Time will tell if Kelly’s words genuine

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This article was published 21/08/2024 (412 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Chad Kelly spoke for the first time Tuesday afternoon following the conclusion of a lengthy suspension by the Canadian Football League for violating its gender-based violence policy.

Months earlier, an unidentified employee filed a wrongful dismissal suit against the Toronto Argonauts and Kelly, the team’s starting quarterback, accusing Kelly of harassing her while she was an athletic therapist, and when she complained to the team, they fired her. Allegations against Kelly included repeatedly asking her out on dates and, on at least one occasion, was aggressive in his behaviour towards her, which included threats of physical harm. The case was settled out of court by late June, weeks after it was first filed.

An independent investigation was done by the CFL, who found Kelly unequivocally violated the terms of the policy. He would be suspended at least nine games, during which he would have to go through a thorough process to be eligible to return to the CFL.

Speaking with reporters after his first practice back with the club, Kelly said all the right things. He apologized for his actions and said he knows what he’s done wrong. He claimed he’s learned from his mistakes. He vowed he would never do something like this again.

“I know I affected a lot of people, including the (former employee),” Kelly said. “I just want everybody to know that I’m sorry and I will be better, and I’ll be a better teammate and person from this.”

You’ll have to excuse me if I refuse to take what Kelly says at face value.

Genuine or not, the only way Kelly was going to find himself back in the CFL was if he admitted fault for his actions. It’s literally the first part of the rehabilitation process; if a player doesn’t take full responsibility, he won’t be given the clear — full stop.

While I hope Kelly has learned from his mistakes, he has a track record for spoiling second chances. Look through Kelly’s troubled past and it’s filled with evidence he just can’t get out of his own way.

If an NFL opportunity wasn’t enough to keep him on the straight and narrow, then how can we expect the CFL will?

Actions speak louder than words, and Kelly will now get the chance to show the public he’s changed. He’s been given a strict, albeit confidential, list of rules he needs to follow, mimicking what happened with Johnny Manziel years ago.

Kelly is now being asked to do what Manziel couldn’t. Indeed, the league is once again sticking its neck out for a player it thinks is talented and can draw fans south of the border.

Hopefully, the CFL doesn’t look like the big loser again and Kelly takes this opportunity seriously. I wouldn’t hold your breath on that one.

Let’s dig into the other top stories across the three-down loop in the latest edition of CFL Rundown.

1) There was a ton of buzz around the return of QB Nathan Rourke to the CFL after nearly two years trying to make the NFL dream work. Many believed Rourke would pick up where he left off with the Lions, but that projection proved premature. Rourke, who was on just three days practice and was playing an NFL game the week earlier, was awful, finishing eight-for-25 passing for 126 yards and a pair of interceptions before he was pulled for Chase Brice late in the fourth quarter.

2) Rourke didn’t wait for a reporter’s question before taking the mic after the game and publicly apologizing for his performance. While he mentioned the fans — it was a packed house for Famfest, with more than 30,000 in attendance — his apology felt mostly directed at his teammates. Things are about to get very interesting once Vernon Adams Jr. returns in a week or so. I spoke with Adams in Vancouver over the weekend and he’s playing the good solider, biding his time for the next opportunity. Although it’s a safe bet Rourke vastly improves as time goes on, more performances like the one on Sunday and I’m not sure the locker room will be cool with Adams being benched.

3) It didn’t take long for Chris Jones to find a new CFL home. Just weeks after being fired by the Edmonton Elks, Jones is now a senior defensive assistant with the 2-8 Hamilton Tiger-Cats, who fired DC Mark Washington to make room. Jones is still getting paid by the Elks, so he’s essentially volunteering with the Ticats, but it will be interesting to see if this experiment lasts longer than the season. Either way, it’s on brand for the 2024 Hamilton Tiger-Cats to try and fix their league-worst defence by hiring the man who was responsible for the CFL’s second worst.

4) Speaking of the Elks, they introduced their first private owner in team history, Larry Thompson, last week. Thompson, who made his money in construction, beat out more than 20 potential buyers for the Elks franchise, which means his pockets are deep with a capital D. He’s clearly a man of few words based on his introductory press conference, but, again, actions speak louder than words, and Thompson, a lifelong fan, seems committed. There’s been a lot of speculation since Thompson was hired about a possible return to the old team name. Let’s hope common sense prevails and the Elks start to perform better on the field. As they say, winning fixes everything.

5) Another week, another command centre controversy. This time it’s whether Montreal Alouettes QB Davis Alexander stepped out of bounds on his way to a game-winning TD over the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Despite Alexander clearly dragging his foot onto the white line, the command centre, which reviews all scoring plays, upheld the play. What only added to the controversy was TSN’s camera angle only showed when Alexander planted his foot — which was clearly in bounds — and not when he dragged it, where it was out. In essence, they reviewed the play like it was a catch, and not a run, freezing the shot as he planted his foot, only to forget about the rest of the play.

6) Yes, I’m aware the command centre wasn’t what cost the Riders the game. That was instead kicker Brett Lauther, who went a dismal three-for-seven on field goals, including a fourth missed kick from 48 yards out with no time remaining that would have sent it to overtime. Credit to Lauther for facing the music after the game. He took responsibility and even noted that although his teammates had his back, he felt horrible for letting them down. Just chalk it up to a rough day at the office for the veteran kicker.

7) The Alouettes have a good problem on their hands: what to do with Alexander now that Cody Fajardo is back from a hamstring injury and will start against the Elks on Sunday? I’m not surprised by Fajardo getting his starting spot back, even though Alexander was stellar in leading Montreal to three consecutive victories while playing in relief. That’s the loyalty of head coach Jason Maas, and Fajardo is the undisputed leader of the team. As for Alexander, he’s one heck of a Plan B. Where it will get interesting is once the season is over, when Alexander will be out from under his three-year contract and will be eligible to sign anywhere. That’s when the tough decisions will need to be made for the 9-1 Alouettes.

8) What a moment it must have been for Jeremiah Masoli. Masoli returned to the field for the first time since suffering back-to-back season-ending injuries, leading the Ottawa Redblacks to a 31-29 victory over the Calgary Stampeders to improve to 6-2-1. Masoli went four-for-four on the game’s final series, setting up a Lewis Ward 51-yard field goal for the win. Afterward, he could be seen kneeling on the field, cloaked in emotions. Just great to see Masoli back after what he’s been through, and especially finishing the game healthy. Dru Brown was back taking first team reps this week, so Masoli has been relegated to backup. Here’s hoping we haven’t seen the last of him.

9) How about the wild West Division? Get ready for what feels like a photo finish, with just five points separating first and last place. At this point, I’m not sure who wins the race, but the hottest team in the West right now is Winnipeg. With the Blue Bombers resurgence of late and given how well the Riders have played this year, the upcoming Labour Day Classic and Banjo Bowl are certainly must-watch TV.

Jeff.Hamilton@freepress.mb.ca

X: @jeffkhamilton