Dave Naylor: Chad Kelly, agent undecided about appealing CFL’s nine-game suspension

The agent of suspended Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly says he and his client are investigating the CFL’s appeal process, but have not decided whether they will oppose the player’s at least nine-game suspension by the league. on Tuesday for violating its policy. on gender violence.

“We were surprised by the CFL’s disciplinary decision and will look into the appeal process,” Chris Lambiris wrote in a text. “We will continue to investigate further data on the decision before making a deeper statement.”

If Kelly appeals the suspension, the league cannot prevent him from being with his team, including participating in games, until an arbitrator schedules a hearing and makes a decision. That process could take weeks.

The Argonauts could also choose to suspend Kelly while the appeal process plays out. The club had no comment on the matter on Tuesday.

Training camps open this week and the Argonauts play their first regular season game on June 9 at BMO Field.

Kelly’s suspension is based on the findings of an 87-page independent report commissioned by the league after a former Argonauts assistant strength and conditioning coach filed a lawsuit in February, alleging sexual harassment by Kelly and unjustified dismissal by the football team.

Under the terms of his suspension, Kelly’s return to the field is contingent on him undergoing confidential evaluations by an independent expert and attending mandatory counseling sessions led by a gender-based violence expert.

At the conclusion of that process, Kelly will be reevaluated, and the league reserves the right to modify his discipline if it is not satisfied with his commitment and progress.

“The players are the ambassadors of our great game,” CFL Commissioner Randy Ambrosie said in a statement released Tuesday afternoon by the league. “They are expected to be leaders in the locker room and role models in the community. It was important that we perform our due diligence to properly review this matter from all points of view. That in-depth investigation found that Mr. Kelly unequivocally violated the CFL’s Gender-Based Violence Policy.

“Sir. Kelly’s suspension is a direct result of his behavior. The addition of mandatory counseling focuses on his need for self-reflection and understanding of his actions. He must make the most of this opportunity for self-improvement in order to return to the CFL.”

Kelly, 30, is the nephew of Pro Football Hall of Famer Jim Kelly and is the CFL’s most notable player. He came into the league as the Argos’ backup quarterback in 2022, after years of indiscretions that followed him from high school to the NFL, where he was the final pick of the 2017 draft.

It was widely reported at the time that Kelly’s draft stock fell largely due to questions about his off-the-field character.

Kelly’s indiscretions before coming to the CFL included being fired from his Clemson University team in 2014 for conduct detrimental to the team and being released by the NFL’s Denver Broncos after pleading guilty to second-degree criminal trespass. for entering the wrong house while intoxicated, after a party at his partner Von Miller’s house.

In Canada, he seemed to be making the most of the fresh start the Argonauts had granted him.

Kelly first gained notoriety in the CFL by coming off the bench during that season’s Gray Cup game and leading the Argonauts to a comeback victory over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

He followed up with an excellent 2023 campaign that earned him only the MOP award, but also a new contract that made him the highest-paid player in the CFL.

The former Argos strength and conditioning coach has alleged a pattern of harassment by Kelly, starting with unwanted romantic advances and escalating to instances of threatening language. He also alleges the Argos failed to act when informed of Kelly’s behaviour.

Those allegations have not been proven in court.

The former coach filed an amended complaint on April 2 in Ontario Superior Court in Toronto. TSN does not publish the names of alleged victims of abuse and harassment without their permission. He is asking for $80,000 from Kelly and a total of $85,714 from the Argonauts.

Ambrosie announced on February 28, seven days after the original lawsuit was filed, that an independent investigator had been hired to investigate the allegations.

The Argonauts and Kelly filed statements of defense last week related to the lawsuits. Kelly’s defense statement states that he “denies having made any romantic or sexual advances toward (the plaintiff) at any time.”

In the Argonauts’ defense brief, the club insists that the plaintiff, who was not hired after the 2023 season, was under a fixed-term contract and was under no obligation to continue her employment.

The team’s defense statement also says the football club is “not aware of any behavior by Kelly that implicates the CFL’s policy on gender-based violence or violates the Ontario Human Rights Code.”

The CFL statement released Tuesday does not absolve the team of responsibility in matters involving Kelly, stating that “the facts surrounding the conduct of the Toronto Argonauts in this matter, as set forth by investigators, will be reviewed with the club”.