As any viewer of such films as North Dallas Forty or Any Given Sunday can tell you coach Prinsen is right! Nasty, ugly things can happen in the trenches of professional football. Still, in a game known for its nasty, the events of last Friday night at BC Place seem to have gone beyond the regular convention of line play in professional football.
Late in the first half the Eskimos Simeon Rottier's arm became lodged between Khalif Mitchell's arm and his body, Mitchell then pulled on Rottier's arm bending it in a most un-natural position, in the end hyper extending the arm. An ugly looking play that provided for that cringe at home on the couch moment, though we imagine it was even more painful at Rottier's end of the spectrum.
At the time no penalty was assessed on the play, though the volume of commentators and observers (not to mention the avalanche of tweets on twitter) all suggested that the refs clearly missed something.
The half time panel on TSN in particular was quick to suggest that the Commissioner would need to review the play and assess an appropriate penalty on Mitchell, a view shared by a number of journalists (most of which were of course Edmonton based, who have proclaimed Mitchell to be among the league's dirtiest players)
Regardless of source, the outcry over the play was enough to prove the Commissioner with cause to issue a two game suspension to Khalif Mitchell (now under appeal) , but the CFL's Commissioner most likely won't be swayed by the argument of Lions GM Wally Buono, though perhaps his cause may be advanced if he introduces this testimony from former Blue Bomber Doug Brown.
The video evidence however would seem to work against Mitchell, as can be seen in reviews of the play in question, his extra curricular pulls and tugs, aren't exactly in the realm of clean football, something that the Commissioner will no doubt reinforce at their hearing in early August.
The Commissioner's results table isn't particularly solid on past suspensions that total more than one game. Since he joined the league in 2007 Cohon has attempted to assess a two game suspension on three previous incidents, all eventually were overturned in arbitration.
It all makes for an interesting study into the dynamics of the CFL and its top position, but then there may not be a more glaring example of intent to injure provided in those previous incidents.
With the appeal, Mitchell can play this week in Calgary, however if the league is serious about protecting its players and drawing a line between nasty and dirty, we imagine that it may be the last of the field he sees until the Lions game of August 24th.
Vancouver Province-- Lions' Khalif Mitchell stays calm amid media circus over suspension
Vancouver Province-- B. C. Lions' Kalif Mitchell suspended two games for arm pull
Vancouver Province-- Khalif Mitchell at the centre of cheap-shot storm
Vancouver Sun-- Khalif Mitchell appeals suspension, will continue to play
Vancouver Sun-- Lions defensive lineman Khalif Mitchell to appeal CFL imposed suspension
Vancouver Sun-- Khalif Mitchell handed two-game suspension
Vancouver Sun-- B. C. Lions' Khalif Mitchell could be disciplined for arm wrench
Vancouver Sun-- I'm nasty, not dirty,' Mitchell says
Edmonton Journal-- Lions defender appeals suspension for injuring Eskimos O-lineman
Edmonton Journal-- Eskimos' Rottier forgives and forgets Mitchell incident
Edmonton Sun-- Eskimos looking beyond Mitchell incident
Edmonton Journal-- Eskimos players outraged after Rottier hurt
National Post-- Lions' Khalif Mitchell on the defence after questionable tackle
Globe and Mail-- Lions licking their wounds
TSN-- CFL Suspends Lions' Mitchell two games for injuring opponent
TSN--- Mitchell crossed the line by hurting Rottier
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