CFL slaps Blue for Spygate Coach Kelly refuses comment on scouting scandal

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have been scolded, warned and spanked by the CFL for a rogue scout caught scribbling notes and diagramming plays at a Hamilton Tiger-Cats practice earlier this week.

And as part of the fallout in the latest in a series of transgressions, the club not only has become the CFL's version of Animal House's Delta Fraternity and may very well now be on "double-secret probation" but helped set a unofficial record on Wednesday -- most statements issued on one topic by a team in a single day.

First, a little background: as we told you Tuesday night, a scout who has represented the Bombers in the past -- Ron Trentini -- was ejected from Ticat practice after being caught drawing diagrams of plays and taking pages of notes. After he called the Bombers to explain what happened, the team then apologized to the Hamilton organization before calling CFL headquarters to come clean.

Trentini worked with the Bombers at the Canadian Draft combine this spring and runs a scouting service and computer-scouting program the team plans to continue using. He was also accredited for a Ticat pre-season game and last week's Toronto-Saskatchewan contest as a Bomber scout and was to attend this Saturday's Bomber-Tiger-Cat battle at Ivor Wynne. But the team is insisting his visit to the Hamilton practice this week was without their knowledge.

A day after the story broke, team president Lyle Bauer spoke to CFL commissioner Mark Cohon -- both of whom issued separate statements -- while Bomber director of football operations Ross Hodgkinson provided more detail of the incident in a session with the media after practice.

Head coach Mike Kelly then attempted to steer clear of the issue afterward in his daily media session and his exchange may soon rank up there with some of the great coaching tirades in pro sports history (see: Knight, Bobby; Wilson, Ron; Ditka, Mike; Tortorella, John, etc. and check out the video on winnipegfreepress.com).

"It was purely someone who was overzealous and was trying to take it upon himself to make a mark in the football profession," said Hodgkinson. "In this day and age, with the use of film and videotape basically you can retrieve enough working knowledge of other teams' systems and plays without resorting to this type of activity. That type of material is so accessible now there's a true redundancy factor in trying to do this type of thing."

The Bombers did apologize to the Ticats, but GM Bob O'Billovich is on record as saying Trentini's actions -- whether solicited or not -- are unethical.

"When this first happened that was my first thought: this is a blemish on the organization," Hodgkinson said. "It's a difficult business. It's a competitive business. As much as you'd like to apologize or do whatever... I mean, people will always be skeptical as to what the intent was and how it came about. I can't do anything about that. All we can do is be forthright and forthcoming as we were with the league immediately upon being aware of this."

The Bombers were not fined or disciplined by the CFL for the incident, but it did prompt the commish to send out a reminder to all clubs that this kind of behaviour is not acceptable. Although there is nothing specific in league bylaws about this kind of issue, Cohon did make it perfectly clear any team caught doing this in the future faces serious ramifications, including a fine.

Bomber players were shrugging off the spy story as simply another in a series of off-field stories that have somewhat overshadowed their 1-1 start. They believe any advantage is earned on the field and in the film room, not from pages of formations diagrammed on pieces of paper by an outsider.

"There's not much to say. The company line is he is an unaffiliated rogue agent," said defensive tackle Doug Brown. "In a lot of ways it's like a guy walking off the street and trying to try out. People have their own ways to try and make an impression, but when it's not invited, requested or appropriate then it's a blemish. I just don't think it's a factor."

Today's Bomber report; Turner C3

Bombers say

"In regards to the reported incident in Hamilton it should be noted that the WFC did not engage the services of this individual who attended an open practice for said purposes nor do we condone any such actions. Although we have used the services of this individual in the past it has been in the area of personnel scouting including tracking of Canadian and CIS players.

We believe that our efforts are best spent in the areas of coaching and film study.

Our interests are in presenting a professional product for the entertainment of CFL and Blue Bomber fans. The focus of our Football Operations people remains on preparation for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats this weekend."

CFL says

"The commissioner has fully reviewed the incident that was brought to his attention yesterday. The commissioner has informed the Winnipeg Football Club, and all member clubs, that this type of practice is unacceptable and similar incidents in the future may result in disciplinary action.

"Yesterday's incident involving Winnipeg is being managed internally."

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition July 16, 2009 C1