Jimenez suspended

[Migs]

I agree Zarquon, be a man and accept the suspension instead of getting in through the backdoor like one AJ Gass......(and yes I would say the same if it was a Rider player). If Jimenez plays, all it does is make the CFL look even more bush that it did with the AJ Gass debacle earlier this year. Lions aren't that desperate are they????

[Stui]

Anyone got a copy of the CBA? The rule book I have, but the CBA no. Would be good to get the "down and dirty" about suspensions and the appeal process.

[Dan Russell]

Couldn't Jimenez play in both games as he can appeal and then appeal again through an independent arbirtrator? Allowing him to play in both games.

[#1 Lions Fan in SK]

I think the only way Jiminez should appeal is if he truly feels the suspension is unjustified. Otherwise, take it like and man. I agree with the poster who said if he makes the difference between a win and loss alone, we aren't as good as we think we are.

I hate to see an appeal process used as a tool to get him to play in the game if he is truly guilty of the crime. Besides the rest of the league would never let us live it down. As least with Sherko, the screaming slowed down substantially when he didn't appeal his suspension.

Also, I think this team is aggresive, not dirty, but I really hope next season Wally cracks down on these types of plays if they are truly happening.

[joesports]

If it was an illegal hit (and since we have a suspension, I would guess the league says it was), Jiminez should just suck it up and serve the game ASAP.
I think we can win without him this weekend.
It will be interesting to hear Wally in a few minutes on 1040.

[OrangeShoes99]

I agree Zarquon, be a man and accept the suspension instead of getting in through the backdoor like one AJ Gass......(and yes I would say the same if it was a Rider player). If Jimenez plays, all it does is make the CFL look even more bush that it did with the AJ Gass debacle earlier this year. Lions aren't that desperate are they????

Lol....I don't think you would be saying the same Migs...you would want your team to do everythign in their power to filed the best lineup they could. The CFLPA agreement states the players have a right to appeal. It does not make the league look bush. If that player feels he has a case for arbitration, then he is entitled to that process. He will still be punished should he lose that process and the penalty will be to not be eligible for the biggest game of the year, should the Lions get past the Riders.

The Lions aren't "desperate" at all, but they owe it themselves and the fans to give themselves the best shot to win. If that includes initiating an arbitration process, then so be it. No matter how much it raises the ire of Rider fans.

[Stui]

Well, while it would be "manly", it would be rather stupid, not to take advantage of a loophole in the proverbial "system", wouldn't it.

We have no problems with it being done on the field (bending of rules, advantage of loopholes in the rule book), and so would expect them to use the lame appeal process to their fullest advantage. Gass did, and got away with garbage, so why not JJ?

I say yeah, appeal it, assuming the appeals process doesn't have a "requirement" in time taken to arbitrate i.e., "must be done before the end of the season" which would be a decision made on or before the day of the GC. If the appeals process allows an appeal to transfer to the offseason, then yeah, go for it, so he's available for both games. I don't care whether or not it's the "honorable" thing to do. I go through plenty of that in Kendo and Iaido, but on the gridiron, you have a rule book and CBA that you can utilize to your best defense.

What I'm NOT sure about is how long the appeal can run. And who actually arbitrates it. It could be done very quickly, and he's screwed. It would appear that the league has some sort of video evidence to support the suspension, but with them keeping everything behind closed doors, other than the announcement, we can only speculate and assume. And assumption is the mother of all *frig*-ups.

[Power-O-O-O-O]

If an appeal can drag out past the Grey Cup, then I would appeal.
If not, just serve the one game in the WDF. I think the Lions will win without him.

[cromartie]

Gosh, why do in three days what you can do in nine. Quality efficiency on the part of the league.

[tedbear]

I agree Zarquon, be a man and accept the suspension instead of getting in through the backdoor like one AJ Gass......(and yes I would say the same if it was a Rider player). If Jimenez plays, all it does is make the CFL look even more bush that it did with the AJ Gass debacle earlier this year. Lions aren't that desperate are they????

Be a man accept the suspension?? come on Migs what does being a man have to do with accepting the suspension?? If Jimmenez believes the suspension was unjust and his legal representation from the players association advises him to appeal then that is what he should do. It has nothing to do with being a man. Some could argue the other way that being a man is fighting for what you believe is right.

Also how did Gass get in through the back door. If I recall correctly he won the arbitration hearing. But I guess because you were not in favor of him winning that decision. It is a debacle for the CFL and in your opinion made them CFL look bush.

