Welcome to Quick Snaps for Week 3 of the CFL season. It is a different look a some of the interesting stories in and around the CFL.
CFL Week 3 Quick Snaps
Carter Suspension: a Learning Moment?
With the CFL handing a one game suspension to Montreal Alouettes receiver Duron Carter, there have been many questions about Carter’s maturity and length of suspension. Commissioner Jeffery Orridge could have made a much bigger impact with the suspension without adding games or fines. He could have included a community service aspect to the punishment. The league could have mandated Carter take some time out of his week and speak to a Montreal area children’s group or school about good sportsmanship.
It would have helped the league in two ways. It would have made them look like they take antics like Carter’s seriously. It also would have been a good public relations move by the commissioner, who was primarily hired to help the league’s image. The only stumbling block could have been the CFLPA, but one would think the PA would not want to be vilified for nixing a positive story.
That did not happen and Carter is appealing his single game suspension. Maybe the Alouettes could donate the fine they collected from Carter to a local children’s group. This would bring some positive to the story.
Who Is to Blame for the Early Retirements?
As the Saskatchewan Roughriders prepared for Chris Jones’ first regular season return to Commonwealth Stadium, they also started the process for requesting compensation for Matt Sewell’s sudden retirement after his trade to the Riders. All over social media there have been many takes on who is to blame for Sewell’s decision.
Some blame Sewell himself for not being a “pro” and being a whiner. Although when is it up to the fans to tell a player when they can or cannot hang up the cleats. Some blame Toronto Argonauts general manager Jim Barker for selling Jones a bill of goods. Because they assume he knew there was no way that Sewell would pack up and move two provinces over. Most seem to blame Jones for not doing his homework before making the trade. However, unless given permission from the Argos to talk to Sewell before the trade, that would have been tampering.
Seemingly the only party of this trade and sudden retirement that is not being scrutinized is the league itself. There have been many sudden retirements this past off season for varying reasons. The argument could be made that if the CFL paid their players better these retirements could be lessened. While there are players who make a decent living in the CFL, a majority take second jobs in the off-season. This is either to make ends meet or just to prepare for a future outside football. Unless the CFL is going to pay players more, the future for most players comes sooner than later.
Ed Hervey in the Ultimate Pot meet Kettle situation
When all but one of the Edmonton Eskimos coaching staff joined Jones in Saskatchewan it led to stories of the Riders raiding the defending Grey Cup champions. However, the Edmonton Sun revealed this week that sources have stated that Eskimos general manager, Ed Hervey, decided to not pay the coaches their payment in December after winning the Grey Cup.
When Hervey was asked about the claim, he did not deny or confirm the accusation. Instead he framed the story that the Riders tampered with his coaching staff. Hervey indicated that he was trying to prepare for a new coaching staff; and was not going to pay the outgoing staff another dime.
So basically, the man who signed Odell Willis as a free agent in less time than it takes to microwave popcorn is trying to take the high ground on tampering.
Main Photo: MONTREAL, QC – JUNE 30: Wide receiver Duron Carter #89 of the Montreal Alouettes falls to the ground with the ball during the CFL game against the Ottawa Redblacks at Percival Molson Stadium on June 30, 2016 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Ottawa Redblacks defeated the Montreal Alouettes 28-13. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
