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Johnny Sears participates in practice Tuesday, prior to learning he'll have to sit out the final game of the regular season against the Stampeders in Calgary Saturday. The league suspended the Bombers defensive back one game for his helmet-to-helmet hit on Toronto Argonauts quarterback Steven Jyles last Friday. (WAYNE GLOWACKI/ WINNIPEG FREE PRESS)

Winnipeg Blue Bombers defensive back Johnny Sears has been suspended for Saturday's game against the Calgary Stampeders.

"While I appreciate the sincerity of the player in his conversation with me today, this was a reckless and dangerous hit that must be met with appropriate discipline," CFL commissioner Mark Cohon said in a statement released late Tuesday afternoon following a tele-conference hearing with Sears.

"In our league, with just an 18-game schedule, this is a significant and effective penalty."

Sears was kicked out of Friday night's 27-22 loss to the Toronto Argos at Canad Inns Stadium after a helmet-to-helmet hit on Argos QB Steven Jyles knocked Jyles out of the game.

The Bombers had argued Sears should only be fined, something the league has done in other instances this season involving blows to the head.

"As I have maintained since the hit on Friday, no player is allowed to lead with his helmet. We understand and accept the decision, and will move forward this week without the services of Johnny Sears," Bombers head coach Paul LaPolice said in a statement after the league ruling was announced, indicating the club would not appeal.

Just hours earlier, LaPolice made his case to reporters that consistency demanded the league not suspend Sears.

"The consistent thing (for hits to the head this season) has been an ejection and a fine. And I think that's what (should) happen to Johnny. That's what I think is the most consistent thing and as a league, I think you should be consistent."

Bombers quarterback Buck Pierce, who was a victim of a helmet-to-helmet hit by Ejiro Kuale in July that didn't result in a suspension, said following practice Tuesday that whatever difference there was in the two instances wasn't apparent to him.

"I don't see really any difference between the two," said Pierce. "I think they should be dealt with the same. If you're going to institute something, it should be dealt with at the start of the year... Johnny's not a vicious guy. He plays fast, he plays hard and those things happen."

The team refused to make Sears available to reporters on Tuesday, but did release a statement from him.

"I accept the commissioner's decision to suspend me and know I am accountable for the consequences of my actions on the field. It was a split-second action and as much as I did not intentionally try to engage in helmet-to-helmet contact, I did, and for that I understand the decision made today. It will be extremely difficult to not be a part of Saturday's game but as I said, I will accept this decision and move forward."

Sears will also lose one-game's pay.

Injured through the first half of the season, Sears has been active on special teams since returning and also made regular appearances in a six-defensive-backs package that defensive co-ordinator Tim Burke has been using with increasing frequency.

The league also announced late Tuesday that injured Argos offensive linemen Rob Murphy and Taylor Robertson were fined undisclosed amounts for comments they made on Twitter that were "deemed to be threating to another member of the Canadian Football League."

Murphy had written "the Jaws of Life" would have been necessary to extricate Sears if he had been in Winnipeg Friday night, while Robertson suggested he would get Sears next season and would gladly take an ejection in exchange.

paul.wiecek@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition November 2, 2011 C4