LaPolice speaks to league about threatening Tweets

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This article was published 29/10/2011 (5149 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback Buck Pierce is unlikely to start next weekend in Calgary against the Stampeders for the Bombers’ final regular season game.

Bombers head coach Paul LaPolice said Pierce was examined by doctors on Saturday morning and his immediate prospects to return to the field are not good after he injured his right knee Friday night.

“We took him to the doctor today. He had movement in his leg but we’ll see how he is,” LaPolice told reporters at the Bombers offices Saturday afternoon. “The likelihood is he may not play (next) week.”

LaPolice was vague about whether he expects Pierce to be healthy enough to play in the playoffs, which could start as early as Nov. 13 for the Bombers if they don’t win the East Division and have to play in the East semifinal, something that is looking increasingly likely after a devastating 27-22 loss to the Toronto Argonauts Friday night at Canad Inns Stadium cost Winnipeg control of their own playoff destiny and their starting quarterback.

Pierce left the game in the second quarter and did not return.

Asked if the injury to Pierce was serious enough that it might keep him out for the playoffs too, LaPolice responded: “We’ll know more later in the week… I don’t think it’s a major injury, put it that way.”

Also Saturday, LaPolice revealed that he has spoken to the CFL head office about some threatening Tweets that were made Friday night by at least one Argonauts player towards Bombers defensive back Johnny Sears.

While LaPolice refused to identify the offending Tweets, injured Argos offensive lineman Rob Murphy caused a stir in the Twitter-verse with a tweet he directed at Sears, who was thrown out of the game Friday night after he speared Argos quarterback Stephen Jyles with a helmet-on-helmet hit in the third quarter of a 27-22 Bombers loss to the Argos at Canad Inns Stadium.

“#0 is lucky I’m not in the Province of Manitoba tonight,” Tweeted Murphy, who’s out for the season with a knee injury. “They would need the Jaws of Life to pry me off him…I have a good memory.”

And then there was this one from another injured Argos offensive lineman, Taylor Robertson:

“I don’t know who the hell this #0 guy is but I hope to hell he’s in the league next year…I’ll take the ejection I don’t care.”

Murphy denied in a tweet later in the night that he was threatening Sears. “Those of you who think its a threat, get a clue, its called an opinion which is what twitter is…”

LaPolice was not pleased and said he spoke to the CFL head office about it on Saturday. “I spoke to the league about it,” LaPolice said. “Whoever’s doing that, should be disciplined by the league, whether it’s our club or their club. That’s not what we’re about in the Canadian Football League. It’s not an eye-for-an-eye.

“They said, ‘We’re looking into it.’”

The Bombers players leapt to the defense of Sears Friday night on their own Twitter accounts. “Just so y’all know, #0 will b fine,” Jonathan Hefney tweeted, referring to Sears’s number. “he will be in the league next year take your shot I guarantee we will be riding on every single 1 of y’all.”

Hefney added that Jyles wasn’t the only one taking hits Friday night. “Oh and I remember (Bombers backup QB) Alex Brink sliding at 2:25 seconds in the 3rd and got hit by Pile and it wasn’t a flag…#justsaying.”

Bombers defensive back Jovon Johnson also wasn’t impressed with the singling out of Sears, which also included a lambasting on TSN by some of the network’s analysts. “Too many football players are crybabies go play another sport,” Johnson tweeted, later adding: “Football will be flag football by 2015 just watch!”

Johnson also noted Bombers QB Buck Pierce has gotten pounded all season long by late hits. “I love Jyles to death but everybody get all tight becuz he got hit how many times did Buck get hit like that this year and not get called!?…he shouldn’t be outside the pocket running if u don’t expect to get hit!”

Johnson also issued a direct response to Murphy. “Rob Murphy (y)ou aint gon do nothin so stop all the small talk!”

Murphy wasn’t the only CFL player critical of Sears on Twitter.

Alouettes kicker Sean Whyte left no doubt about what he thought Sears intentions were. “Suprises me how smart people are. Trying to end peoples careers,” Whyte Tweeted.

And BC kicker Paul McCallum was also unequivocal in his assessment. “That was a brutal dirty hit!!! Lead with his head!! Hope he is okay.”

“Johnny’s wrong. He admits it,” said LaPolice. “He wasn’t doing anything malicious. He’s a fast player who just made a mistake. Things happen fast out there. I told him what he did was wrong, but I don’t think the kid’s a malicious kid in any way, shape or form.

“So I don’t understand the people going after him. Things happen fast on the field. He’ll learn from the mistake and he’ll be better for it. I’m sure the league will look into it and levy a fine if it was a blow to the head.”

LaPolice said he doubts Sears will be suspended based on the league’s handling of similar incidents this season.