Murphy & Romero fined by the CFL

[Toppy Vann]

I don't think Murphy lost it in the 'heat of the moment'. He is not that type of guy. To suggest he lost it and imply he was lucky not to end his career is ridiculous!!!! He gets mad but he is hardly the type of guy to "lose it".

You obviously did not read his comments in yesterday's Vancouver Province then:

Amnesia got the better of Lions OL Rob Murphy after he got the better of Edmonton's Jason Goss by pinning his neck to the turf with a straight-arm that looked a lot like a move he has applied on Adam Braidwood and John Chick in the past. "Did I do it again?" asked Murphy. "I kind of get in a zone and I don't know what's going on out there."

DH 8)

It is no big deal to me as I was mostly joking around on this but I don't think Murphy was as bad as you are trying to paint him here. I am not condoning it. Just saying if it was a neck injury the player should not have been back in that same game. Ask Murphy when you see him if he lost it and didn't know he was about to seriously injure the guy. Ullrich is not saying he was either.

I think Rammer has it right here:

"... it is nice to see that the league doesn't quite view the incident the same way some fan bases do. Although I must suggest that it wasn't cricket in what Murphy did, but wasn't much worse than what goes on in a pile when the ball is loose."

If it seems I am defending Murphy here, yes, I am. He may be chippy and do dumb things like pan cake guys but I'd never suggest that he is out to cause serious injury to another nor did he do it in this case. Again, what he does at times is wrong but he is not some Chris Simon whack job as some descriptions here imply. The CFL had to do something as they got tape too and he has done this before.

The neck injury protocols were not followed or he would not have played that day within the next 30 minutes and would have gone off on a board with his neck immobilized not sitting up in a cart.

[B.C.FAN]

There was never a suggestion at the game that Goss had suffered a neck injury. Obviously the trainers didn't treat him for one, and he returned unharmed shortly afterwards. Goss was injured when Murphy punched the ball out of his arms, tackled him and landed on him. There's nothing illegal about that. Murphy was apparently penalized and fined for pinning him down afterwards as other players scrambled for the resulting loose ball. Romero was penalized and fined for piling on. The league saw nothing in the actions of either player that would warrant a suspension for risking injury to an opponent.

Mike Beamish's game story in the Vancouver Sun described Goss's injury this way:

Edmonton safety Jason Goss was knocked silly and forced out of the game after he picked up a Stefan Logan fumble, returned the ball to the Lions one-yard before being tackled by Rob Murphy.

Lyndon Little's sidebar said this:

Goss, who was knocked into la-la land while advancing a fumble, recovered over the half time break and returned for the start of the third quarter.

Interestingly, Siddeeq Shabazz appears to have received no further discipline after being ejected.

[joesports]

I'm sure the righteous indignation will reach epic proportions now.

Oh, it's in full force on RF.com already, in fact it started building on Friday night.

It's more of the usual -- Wally can't control his guys, they're classless, Cohon is a joke, etc.

[Blitz]

Interesting analysis, Toppy. I wondered why Goss would flail around like that if he had a "neck injury"; most injuries like that leave the player prone. He did return, didn't he?

Something to ponder.

Of course, I can understand why you would think that way Toppy...because in soccer it happens all the time, with trainers running out on the field with their cans of frozen spray and the player writhing on the field in fake pain..acting like a 'poofter'. Just teasin' ya man!!

That is exactly why I am trained to spot malingerers and phonies and am able to see the act for what it was. Goss would make a great player for Italy. No one can moan and groan and writhe around like the Italians and I don't mean in bed.

I don't believe in conspiracy theories but I do believe the pesky Esky once in his fake injury scene had to wait a couple of series before coming back on. The evidence in this case is proof positive it was no serious neck injury as none of the neck injury protocols were employed. The guy rode off sitting up. He returned to the game. If it was any sort of injury to the neck he would not have been allowed to return as if he then went down with paralysis, the Eskimos and all and sundry would be getting their arses sued off and the guy would win big time in Canadian courts.

PS: If you play for me, you don't fake injuries or dive like you've been shot from the grassy knoll. I don't believe in that stuff as it is demeaning, disrespectful of the game and distracting to the team. In the Esks game, it was all of that and more. It speaks to the character of the Eskimo coaching staff who would tolerate such stuff..

You gotta stop drinking that warm beer Toppy or hangin' with Italians!! As for conspiracy theories...I also believe the CIA bumped off Maralyn Munroe!!

Just remember Joe Smith's couldn't even feel his legs after being hit in a game but made a quick recovery. Sometimes injuries can stun but there is no serious damage and the player can return to the field. For all we know, Goss was paralysed with fear, with Murphy towering over the top of him and once he was in the safe confines of the dressing room the fear went away and the stiffness in his neck disappeared as well!!

[Big Time]

As per TSN:

http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=252554& ... lines_main

Interesting statement by the league:

"The league released a statement saying that ''a thorough review found that, while Murphy's conduct was clearly inappropriate, and the subsequent involvement of other players compounded the risk to Goss, Murphy's actions alone did not constitute an unnecessary risk to Goss that was severe enough to merit suspension under the new player safety standard established recently by the league.''

Sounds to me like they are basically admitting that despite their new policy, they already know that it has no teeth so they're not going to test it. FWIW, I thought Murphy crossed the line and deserved to be tossed, but not suspended. The fine is appropriate and hopefully will serve as a wake up to him that while it's okay to play with an edge, put your hands around a guy's throat is clearly over the line.

