Shawn Lemon Appeals His Gambling Suspension

[Toppy Vann]

What on earth is going on here. FEB 2025 the CFL brain trust of mental midgets has issued a further suspension on top of indefinite suspension for gambling. A criminal is not treated quite like this if a person is sentenced to life in prison LOL

What part of this guy has not been playing and being 36 years old are the morons at the CFL missing? I hope they find a Commissioner who actually has sound judgment and understands fair and natural justice.

Given his contribution make the sentence definite and not a life time FFS.

Lemon has played 152 regular season CFL games with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, Edmonton Elks, Ottawa Redblacks, Calgary Stampeders, Toronto Argonauts, B.C. Lions, and Alouettes, recording 243 defensive tackles, 102 sacks, 30 forced fumbles, and three interceptions.

This for me is simply unfair and a denial of natural justice. To go to arbitration now means a lot of cost that a guy not playing nor will play is not likely affordable either.

This is a CFL led by a complete idiot.

Is this true?

He remains under contract with Montreal through this season.

Even if true, they should make this like prison sentences (concurrent). He's freaking 36 years of age and why is this guy so hated by the CFL given what he's given to the CFL which is huge.

A conspiracy theorist would say that Lemon being part of getting Darnell Sankey to sign with the Als and both key in leading them to best the eastern top team that year (the Argos ) was now getting punished more as the Als were not what the CFL wanted in the Grey Cup. Now that is utter nonsense to say, but this additional suspension coming at this time like no other I can think of is utter nonsense also.

Shawn Lemon hit with additional suspension for violating CFL drug policy
Feb 02, 2025

Veteran defensive end Shawn Lemon has been handed a two-game suspension for violating the CFL and CFL Players’ Association’s joint drug policy.

The 36-year-old was already serving an indefinite suspension for wagering on CFL games, including one in which he played, that was upheld by an independent arbitrator last year. The new two-game suspension will take effect should he be reinstated by the Commissioner’s office and if he signs with a CFL team.

https://3downnation.com/2025/02/06/shaw ... ug-policy/

[B.C.FAN]

I don’t see a problem with this. Lemon gets the same 2-game suspension as Teuhema or any other player who violates the CFL drug policy. It’s moot anyway, since he’s not likely to be reinstated from his gambling suspension.

[DanoT]

I don’t see a problem with this. Lemon gets the same 2-game suspension as Teuhema or any other player who violates the CFL drug policy. It’s moot anyway, since he’s not likely to be reinstated from his gambling suspension.

I agree. 2 suspensions for 2 different CFL policy violations seems fair to me. A guy can't expect a single suspension and then get a free non suspended ride for other violations as that would make no sense.

[don corleone]

Doesn't take long to see the game of Snakes and Ladders that life can become. Unfortunate IMO that the CFL chose to persecute to the extent they did over a grey area that they had provided no related guidance for other than the common sense they say everyone has related to betting on sports.

Based on the number of sacks Lemon has accrued over his career he qualifies for CFL HOF status although I don't see it coming. It would be nice if he could get into coaching to stick around and continue to ruffle feathers with the G.O.B.

Regarding the PED use it makes me wonder how random the testing really is.

[Hambone]

I have no sympathy for Lemon. In a fashion players gambling on games within their own league is just like knowingly taking PEDs. Do it and you might get away with it. Get caught and you pay the price. That in itself, like gambling, is an excercise in weighing the odds and deciding whether or not to take the risk.

There's a long list of pro athletes who have been punished to various extents, including life time bans, by their leagues for gambling. Thus it should be no surprise that the CFL would come down hard on any player found to be involved. To do so has never been more important than now given how the CFL is now embracing gambling as a revenue stream. They have to display a zero tolerance attitude towards any of their players, coaches or other staff who might be able to influence the result of a game or any of the dozens of prop bets available. If you're going to accept gambling revenues then you better be squeaky clean. Sucks for Lemon to be the first player nailed but the CFL had no choice but to come down hard on whomever got caught first. The message that player participation in gambling would not be tolerated had to be sent.

[DanoT]

I have no sympathy for Lemon. In a fashion players gambling on games within their own league is just like knowingly taking PEDs. Do it and you might get away with it. Get caught and you pay the price. That in itself, like gambling, is an excercise in weighing the odds and deciding whether or not to take the risk.

There's a long list of pro athletes who have been punished to various extents by their leagues for gambling. Thus it should be no surprise that the CFL would come down hard on any player found to be involved. Given how the CFL is now embracing gambling as a revenue stream they had no choice but to come down hard on any of their players, coaches or other staff who might be able to influence the result of a game or any of the dozens of prop bets available. If you're going to accept gambling revenues then you better be squeaky clean. Sucks for Lemon to be the first player nailed but the CFL had no choice but to come down hard on
whomever got caught first. The message that player participation in gambling would not be tolerated had to be sent.

I agree 100% with Hambone's post. Lemon brought his suspension on himself as he should have realized that the penalty for gambling on CFL games was going to be severe. And if he didn't realize this, then he is a lot dumber of a person than I previously thought or would expect from a pro athlete who definitely has not acted like a pro.

[don corleone]

No problem with opposing viewpoints although I do think it may be a little idealistic to expect that the integrity of the league was threatened or preserved over Shawn Lemon making a $100 bet.

Now if you want to talk about Command Center decisions affecting game outcomes I expect there would be more strong opinion on the matter. Integrity is something the CFL could do better at imo.

