What does the league do about headbutt?

[TecnoGenius]

Just saw the hit for the first time (just got home and fast-forwarded).

UNBELIEVABLE.  Instant ejection.  If the on-field refs miss it then it's an EITS ejection.  Instant.  Every time, and I'm not being a homer here.  Play is whistled done for 5+ seconds and Robertson comes in and commits an obvious unsportsmanlike conduct (UC) by bragging and yelling at the loser of the play, and then he comes in and does one of the more egregious headbutts we've seen in years (UR) to a concussion-prone QB who has 100% full protection because the play is over and he's still in the pocket and he's just standing there minding his own business and taking no steps to defend himself from a psycho DE.

This should be 10 for UC, 15 for UR and an upgrade for egregious UR to 25 and an ejection, as well as suspension and fine.  I want to hear command's excuse for why he wasn't ejected.  The CFL has shown part of the standard for call upgrades is the after-effects on the player.  It's clear Zach is seeing birdies flying.  He's not faking, because a) he knows he's going out for 3 plays or the whole game for showing concussion symptoms and b) the flag had not been thrown yet so Zach didn't know they get 3 more tries.  EITS has to take into account the after-effects, and it's clear the hit was legit hard by an out of control player.

Ya, in the end it would have just been the same halfway-to-the-goal, and may not have altered the outcome.  However, that side was the side Zach was throwing to on the final 2pt attempt... and Robertson was pass rushing hard closing the pocket and limiting escape.  So you never know.

(Note: this critical play was yet another one of Buck's stupid short curls that the teams just key on to get bodies in the lanes.  Argh, I never want to see that play near the goal line again.)

Anyone try to lip read MOS after the replay when he's talking to the ref?  Looks like he says "so you're taking him (the defender) off the field?".  Ref shakes his head "no".  MOS definitely says "why not".  Ya, ref, why not?

This is the second time we've seen MOS legit angry on the sidelines this season.  Rightly so.

I haven't read the Rider forum yet, but I really hope that at least 50% of the fans there agree this should have been instant ejection and suspension.

I smell a revenge game coming in 1 week... Our guys are going to cream them hard.

[TecnoGenius]

Actually, since I believe there was both callable UC and UR, the flag should have cost them half the distance then half the distance again, so that would have helped guarantee Prukop a TD, instead of the tougher 3 yard run.

To visualize the UC just imagine he didn't headbutt Zach, but just got in his grill.  5s after the play you cannot walk from yards away to get in a QB grill gloating you knocked it down in such an animated manner.  Small detail, but it shows the refs were really sleeping.

[TecnoGenius]

It was a total brainfart, and I don't think there was a premeditated attempt to injure, but it was egregious, uncalled for and one game is a very light penalty.  

I agree with Aards.  He didn't intend to injure, because he wasn't thinking anything at the moment.  He was psycho with adrenalin and is clearly a brutish player who is not in full control of his emotions.  He's a loose cannon.  That type of player may be even more dangerous than the Simonis and Marinos and Wynns who are in full control and know exactly what they are doing.  The Robertson type can't be controlled, even with direct instruction by the coaches.  And you never know what craziness he'll do next.

Maybe the most important requirement of a good football player is he can harness and control his adrenalin and anger and direct it to the play between the whistles without going over the edge.  Clearly this guy can't do that.  And as such he's a liability to his team.  If this happened on a MOS team, you can bet there'd be some major discipline or firing.  If Fudd is aww-shucksing and brushing this one off, then it is a sign he doesn't take the discipline issue seriously, and I question even more now his ability to coach.

[TecnoGenius]

And there it is. Robertson suspended for one game according to TSN

Should be 3 or 4 games minimum. A one game suspension. Is a joke. Isn't he repeat offender

Maybe it's another sign of "penalizing the effect".  If Zach had suffered a concussion, maybe they suspend for 2 or 3.  Maybe.

I'm somewhat ok with a one-game.  I'm glad they did it so fast, relative to their past slow deliberations.  I think a 2-game would have been more appropriate.  Why?  Because this wasn't a DB punching a SB.  This was a big DE possibly concussing the 2-year-running league MOP.  It seems a small price for Robertson to pay for possibly season-ending a QB.

However, how much of this is the CFL protecting Robertson from the pasting he'd get in the BB?  How much is this the CFL trying to stop a full-on brawl in the BB?  This could just be them trying to keep order.  It's a smart move by the CFL.

I really really really hope he appeals and they delay the suspension for over a week.  Then I really hope we legally steamroll that guy between the whistles.  Yoshi and Neuf (and Bailey! and Jackson!) know what to do.  But a MOS team has to keep it all legal.  I don't want to see us with the ejections the CFL will be hair-triggering next week...

[TecnoGenius]

I don't think

There's your problem.  Ignore the obvious troll.  Did you get the handle??  Bug-zee-bomber.  Bug-the-bomber.  Nice try.  Bye troll.  He can have fun missing the playoffs while we are in the GC.

[Tiger]

I agree with Aards.  He didn't intend to injure, because he wasn't thinking anything at the moment.  He was psycho with adrenalin and is clearly a brutish player who is not in full control of his emotions.  He's a loose cannon.  That type of player may be even more dangerous than the Simonis and Marinos and Wynns who are in full control and know exactly what they are doing.  The Robertson type can't be controlled, even with direct instruction by the coaches.  And you never know what craziness he'll do next.

Maybe the most important requirement of a good football player is he can harness and control his adrenalin and anger and direct it to the play between the whistles without going over the edge.  Clearly this guy can't do that.  And as such he's a liability to his team.  If this happened on a MOS team, you can bet there'd be some major discipline or firing.  If Fudd is aww-shucksing and brushing this one off, then it is a sign he doesn't take the discipline issue seriously, and I question even more now his ability to coach.