[ziggy]

)[/quote]

The neck injury protocols were not followed or he would not have played that day within the next 30 minutes and would have gone off on a board with his neck immobilized not sitting up in a cart.[/quote]


By the sound of things they may have had to wait until he gathered his wits in order to determine where he was injured. I agree they didn't completely follow protocol for a neck injury, but that seemed to be the initial concern ,or was reported as such ,and until the trainers were sure they would assume the worst. Once it was clear his neck was not seriously injured, they treated him accordingly. I think though, that the initial concerns fueled this whole "Head twisted off", "Trying to break his neck", "We hate Murphy cause he is on your team not ours" faction.

[CatsEyes]

I'm sure the righteous indignation will reach epic proportions now.

Oh, it's in full force on RF.com already, in fact it started building on Friday night.

It's more of the usual -- Wally can't control his guys, they're classless, Cohon is a joke, etc.

And why this concerns them perplexes me to this day........ 8)

[SandmanFan]

Wow... I expected you guys would be more forgiving of Murphy than other fans, but suggesting the Goss FAKED being injured!?!? Watch the game/replays and you'll see Murphy pushing Goss's head to the side, then Goss being pulled around by the facemask as Murphy is pushed by Romero. Whatever the circumstances, I'm pretty sure it hurts to be jerked around by the head.

Having said that, before you all jump on me, I don't want to start a pissing match about whether Murphy should be suspended or whatever. Things got crazy and some guys got emotional. Fine. Football is emotional. All I'm saying is that personal attacks on the character of Jason Goss - that he would be faking a VERY serious injury - is childish and inappropriate.

[Rammer]

Wow... I expected you guys would be more forgiving of Murphy than other fans, but suggesting the Goss FAKED being injured!?!? Watch the game/replays and you'll see Murphy pushing Goss's head to the side, then Goss being pulled around by the facemask as Murphy is pushed by Romero. Whatever the circumstances, I'm pretty sure it hurts to be jerked around by the head.

Having said that, before you all jump on me, I don't want to start a pissing match about whether Murphy should be suspended or whatever. Things got crazy and some guys got emotional. Fine. Football is emotional. All I'm saying is that personal attacks on the character of Jason Goss - that he would be faking a VERY serious injury - is childish and inappropriate.

I don't think that he was faking, it was more of the team taking extra care due to the potential of it being a severe neck injury. I think that you summarized the incident fairly well, as it was first Murphy's grab of Goss's mask and then the hit on Murphy while still holding the facemask that jerked Goss's neck.

I am curious as to what Romero did that he received a $2500 fine in that game though, not much is being said about that.

[B.C.FAN]

Wow... I expected you guys would be more forgiving of Murphy than other fans, but suggesting the Goss FAKED being injured!?!? Watch the game/replays and you'll see Murphy pushing Goss's head to the side, then Goss being pulled around by the facemask as Murphy is pushed by Romero. Whatever the circumstances, I'm pretty sure it hurts to be jerked around by the head.

Having said that, before you all jump on me, I don't want to start a pissing match about whether Murphy should be suspended or whatever. Things got crazy and some guys got emotional. Fine. Football is emotional. All I'm saying is that personal attacks on the character of Jason Goss - that he would be faking a VERY serious injury - is childish and inappropriate.

I agree with you that the attacks on Goss's character are unwarranted. I was happy to see him return unharmed after halftime.

[CatsEyes]

Perhaps I should clarify at least my opinions. I don't think that he was faking per se, but I definitely feel that he was 'embellishing' his situation somewhat, given who was involved. He was flailing around like a fish out of water, which I would think is generally not a good idea if you think you might have a neck injury. Just sayin' 8)

[Rammer]

Wow... I expected you guys would be more forgiving of Murphy than other fans, but suggesting the Goss FAKED being injured!?!? Watch the game/replays and you'll see Murphy pushing Goss's head to the side, then Goss being pulled around by the facemask as Murphy is pushed by Romero. Whatever the circumstances, I'm pretty sure it hurts to be jerked around by the head.

Having said that, before you all jump on me, I don't want to start a pissing match about whether Murphy should be suspended or whatever. Things got crazy and some guys got emotional. Fine. Football is emotional. All I'm saying is that personal attacks on the character of Jason Goss - that he would be faking a VERY serious injury - is childish and inappropriate.

I agree with you that the attacks on Goss's character are unwarranted. I was happy to see him return unharmed after halftime.

Murphy's version has now been offered up on the TEAM today. Goss apparently eye gouged him and he of course went to go back at him. Said he never choked anyone ever, or you would know about it. BTW, he is appealing the fine, not that that surprises me, as I think he quite enjoys 'discussing' his version of events.

[lion24]

Murphy may get a little carried away with the emotion of the games at times but I wish this type of passion would be more prevalent on the rest of the team at times.........I think a little emotion and agression can help a team at times and I would be happy to have a guy like Murphy on my team anyday

[Solar Max]

Wow... I expected you guys would be more forgiving of Murphy than other fans, but suggesting the Goss FAKED being injured!?!? Watch the game/replays and you'll see Murphy pushing Goss's head to the side, then Goss being pulled around by the facemask as Murphy is pushed by Romero. Whatever the circumstances, I'm pretty sure it hurts to be jerked around by the head.

Having said that, before you all jump on me, I don't want to start a pissing match about whether Murphy should be suspended or whatever. Things got crazy and some guys got emotional. Fine. Football is emotional. All I'm saying is that personal attacks on the character of Jason Goss - that he would be faking a VERY serious injury - is childish and inappropriate.

You aren't paying attention, but kudos for defending your Esks.

Toppy clearly said that he was fooling around when he said that.

I've seen the replays just as you have, and was actually THERE. The only "pulling around" was caused when Romero and then Shabazz jumped Murph to shove him off Goss.

[West Coast Blue Fan]

I guess if Auggi Barrenechea doesn't get suspended for a deliberate helmet to helmet, then Murph shouldn't be either for pancaking.

The Esks have already set the bar high for injured players being miraculously healed.....Mike something or other....so lets just leave it at that.