Duke-Shaq altercation

**paulwoods13** · 07-20-2022, 04:09 PM

Duke Williams gets a one-game suspension. Shaq Richardson gets the maximum allowable fine.

Unfortunately, we likely won't benefit from Williams' suspension since it appears this weekend's game will be postponed because of Sask's Covid problem.

Also, Eli Mencer gets a one-game suspension for derogatory language to an official. That's a big loss for our special teams.

**Will** · 07-20-2022, 06:09 PM

Originally Posted by paulwoods13

Duke Williams gets a one-game suspension. Shaq Richardson gets the maximum allowable fine.

Unfortunately, we likely won't benefit from Williams' suspension since it appears this weekend's game will be postponed because of Sask's Covid problem.

Also, Eli Mencer gets a one-game suspension for derogatory language to an official. That's a big loss for our special teams.

What Mencer said must have been rather egregious to warrant a suspension. Criticisms of officiating is usually met with a fine.

Not only will the Argos not benefit from Williams' suspension, they may not benefit from (i) Marino and Robertson being out of the lineup and (ii) Fajardo potentially being out of the lineup. I suppose you'd rather beat a healthy Saskatchewan team, but the Argos have had enough problems winning at new Mosaic.

**paulwoods13** · 07-20-2022, 07:05 PM

There was a female official last weekend; Mencer may have made a sexist remark. The whole officiating crew was terrible in that game.

I agree it is outrageous that we won't benefit from the suspensions and injuries if this week's game is postponed. It also annoys the hell out of me that yet again we are the team that gets screwed schedule-wise. We might have won the East Final last year if we'd had the Week 21 bye we were supposed to have.

**AngeloV** · 07-20-2022, 07:14 PM

If they do have to postpone the game, the appropriate move would be to play this game week 15 during the Argos last bye. Riders are scheduled to play the Elks week 15 but both have a bye week 16. That is the easiest way to re-schedule. Having said that, if the Riders have 45 healthy bodies including PR players that haven’t tested positive, the game should go on as scheduled

**ArgoRavi** · 07-20-2022, 07:32 PM

Another bye week now would stall momentum a bit and it's been a challenge so far this season, with two bye weeks already, for the Argos to generate some sustained momentum.

**argolio** · 07-20-2022, 08:04 PM

Gonna keep calm until we know more. Deep breaths!

**paulwoods13** · 07-20-2022, 09:42 PM

Reasons to oppose a change as AV described:

1. We should NOT have used up all three of our byes after seven weeks, and be forced to play 14 straight weeks heading into the playoffs. Player safety.

2. Losing game this week means keeping six-game injured guys out for both the Ott game and the first Ham game. We might need those guys against Ham.

3. Losing game this week means not playing Sask when they are at their weakest, with two players suspended and Fajardo hurt.

4. Losing game this week creates a "fake" bye -- the week is already almost over and players have been here prepping. They won't be able to get a legitimate stretch of time away from football. Their next bye gives them 14 days between games, meaning at least seven days off; getting one now would mean at best 3 or 4 days off, with no time to plan trips etc.

5. Argos should not be forced to pay the price -- again -- for another team's inability to keep its players Covid-free.

**AngeloV** · 07-20-2022, 09:59 PM

Originally Posted by paulwoods13

Reasons to oppose a change as AV described:

1. We should NOT have used up all three of our byes after seven weeks, and be forced to play 14 straight weeks heading into the playoffs. Player safety.

2. Losing game this week means keeping six-game injured guys out for both the Ott game and the first Ham game. We might need those guys against Ham.

3. Losing game this week means not playing Sask when they are at their weakest, with two players suspended and Fajardo hurt.

4. Losing game this week creates a "fake" bye -- the week is already almost over and players have been here prepping. They won't be able to get a legitimate stretch of time away from football. Their next bye gives them 14 days between games, meaning at least seven days off; getting one now would mean at best 3 or 4 days off, with no time to plan trips etc.

5. Argos should not be forced to pay the price -- again -- for another team's inability to keep its players Covid-free.

Agreed 100% Paul. As I said, if the Riders can muster up 45 healthy bodies between their roster from this past week, their practice roster and the nine fake 1 game injured list guys, this game should go on.