He walked over to collaros after the ball was away and hit him to the point that Collaros was knocked down and taken out of the game.  Do you think Robertson had no knowledge of Collaros? concussion history?  The fact Collaros was not injured is not proof of lacking intent. His actions clearly show intent. If you want to give him a pass based on ?drela one and not able to control himself so be it.  But this is not an inadvertent act, a questionable tackle with a QB has the ball or some accident.

Clearly there was intent to hit Collaros in the head, after the play was away and he had to walk over to collaros to hit him. If not knocking down regardless of Collaros? concussion injury is not intent it is clearly a complete disregard of the consequences and injury, which in it self is intent. 

You cannot get into Robertson?s head to determine intent, you have to judge by the actions.  Seems clear to me.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Absolutely horrifying to see a Rider player once again blatantly target a QB with nintent to injure. Disgusting that this is the same team that effectively ended Masoli's career with a similar dirty, blatant cheap shot. Shameful to see the league respond with a mere slap on the wrist. I'm betting Wade Miller and Mike O'Shea will have plenty more to say on this matter and I look forward to hearing it. If I were O'Shea, I'd refuse to ever shake hands with Craig Dickenson, a coach that repeatedly puts players on the field that intend to injure other players. If Dickenson had any integrity he'd hold his players to a higher standard and make them accountable instead of making excuses for them and trying to downplay their egregious actions. The fact that he doesn't tells me all I need to know about Craig Dickenson. I'm surprised he still has a job.

It should also be remembered that Marino's initial suspension did not change his behaviour, as soon as he returned he was right back to his old tricks and Dickie did nothing to reel him in.  I think he might have lasted two more games before the league had enough, coincidentally his last charade was knocking over Zach well after the play and pretending it was unitentional.

[TecnoGenius]

He walked over to collaros after the ball was away and hit him to the point that Collaros was knocked down and taken out of the game.  Do you think Robertson had no knowledge of Collaros? concussion history?  The fact Collaros was not injured is not proof of lacking intent. His actions clearly show intent. If you want to give him a pass based on ?drela one and not able to control himself so be it.  But this is not an inadvertent act, a questionable tackle with a QB has the ball or some accident.

Clearly there was intent to hit Collaros in the head, after the play was away and he had to walk over to collaros to hit him. If not knocking down regardless of Collaros? concussion injury is not intent it is clearly a complete disregard of the consequences and injury, which in it self is intent. 

You cannot get into Robertson?s head to determine intent, you have to judge by the actions.  Seems clear to me.

No one can get in his head.  But we're half-saying the same thing.  I am not saying it was an accident or misguided celebration, like some have around the league.  He wilfully went over and egregiously headbutted Zach.

The differentiating factor is that I don't think he was thinking about Zach's history, or concussing Zach or helping his team by knocking Zach out of the game.  I don't think he was thinking about much of anything except "look at me I made this huge play and you suck and I'm going to bully you down because I'm a tough thug and you are a weak QB who just screwed up and will probably lose".  It is precisely that moment that a player needs to have control over themselves.  He intended to gloat, but he just couldn't control himself not to make it physical.

And 99% of the players do maintain control.  Micah Johnson keeps control, and he knew instantly how dumb a move that was.

But some more of that 99% are at the margin, who with a little encouragement, like good results and ineffectual, weak punishment, could be enticed to be less in control.  That is why the refs and league need to keep a tight lid on out of control players.  They are dangerous for everyone and bad for the league.

[Blue In BC]

Rider fans are sure whining about the suspension. What a joke. IIRC they defended Marino last year as well.

[wpg#1]

Rider fans are sure whining about the suspension. What a joke. IIRC they defended Marino last year as well.

INCREDIBLE !! riderfans forum has a bunch of rider fans calling Zach and O'shea cry babies, so that's why the suspension some how came to quickly, and actually defending the idiot.
I had to stop reading it. They say the Bombers have the CFL in their back pocket... like somehow this should have been ignored ??
So irritating !!!     This is the reason why I hate GREEN !

[blue_gold_84]

Rider fans are sure whining about the suspension. What a joke. IIRC they defended Marino last year as well.

Yeah, the ghouls defending Robertson were probably the same ones who defended Marino's greasy antics last year.

One game not enough, IMO.

[Ridermania]

Rider fans are sure whining about the suspension. What a joke. IIRC they defended Marino last year as well.

He deserved a one game suspension and I am glad the CFL did this swiftly.

Story is now over and should not be a distraction for the Banjo Bowl.....let's move on. 

No, we did not whine about the Marino incident last year, we all booed as he left the field.

[wpg#1]

He deserved a one game suspension and I am glad the CFL did this swiftly.

Story is now over and should not be a distraction for the Banjo Bowl.....let's move on. 

No, we did not whine about the Marino incident last year, we all booed as he left the field.

REALLY ? I saw a lot of cheering from rider fans when marino was walking off the field, and don't recall booing.
I'm sure you would like the fans and Blue Bombers to move on from this and sweep it under the carpet, but I guarantee that this won't be forgotten on Saturday. 

[blue_gold_84]

He deserved a one game suspension and I am glad the CFL did this swiftly.

Story is now over and should not be a distraction for the Banjo Bowl.....let's move on. 

No, we did not whine about the Marino incident last year, we all booed as he left the field.

You probably shouldn't try and speak for an entire fanbase.

[Pigskin]

Our Bomber boarder told me this morning that it's a cheap stupid play that we as players don't need in our game. He said, if you want to headbutt someone in celebration , headbutt one of your own players. Said if that was one of our players, Coach O sits you for the next game regardless of what the CFL says. 

He also said that late in the 4th quarter, the Ref, missed a face masking call on BO20.