talking about a nut punch? What euphemisms are you using? "sun don't shine", "family jewels" or just "unmentionables"?
Regardless, its not a good look for the league, and trotting it out repeatedly would make the league look more bush than necessary.
A punch is a punch and you should be thrown out. Guts or nuts, it doesn't really matter except for the level of pain.