**Mightygoose** · 07-20-2022, 10:19 PM

Per Zicarelli, the game may only be related to Sunday or Monday.

https://torontosun.com/sports/footba...covid-outbreak

Naylor suggested something earlier. That beats a 3rd bye so soon. Hopefully it's Sunday so they'll still have a week before hosting Ottawa on the 31st

**OV Argo** · 07-20-2022, 10:48 PM

Originally Posted by Mightygoose

Per Zicarelli, the game may only be related to Sunday or Monday.

https://torontosun.com/sports/footba...covid-outbreak

Naylor suggested something earlier. That beats a 3rd bye so soon. Hopefully it's Sunday so they'll still have a week before hosting Ottawa on the 31st

Not sure what a one or two day delay does to combat a Covid outbreak ? A bunch of Argo players catch it from Riders and then what ?

**Mightygoose** · 07-20-2022, 11:12 PM

Originally Posted by OV Argo

Not sure what a one or two day delay does to combat a Covid outbreak ? A bunch of Argo players catch it from Riders and then what ?

I think it would be to give the Riders an extra day or two to practice once they isolate everyone that test positive.. provided not many more do tomorrow

**Argo57** · 07-21-2022, 07:39 AM

Originally Posted by paulwoods13

Reasons to oppose a change as AV described:

1. We should NOT have used up all three of our byes after seven weeks, and be forced to play 14 straight weeks heading into the playoffs. Player safety.

2. Losing game this week means keeping six-game injured guys out for both the Ott game and the first Ham game. We might need those guys against Ham.

3. Losing game this week means not playing Sask when they are at their weakest, with two players suspended and Fajardo hurt.

4. Losing game this week creates a "fake" bye -- the week is already almost over and players have been here prepping. They won't be able to get a legitimate stretch of time away from football. Their next bye gives them 14 days between games, meaning at least seven days off; getting one now would mean at best 3 or 4 days off, with no time to plan trips etc.

5. Argos should not be forced to pay the price -- again -- for another team's inability to keep its players Covid-free.

But I thought the Argos get all the breaks from the league, no?

**gilthethrill** · 07-21-2022, 10:11 AM

Originally Posted by paulwoods13

Reasons to oppose a change as AV described:

1. We should NOT have used up all three of our byes after seven weeks, and be forced to play 14 straight weeks heading into the playoffs. Player safety.

2. Losing game this week means keeping six-game injured guys out for both the Ott game and the first Ham game. We might need those guys against Ham.

3. Losing game this week means not playing Sask when they are at their weakest, with two players suspended and Fajardo hurt.

4. Losing game this week creates a "fake" bye -- the week is already almost over and players have been here prepping. They won't be able to get a legitimate stretch of time away from football. Their next bye gives them 14 days between games, meaning at least seven days off; getting one now would mean at best 3 or 4 days off, with no time to plan trips etc.

5. Argos should not be forced to pay the price -- again -- for another team's inability to keep its players Covid-free.

Not sure what you mean by keeping its players Covid-free? People get sick, like they always have.

**"Issues"Mcgee** · 07-21-2022, 10:44 AM

Originally Posted by gilthethrill

Not sure what you mean by keeping its players Covid-free? People get sick, like they always have.

I second this statement.

**paulwoods13** · 07-21-2022, 10:58 AM

There are ways to minimize the risk of infection and exposure, and there are ways not to minimize the risk. We know the Roughriders had guys sick in Halifax. Did they isolate them quickly enough and effectively enough to minimize the chances of Covid -- a particularly contagious illness -- from spreading through the roster? Maybe they did, but it's interesting that one team has Covid affecting all position groups, and the team it played apparently does not. Pure coincidence?

**paulwoods13** · 07-21-2022, 11:04 AM

Today's practice and media availability are scrapped, "not Covid related." Who knows what that means? I guess it might mean there is no Covid within the team, but the game is not being played on Saturday. (Which would in fact be a Covid-related decision, but again, who knows.) Hopefully clarity today, and hopefully confirmation the game will go ahead by no later than Monday.