For your information IMO the Lions are not desperate and for your information it is up to the player to initiate an appeal if he wants to. It has nothing to do with the Lions. So at least maybe get your facts straight before you start questioning if the Lions are desperate or making backdoor assumptions about Gass's situation when all Mr. Gass did was win the arbitration hearing. A right that he was afforded by the CFL contract with the CFL players association. The same right Mr. Jimmenez has if he so chooses to do so.

[joesports]

I agree Zarquon, be a man and accept the suspension instead of getting in through the backdoor like one AJ Gass......(and yes I would say the same if it was a Rider player). If Jimenez plays, all it does is make the CFL look even more bush that it did with the AJ Gass debacle earlier this year. Lions aren't that desperate are they????

Lol....I don't think you would be saying the same Migs...you would want your team to do everythign in their power to filed the best lineup they could. The CFLPA agreement states the players have a right to appeal. It does not make the league look bush. If that player feels he has a case for arbitration, then he is entitled to that process. He will still be punished should he lose that process and the penalty will be to not be eligible for the biggest game of the year, should the Lions get past the Riders.

The Lions aren't "desperate" at all, but they owe it themselves and the fans to give themselves the best shot to win. If that includes initiating an arbitration process, then so be it. No matter how much it raises the ire of Rider fans.

I agree that IF Jiminez is sure he isn't guilty of any wrongdoing, he should appeal, and it is within his rights to do so. That option always has to be there. I haven't seen the play, and even though some *cough*Rider*cough* fans say we need to just trust the ref's judgement on this, I don't think we can always do that. We are all well aware of how the officials can make mistakes.

However, I would expect that if he doesn't have a case, he will just serve his suspension and get it over with. Did the league decide his hit was technically illegal? Or legal, but a cheap shot?

Bottom line, Jiminez needs to think carefully about what his next move will be. We don't need to be dragging things out over the next 2 weeks. We need to minimize distractions.

[120dB]

1. Was the video evidence presented to Jason? Did he have an opportunity to actually watch the video replays, the Lion's tape and the tv tape, from all the different angles?

2. In arbitration, is it a bit like a court case where you have the CFL lawyers on one side and the players' lawyer on the other side? Or does the Union represent the player? How many sides take part? Is the team involved in such a hearing?

3. So is it the arbitration panel that reviews the video and makes an independent decision based on what they see in the video?

The important point is for the appeal to be successful, the arbitration panel will have to be convinced, beyond any shadow of a doubt, that what Jason did was legal and did not violate any rules.

A bit like a video review; when the ref goes under the hood to look at a replay, for the original call on the field to be overturned, there has to be evidence from the replay that the original call was wrong. No such evidence, and the call on the field stands.

That's one perspective but let me throw a curve ball here. I want to explore another option.

Let's assume the arbitration panel deems it an illegal hit, but disagress with the suspension saying a suspension is unfair. Let's say the arbitration panel decides that while it was an illegal hit, a suspension is too severe and a fine more justified.

Can an arbitration panel agree with the original ruling, but decide that the punishment was too severe and order just a fine instead?

I just thought I would throw that out there

[lion24]

We can all moan and complain about the suspension but Jiminez again put himself in a position he continues to find himself in and unfortunately it will cost him and maybe the Lions the West Final I have argued in support for all Lions players but I cannot keep "standing" up for a player who is continually putting himself in these situations; I realize none of us have seen the play but it is known that the play was a long way away from anything that was at stake on the field and did not have to happen. I hope whoever fills in for Jiminez can do a good job and hopefully help keep JJ, DD, BP standing and able to help win the game

[Migs]

Funny not many Lions fans spoke up like this during the AJ Gass fiasco. Its the same damn thing except this time the suspended players teammates are saying it was bad and one man got seriously injured (what did former Lion Daved Benefield say about the hit?). And people can plead the case that its a valid 'loophole' all they want but that still doesn't make it right. Just look at the reaction across the league about this incident. Being a man is accepting responsiblity for your actions and if Jimenez is dumb enough to think that his actions don't deserve implications then I truly feel sorry for him.

And yes Brian, if it was a Roughrider in a similar situation I would want him to man up and accept the fine levied by the league (check my opinions on Rider players suspended in years past). The AJ Gass debacle would seem miniscule compared to this if infact Jimenez plays on Sunday and I would feel this way regardless of whom the the Lions were playing on Sunday. And yes the Lions will infact look desperate if they appeal this decision no matter what Lions fans think.

[Rammer]

I think that is the problem in itself Migs, the loophole enabled Jimenez to use the block and feel alright with using it, but wasn't taking into consideration the consequences. I would think that he doesn't bother with the block if it was an illegal play, but with the results, this verifies the need to close the 'loophole'.

As for Gass, I don't see how an incident that didn't involve the Lions, why our fans would get vocal with it.