For only a second in time, nonetheless temporary, nonetheless fleeting, Chad Kelly wasn’t simply the face of the Toronto Argonauts however in actuality he was the face of the Canadian Soccer League.
He was paid extra money than anybody else within the CFL to be the star quarterback and never lengthy after that he was acknowledged with the Most Excellent Participant award within the league.
And now … lower than six months after award evening, his professional soccer profession, his time in Toronto, his place with the Argos, his popularity, his excessive priced contract by CFL requirements are all in query within the wake of one of many longest and harshest suspensions in CFL historical past.
Kelly has been suspended for no less than 9 common season video games — half the CFL schedule — and the whole pre-season after the league decided that he violated their “gender based mostly violence coverage.”
The league made that willpower on Monday — informing the Argos of what was coming — after an impartial investigation was commissioned by the CFL, and had accomplished wanting into allegations in opposition to Kelly, which started after a former Argos worker filed a press release of declare with the Ontario Superior Courtroom of Justice, alleging a sample of harassment by Kelly, starting with undesirable romantic benefit and apparently escalating into cases of threatening language.
The general public launch of the suspension was made on Tuesday.
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And now a query past the allegations and the investigation: Are the Argos completed with Kelly as their quarterback or are they prepared to work with him, for them, to try to convey him again to the Double Blue? This can be a troublesome and disconcerting place in at the moment’s world the place second probabilities have develop into greater than uncommon for sporting figures, and it’s too early to know whether or not the Argos, the league, the remainder of the CFL, together with the traditionally correct Maple Leaf Sports activities and Leisure firm, house owners of the membership, will need any a part of Kelly after the suspension by CFL commissioner, Randy Ambrosie.
And the way, if in any respect, will Argos followers reply to Kelly or his eventual return — or on the opposite aspect, absence?
The Argos combat each season to be seen in Southern Ontario. They don’t win that almost all years. However final season, after going 16-2, tying the best common season in CFL historical past, the Argos scratched their approach again to native and momentary relevance by nearly promoting out BMO Subject for the East Division last in opposition to the Montreal Alouettes. After which Kelly fell aside within the recreation through which the Argos have been blasted by the Als, and since then an entire lot of hassle adopted.
The Argos, for his or her half, are selecting to not touch upon any of this till Thursday. Messages left Tuesday for MLSE CEO Keith Pelley, for membership president Invoice Manning, for normal supervisor Michael (Pinball) Clemons, for head coach Ryan Dinwiddie, weren’t responded to. Solely Manning, at a convention in the USA, texted again that he was unavailable to talk.
Apparently, Clemons would be the just one talking on behalf of the soccer workforce on Thursday.
And for his half, Kelly has already denied the allegations in opposition to him however the CFL’s investigation clearly decided that there was some validity within the claims made within the lawsuit.
“I’m shocked by the allegations which have been made in opposition to me,” Kelly mentioned in a press release months in the past. “I completely deny these occasions and intend to vigorously defend myself and will probably be in search of the dismissal of the motion.’”
The CFL clearly considered this in another way.
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“Mr Kelly’s suspension is the direct results of his behaviour,” mentioned commissioner Ambrosie, additionally indicated that the investigation discovered Kelly’s behaviour had “unequivocally violated” CFL coverage on gender-based violence.
Earlier than being allowed again to play, assuming there’s a workforce to go to, Kelly must endure necessary counselling, specializing in the necessity for self-reflection and the understanding of his actions. “He should take full benefit of this chance for private betterment so as to return to the CFL,” the commissioner mentioned in making the announcement.
The Argos will head to coaching camp subsequent week with little identified Cameron Dukes as their beginning quarterback. He backed up Kelly final season and threw three landing passes in restricted enjoying time. Kelly threw for 23 touchdowns and ran for eight extra in his MOP season in Toronto, his first as a CFL full-time starter after coming off the bench to win the Gray Cup the 12 months earlier than.
Kelly’s agent Chris Lambris informed The Canadian Press that he was stunned by the suspensions to Kelly and mentioned he and his consumer would discover the enchantment course of.
The suspension begins instantly. The Argos caught someplace between what’s and what was. As a bonus for signing the $600,000 a season contract with the Argos, Kelly was paid $300,000 up entrance.
Now, you marvel, will he make one other cent enjoying within the Canadian Soccer League or after this, is his profession over?
simmons@postmedia.com
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