Thursday Commentary: Not In My CFL
Photo: Iowa City Press Citizen
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We learned two very revealing things in the football world on Wednesday.
First, the Canadian Football League has reinstated defensive lineman Shawn Lemon. He’d been suspended for betting on games while with the Calgary Stampeders back in 2021, and lost his appeal.
At first glance, at age 36, I thought there was no way the 3-time Grey Cup champ would make his way back to the field and that this decision by Commissioner Stewart Johnston would simply clear Lemon’s name for an ultimate induction into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.
He deserves to be in there.
But then word came out of Montreal that the Lemonator was seen at the Alouettes facility on Wednesday so hold onto your bingo card.
Just as interesting was the news that Arland Bruce The IV, son of CFL great and 2-time champ Arland Bruce, will have a hearing with the same Stewart Johnston in the coming weeks over his reinstatement in the CFL.
You see, the youngest Bruce was banned from the NCAA for betting while at Iowa but his college eligibility has run out. He signed with Chris Jones’ Edmonton Elks, but former Commissioner Randy Ambrosie nixed that deal.
Now, AB4 is lighting it up in the Indoor Football League and when their season is over in two weeks, he’ll be meeting with Stewart Johnston, the new Commissioner.
My word – he’s not going to have to pay for sins committed as a college student for the rest of his life is he?
The Indoor Football League clearly doesn’t have a problem with Arland The 4th. Why should the CFL?
Or is the fact that his father unsuccessfully brought a concussion lawsuit against the CFL going to blackball the son for life?
Dear God I hope not. Not in my CFL.
That’s today’s Rod Pedersen Commentary
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For those against anyone moving on with their lives. These guys are in their 20 and 30s with a lot of miles ahead. Those opposed. It is the same deal. Their eyes strain from peering down from the moral high ground. They all do this while ensuring nobody gets to see what they have on their web browser history. If the American public has no issue with the CIA involved in human trafficking on Epstein Island to gain intelligence and compromise world leaders. The FBI can gather Intelligence on celebrities to back narratives. …its the CFL they need to make… Read more »
Let em play, Lemon/Bruce IV.
If those guys are playing in the CFL you are an idiot if you are betting games. Every player in the league sees they have nothing to lose. Careers are short and pay isn’t great. The deck is stacked against the bettors who don’t get to sit in team meetings.