RIDERS IN HOT WATER OVER INJURY-FILLED WORKOUT
Canadian Football League players, the players association, agents and families are furious over what they feel are unsafe work place practices with some teams following this week’s rash of on-field injuries prior to the start of training camp. The CFLPA issued the following memo to its members on Friday:
Gentlemen,
Despite the CFL’s assurances that player health and safety is a high priority for the league and teams, we have confirmed six members experienced Achilles Tendon injuries yesterday (four of six occurring within six minutes on one team). This clearly contradicts those assurances.
The reports we have received regarding the circumstances cause us great concern that the coaching staff were not respecting the protocols in place for the first week of player isolation. We will continue to seek answers and demand more rigorous oversight on proper player safety standards.
We strongly recommend all members be personally proactive with their health and safety and understand that you can and should speak out when you feel your health and safety is being put at risk. Immediately contact your player reps and Association if you feel your health and safety is being compromised. The CFLPA will immediately act on your concerns. We continue to place the health and safety of our members at the forefront and we will ensure the CFL does the same.
Your CFLPA
On Thursday four members of the Saskatchewan Roughriders went down with Achilles tendon injuries and the legality of the group workout in question is being investigated. Some feel the workout should’ve been halted once the first two injuries occurred. The injuries to LB Larry Dean, DE Freddie Bishop, DB Nelson Lokombo and RB Jonathan Femi-Cole are reportedly season-ending.
RP
@rodpedersen
It’s crazy!! I really want to know how this happened. ALL of them ripping their Achilles. Was it the turf? The specific exercise they did? I think we all need to know
Early reports are they were chasing around a flying medicine ball & racing after it. So, all out for 7-10 yards. Despite claiming everything was within league rules, Lalji & Naylor report pretty much the whole team was there which is not what is supposed to happen. After so much time off, to be running down a medicine ball in short sprints is a bit off IMO. Where were the adults in the room? Oh yeah, the trainers that were there were occupied with other things – fixing up injured tendons. This looks really bad on the Riders & I… Read more »
wow cant believe they were working out and running around at a practice!
Do players not come to camp in shape
Can you say Lawsuits? Lawsuits.
I knew you could.
Technically_ the Saskatchewan Roughriders Football Club and its management team are not obligated to pay for the medical bills of these injured men and can release them outright from their pending player contracts. The Roughriders gm can do that, why pay a person who participated in a off season practice where injuries occured unless the gm gave his permission to open the mosaic doors to all available participants in violation of return to play league/Canadian Health protocal agreements. There is more to this story, why would the Roughriders gm call an emergency media conference immediately after this incident_ because he… Read more »
Where is CFLeague commissioner Randy Ambrosie on this? Any league statements or repercussions?
GUESS WHO IS STILL GETTING PAID AS A ROUGHRIDER!
He only played 5 games in 2019.
Played no games 2020.
Now gone fishing/ camping 2021.
He wants to be paid 2022.
Without Prejudice
To the CFLPA
Go pound sand. Due to injuries self sustained we will be temporarly suspending the ratio. This will allow for adequate human resources to ensure a quality product.
Buddy Stephens and Jason Brown of Last Chance U will now run camp. Rust Probst will consult
……toughen up buttercups. If not the world needs bartenders