Back to Lemon, I don't see a sinister situation with collaboration to swing the game involved and personally from very early on I felt it was a direct attack to get him off the field and out of the league. Ditto Chad Kelly and odd that they both played such prominent roles in their team winning the GC.

As for most sports bettors I don't see them giving it a second thought a problem has been solved and there is any difference related to the players trying hard to do their best.

Throwing a game is a big thing and probably hard to do but I'm told there is larceny in all of us so maybe but I just see it as a guy making a bet.

Baseball had a bigger issue with Ohtani and did nothing.

Meanwhile they turn a blind eye when convenient,

https://www.sportsnet.ca/football/cfl/f ... l-charges/

[Toppy Vann]

No problem with opposing viewpoints although I do think it may be a little idealistic to expect that the integrity of the league was threatened or preserved over Shawn Lemon making a $100 bet.

....
Back to Lemon, I don't see a sinister situation with collaboration to swing the game involved and personally from very early on I felt it was a direct attack to get him off the field and out of the league. Ditto Chad Kelly and odd that they both played such prominent roles in their team winning the GC.

While I believe in looking at issue of fairnness and proportionality in discipline or penalties of any sort I guess in the CFL where players are disposable Shawn Lemon's overall contribution to the CFL and the resurgence of the Als and that Grey Cup win should be sullied forever. Why not just take the GC victory from Montreal given what happened when they played a known gambler.

We have no issue with the far more serious charges for Rick Tochet who was just an assistant coach for Canada in the 4 nations series. That was far more serious and most would say it's done and over and it's a fair result.

If this Commissioner wasn't so biased they'd find a way to make a deal here to avoid a lot of cost in arbitration and set a DEFINITE TERM FOR SUSPENSION and get it over with.

Baseball should have done similar for Pete Rose.

Let's look at an especially consider he is 36 years old and likely near the end of his playing career if not already there.

Here are key points to consider:

1. Make it a Definite SUSPENSION from the CFL that is realiistic, proportionate to the wrong doing and fair and just considering his age, severity, deterrence to others and precedence.

Preclude any HOF honours but make it a specific time.


2. Give an Opportunity for Rehabilitation/Redemption:

Instead of imposing an indefinite suspension, providing Lemon with a chance to address any issues through a structured rehab/service program could promote personal growth and accountability without sidelining him completely such as future coaching.

3. Precedent for Fairness:

Establishing a precedent for indefinite suspensions may lead to inconsistent disciplinary actions across the league. It’s crucial that all players are treated fairly and equitably, with similar offenses receiving comparable consequences.

4. An indefinite suspension not just stains the player, it's puts a permanent stain on the CFL and adds to the perception that these athletes are disposable once no longer needed despite their contribution to the CFL.

[Hambone]

The legend of Lemon seems to get bigger and bigger. When he arrived in Montreal 2 months after BC released him early in 2023 training camp it was his 19th pro football stop in then his 13 season. His resume has more twists and turns than a mountain highway in Tibet.

History shows:
2011 - Winnipeg - signed to the PR and released 3 days later.
2011 - Saskatchewan - signed 3 weeks after WPG release. A month later played his first game. Released 10 days later.
2012 - Arena League - assigned to San Jose Mar 11.
2012 - Arena League - reassigned to Nashville April 18. Reassigned again May 8.
2012 - Indoor League - signed with Sioux Falls.
2012 - Edmonton - played 12 games for Eskimos in 2012. Released at start of 2013 training camp.
2013-14 - Calgary - signed in Calgary after EE release. Played 6 games and spent 12 on the PR in 2013. Played all of 2014 for CGY. Released in Jan 2015 to pursue NFL opportunity.
2015 - Pittsburgh - signed Jan 20, released Aug 3.
2015 - SF 49ers - signed Aug 8, released Aug 31.
2015 - Ottawa - signed Sept 3 and played rest of season. Released Dec 4 to pursue NFL opportunities.
2016 - Saskatchewan - signed by Chris Jones Jan 2016. Didn't get along with coaching staff and demanded a trade after first regular season game.
2016-18 - Toronto acquired Lemon and a neg lister for QB Mitchell Gale and OL Matt Sewell. Played 16 games in 2016, all of 2017 and start of 2018.
2018 - BC sent a neg list player to Toronto for Lemon. He played 13 games for BC.
2019 - Toronto - after BC didn't re-sign him he returned to TO in free agency. He played 4 games for the Argos before being dealt back to BC.
2019 - BC - Lions reacquired Lemon in exchange for Davon Coleman. He played 10 games for BC and was again not re-signed.
2020 - was still a free agent when the season was cancelled.
2021 - Edmonton - signed Feb 3 and cut July 29 prior to start of truncated Covid season.
2021-22 - Calgary - signed day after being cut by EE. Would play 28 games for Stamps. They didn't re-sign him after 2022 allowing him to go to free agency.
2023 - BC - signed 2 weeks after becoming a FA. Cut early in camp when BC signed Jonathan Kongbo.
2023-24 - Montreal - 2 months after BC released him he signed with Montreal. Played the remainder or 2023 including winning the GC. He had been extended for 2024 in Dec. He "retired" April 10 and was suspended indefinitely April 24.

In terms of longevity his longest stays were:
2016-18 TOR - 33 games
2021-22 CGY - 28 games
2013-14 CGY - 24 games
2018 BCL - 13 games
2023 MTL - 13 games
2012 EDM - 12 games

Grass never grows under Lemon's cleats. The curious part is that as outstanding as his play has been throughout his CFL stops only twice did his team extend him. The Argos did after the 2016 season and Montreal did after 2023.