THE CANADIAN PRESS
Mitchell opts to appeal two game suspension
16
Posted: July 23, 2012 07:00 PM
Updated: July 24, 2012 02:19 PM
CFL.ca Staff
TORONTO - The Canadian Football League announced today that BC Lions defensive tackle Khalif Mitchell has been suspended for two games.
The discipline is in response to a play in which Mitchell performed an unnecessary, reckless act on Edmonton Eskimo offensive lineman Simeon Rottier during the second quarter of Friday night’s game in Vancouver.
“This type of behaviour has no place in our game and will not be tolerated,” Cohon said. “Any play that unnecessarily puts one of our players at risk of serious injury will be met with discipline.”
Mitchell has recorded 4 defensive tackles in as many game so far this season and is coming off a career year in 2011 where he recorded 33 tackles and 6 quarterback sacks.
UPDATE: July 24, 2012 - 2:13pm ET
The Canadian Football League has been informed that British Columbia Lion Khalif Mitchell will be appealing the Commissioner's decision to impose upon him a two game suspension for his actions during a game against the Edmonton Eskimos on Friday, July 20th.
Under the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the CFL and the Canadian Football League Players Association, any player facing league discipline is entitled to appeal to an independent arbitrator.
Best efforts have been made to expedite the process and convene a hearing as soon as possible. But the scheduling of this matter requires the coordination of dates with the arbitrator and the parties involved. The hearing will be scheduled during the week of August 6.
Both parties have agreed to stay the suspension until the conclusion of the hearing, declaring Mitchell eligible to play for the Lions until an arbitrator has delivered his decision.
Out of respect for the process prescribed in the Collective Bargaining Agreement, the Commissioner and the Canadian Football League will have no further public comment on this matter until a hearing has been held and an arbitrator's ruling has been made.
Fan Comments
Roger Aldag Fan Club
Dirty player on a dirty team. The garbage the league lets Banks and Phillips get away with is criminal too. This is just a symptom of a bigger problem in the CFL. Dirty players like Mitchell, Banks, Phillips, Chip Cox, etc. get away with garbage hits and cheap shots game in and game out. The league needs to step up and suspend guys like Mitchell for entire seasons. Two games? That's a joke for trying to break a guys arm intentionally.
August 17, 2012 - 12:24am
CanukEhMoi
Wow 2 games ---- thats it!!!!! Mitchell is appealling the suspension .... unbelieveable!!!!!! The proof is on the game reels, what Mitchell had done to Rottier was a pure deliberate act of malice with intent to injure. If you watch Mitchell's facial expression instead of Rottiers arm bending backwards and almost ripped out, you and anyone else will see the determination in Mitchell's actions.
What a shame Buono and Mitchell are bringing to the CFL by appealing a slap on the wrist.
What a shame Buono and Mitchell are bringing to the CFL by appealing a slap on the wrist.
July 25, 2012 - 8:33pm
anjoopear
Buono, bench him for longer. If you don't, you're not doing your job. Set the precedent and credibility of the CFL that 2 games is what he gets, you're giving him 3, or 4. Integrity means a lot in this league, and that's just garbage.
July 25, 2012 - 5:40pm
zhuang115
I can't even believe he is appealing. Come on you deserved more then 2 games be happy that is all you got and move on.
July 25, 2012 - 11:39am
Einstein9980
I think that he should be suspended for far longer than two games. What he did should have no place in the CFL, and giving him only two games is only encouraging violence like that.
July 24, 2012 - 7:09pm
Todd K
Here's to hoping the arbitrator gives him the suspension he should have gotten in the first place.
July 24, 2012 - 6:41pm
tabbiefanmcb
Eski-Moses - I read that Rottier will not play this week. After that I guess it will be a week by week decision. As for Mitchell's decision to appeal - I find it unbelievable that the CFLPA will support the malicious acts of one player against another although its possible that since Mitchell made the decision to appeal, they may not have a choice.
July 24, 2012 - 4:10pm
RunnerEJ
Two games is a travesty. That type of deliberate act, intended to injure, cannot be tolerated and the league has to take a stronger stand. I was so angry with that play that I shut the game off.
July 24, 2012 - 2:12pm
Eski-Moses
Has it even been established that Rottier's gonna miss any games? As far as I can see, he's still undergoing tests. Having said that, I believe 3 games would have been more in order with the offence...but what do I know? I do know this, Mitchell loses two game cheques. That's pretty substantial for this leaugue.
July 24, 2012 - 10:02am
Todd K
Embarrassing. Two games is no deterrent for any upcoming 3rd string goon that wants to help their team make the playoffs.
July 24, 2012 - 9:15am
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