Mitchell 2-gamed suspended for dirty play

[Toppy Vann]

And I don't know that either if that is possible. Likely it is not but I didn't check.

All suspensions of starters hurt the team. The loss of the check hurts the player. Also in football there is the chance that the replacement kicks butt and comes cheaper - a risk to a player.

[QB Club 63]

Of course the arbitrator has the video at his disposal too and can see for himself what the act was.

But isn't that where the danger lies? A truly independent arbitrator wouldn't necessarily have extensive (or any) football knowledge and would likely react to the video in much the same manner we have seen from the general populace - disgust and condemnation. Particularly if the video he (or she) views is the zoomed-in, slow-motion, tight-isolation shot that the media pounced all over. If I was asked what I thought of the incident based solely on that replay, I'd probably support the suspension.

I have watched a lot of CFL football and I like to think I can see things most casual fans miss, and while I can't say I was focused on the battles along the line of scrimmage on that particular play, when I watch the real-time, full-speed replay I fully understand Khalif's insistence that it was a football play.

And while we're on the topic of what constitutes "a football play", ** DANGER! This is a RANT! **how can you look at what Robert McCune did to Andrew Harris and call that a football play? Harris's forward progress was completely stopped, he was in the grasp of 2 tacklers, McCune wrapped an arm around his helmet and violently twisted it with enough force to pull the helmet off Harris. Can anyone explain how is that not worthy of any penalty, fine, or suspension? ** End of Rant **

Having said all that, I believe the arbitrator's ruling will be to uphold the suspension but reduce it to one game.

[Blue In BC]

I thought the McCune tackle on Harris could have drawn a RP penalty but not an ejection or suspension. While Harris's forward motion " may " have been stopped, the whistle had not blown and the play not over in that sense.

I've seen worse. I've seen less draw a penalty. I think in this case there was no momentum from the defender since he was in the grasp already. If had had made that tackle at full speed, there may have been more to complain about no penalty??

Glad Harris wasn't hurt because it looked very awkward on how he was bent over backwards. I as more concerned about that than an injury to his head with the helmet being ripped off.

[TheLionKing]

Still no announcement from the league.........

[Blue In BC]

I would think that the delay regardless of the final outcome will mean that Mitchell will play this week. If there is still any suspension involved, it doesn't seem reasonable to not advise the Lions to give 1st reps to the replacement for a game in 3 days.

So. Either it's down to a 1 game suspension in effect for next week, or a two week in effect starting next week, or no suspension at all.

Either way, it's not impressive how the league has taken as long as this to " decide ". I was surprised to hear that the meeting with Mitchell was an all day affair last Thursday.

I'd like to know how the league will handle this in future if something like this happens in game 14 through 17? They need to speed up the process.

[Rammer]

I would think that the delay regardless of the final outcome will mean that Mitchell will play this week. If there is still any suspension involved, it doesn't seem reasonable to not advise the Lions to give 1st reps to the replacement for a game in 3 days.

So. Either it's down to a 1 game suspension in effect for next week, or a two week in effect starting next week, or no suspension at all.

Either way, it's not impressive how the league has taken as long as this to " decide ". I was surprised to hear that the meeting with Mitchell was an all day affair last Thursday.

I'd like to know how the league will handle this in future if something like this happens in game 14 through 17? They need to speed up the process.

Agreed, the process to finalization would be moot if this happened in game 17 or the season for a player that is planning to retire.

[Blue In BC]

Or for a player that gets traded would be another example.

Last year Sears got a 1 game suspension ( which I thought was deserved ) but it was in game 17 IIRC. As a result he didn't take it to arbitration because he put being suspended for the playoff game.

As I've suggested, the arbitration could be done in a few days by using retired judges / arbitrators so reduce needing to schedule a working stiff.

[Zarquon]

https://twitter.com/FifthQtr/status/235801117114646529

Lowell Ullrich
‏@FifthQtr
At Surrey: Looks as if Khalif Mitchell has lost his two-game #cfl suspension appeal. #BCLions just got the word

A little surprised it wasn't reduced to one game but I don't have a problem with it. I do have a problem that they took this long to make a decision.

[Lions4ever]

The suspension stands as well it should. I don't care how bad he was being held or what other crap he was enduring. The act was outrageous and the punishment is well deserved IMO.

[Rammer]

The suspension stands as well it should. I don't care how bad he was being held or what other crap he was enduring. The act was outrageous and the punishment is well deserved IMO.

Actually, I would think in just about any other pro league, that act would have received more of a suspension, and I say that relative to the games each sport plays in the regular season. The league should have resolved this earlier, and it should come out after the weekends play, not after two practices have concluded.

[Blue In BC]

I can't imagine what someone could do that would be worse in order to get a longer game suspension.

So does the suspension take effect after this week or is does he have to sit out this week?

A couple of rhetorical questions regarding suspensions in general as it relates to delays and the process.

1. Does the league get the game day pay checks and if so what do they do with it?
2. What might have happened if Mitchell was injured in the last game and put on the 9 game IR for the rest of the season? That's a situation that could have existed when a player is allowed to have played games while appealing?
3. Who pays the cost of the appeal and transportation necessary? Normally in law courts, the defendant absorbs the court costs.
4. Does the lost suspension money get charged against the team SMS?

Just a few things I was wondering about this week.

[South Pender]

So, do we know whether this kicks in for the upcoming game with Saskatchewan or will be put off to the two games after that?

Also, what do we all think will be the D-line re-jig while he's out? Surely not just Jabar Westerman.

[WestCoastJoe]

This is going to be a major test for Khalif Mitchell. I get the impression he is a highly emotional player and man. That he can be very up but also very down.

I love what he brings to the team.

I hope he deals with this, and moves on.

I support him, as a fan. I don't condone what he did. It is hard to know sometimes what is in the heart and mind of a person when they do something unacceptable, even when in the line of fire, under fire.

[WestCoastJoe]

So, do we know whether this kicks in for the upcoming game with Saskatchewan or will be put off to the two games after that?

Also, what do we all think will be the D-line re-jig while he's out? Surely not just Jabar Westerman.

My guess: Maurice Evans at tackle, with Jabar Westerman still rotating in.

[Hambone]

The suspension stands as well it should. I don't care how bad he was being held or what other crap he was enduring. The act was outrageous and the punishment is well deserved IMO.

Actually, I would think in just about any other pro league, that act would have received more of a suspension, and I say that relative to the games each sport plays in the regular season. The league should have resolved this earlier, and it should come out after the weekends play, not after two practices have concluded.

Relative to other sports it's the equivalent of 10 games in the NHL or NBA or 20 games in baseball. In the case of the NHL up until this season a 10 game suspension was virtually unthinkable unless the player was a multiple time offender. As for the timing I would expect the likes of Evans and Westerman would've been receiving significantly more reps in practice this week than normal. Everything was pointing to a final decision this week and even the most optimistic Lion fan, coach or GM would have to concede that best case scenario would be a reduction to one game. IMHO the odds of Mitchell being available to play this week were next to zilch anyways. The coaching staff should've doled out reps based on it being a slim shot Mitchell would be available. If they didn't then they have nobody to blame but themselves.