Chad Kelly suffered concussion during East Final

[Will]

Oy

https://3downnation.com/2023/11/15/t...ng-east-final/

[shayman]

What the heck? Who let him keep playing? That's bad if somebody knew, and he still played.

[OV Argo]

Did not notice any concerning signs during the game? - when did he take a big hit ?

[paulwoods13]

Imo there is virtually no chance that any coach or medical person knew anything about any concussion. He never went to the tent and he basically never did anything on the bench other than watch stuff on tablet and (as the game progressed) sit there while a succession of players came over to try to buck him up. I have to believe if anyone saw anything suggesting he was concussed, they would have spoken up.

[ArgoRavi]

Imo there is virtually no chance that any coach or medical person knew anything about any concussion. He never went to the tent and he basically never did anything on the bench other than watch stuff on tablet and (as the game progressed) sit there while a succession of players came over to try to buck him up. I have to believe if anyone saw anything suggesting he was concussed, they would have spoken up.

I agree, Paul. I haven't rewatched the game, and don't have any great desire to do so, but I guess I will have to. I really don't recall any obvious hit to the head, which is what the league's spotter would be looking for. Obviously, it doesn't appear as though Kelly reported any symptoms to anyone.

[kellynjk]

Agree that there no chance that any of the coaching staff or medical staff attached to the Argos saw anything that gave them concern that Kelly sustained a concussion as they have always erred on the side of caution when any player gets hit too hard. Does anyone think this is just Kelly suggesting this as an excuse for his poor play in the Eastern Final?

I have worked on concussion strategies as part of my job and I think it's highly unlikely that he could have continued to play if he really had a concussion or similarly that none of the staff or his colleagues would not have noticed a change in his behaviour, cognitive and physical skills if he had sustained such a hit early in the game.

[Rich]

Maybe the Als slipped something in his Gatorade. He’s a bit of an odd duck, this Chad Kelly. I wonder what he’s doing in New York this winter.

On the other hand, he did look a little bewildered out there, and the pick sixes weren’t just bad throws, they were so bad it was like he couldn’t see straight.

[ArgoGabe22]

Makes you wonder with the Argos D doing its job for 3 quarters, would Cameron Dukes have put up points on the board?

[gilthethrill]

On those 2 ill fated 3rd Down sneaks, I thought I noticed Kelly not get low and lead with his head. The concussion may explain why?

[paulwoods13]

Interesting that the 3DN story gives no context for these quoted remarks. Were they made in an interview? Have any other media outlets filed similar reports? I would think if these remarks were exclusive to 3DN, they'd be trumpeting that fact. But if they were not exclusive, someone else would have issued a similar report.

The whole thing has a whiff of unreality about it.

Furthermore, his comments (assuming he really did make them, to someone) have put the organization in a bad position. They have to either deny there was any indication of concussion (thus pinning the blame on him) or implicitly admit to culpability in leaving a potentially concussed player in the game. It's a no-win situation.

If he truly is planning to split his off-season time between Toronto and NYC, that would at minimum suggest he is not continuing with what allegedly worked for him last off-season -- staying in town and working out with teammates, etc. Does not bode well, IMO.

[paulwoods13]

And now we see a different story, based on an interview. No mention of any concussion, or of moving to NYC.

https://torontosun.com/sports/footba...-in-east-final

[Argo57]

And now we see a different story, based on an interview. No mention of any concussion, or of moving to NYC.

https://torontosun.com/sports/footba...-in-east-final

This puts a totally different perspective on things, Simmons interview makes no mention of a concussion.

[shayman]

The whole thing has a whiff of unreality about it.

Very weird indeed and I hope he's not burning bridges by tossing out concussion claims. I hope/imagine the media will be snooping around on this story a bit more.

[paulwoods13]

Very weird indeed and I hope he's not burning bridges by tossing out concussion claims. I hope/imagine the media will be snooping around on this story a bit more.

The org is in a terrible position. There is almost nothing they can say publicly that wouldn't reflect badly on someone -- their own staff or their starting QB.

However, there is also a third possibility -- that 3DN torqued or misinterpreted what Kelly said. The fact he was not explicitly quoted in the interview as saying he suffered a concussion on Saturday, and apparently made no mention of such a thing in a separate interview with Simmons, suggests that might be what happened.

The only quotes in the 3DN story about this say: “Personally, I did not feel good. My head and everything was not in the right place of mind to say anything to anybody. I needed to get in the locker room. My head was not good. I think there were a few times definitely that I was not in the right mind at all calling a play, even out on the field. It was definitely rough the day after and I’d say probably two days after, really. I mean, it’s something that you don’t want to go through. I’ve had one (concussion) before and it wasn’t to the extent of this one, but it’s definitely something that you gotta get help.”

The only reference to concussion is in parentheses, a word apparently not uttered in that quote by Kelly but placed there by 3DN. While concussion might be what he was suggesting, it apparently was not explicitly stated. Other interpretations are also possible. If he explicitly said he suffered a concussion on Saturday, why did no quote reflect that?

I want to give Kelly the benefit of the doubt, despite my previously stated concern about his propensity for going "off script" in the off-season. I have no such inclination towards 3DN, however.

[shayman]

Let's hope it's possibility #3, that 3DN just got it wrong, because the other options are hard to comprehend.

["Issues"Mcgee]

The org is in a terrible position. There is almost nothing they can say publicly that wouldn't reflect badly on someone -- their own staff or their starting QB.

However, there is also a third possibility -- that 3DN torqued or misinterpreted what Kelly said. The fact he was not explicitly quoted in the interview as saying he suffered a concussion on Saturday, and apparently made no mention of such a thing in a separate interview with Simmons, suggests that might be what happened.

The only quotes in the 3DN story about this say: “Personally, I did not feel good. My head and everything was not in the right place of mind to say anything to anybody. I needed to get in the locker room. My head was not good. I think there were a few times definitely that I was not in the right mind at all calling a play, even out on the field. It was definitely rough the day after and I’d say probably two days after, really. I mean, it’s something that you don’t want to go through. I’ve had one (concussion) before and it wasn’t to the extent of this one, but it’s definitely something that you gotta get help.”

The only reference to concussion is in parentheses, a word apparently not uttered in that quote by Kelly but placed there by 3DN. While concussion might be what he was suggesting, it apparently was not explicitly stated. Other interpretations are also possible. If he explicitly said he suffered a concussion on Saturday, why did no quote reflect that?

I want to give Kelly the benefit of the doubt, despite my previously stated concern about his propensity for going "off script" in the off-season. I have no such inclination towards 3DN, however.

Remember, before last season started, when 3DN published a story about Chad Kelly "acknowledging" rumours that he may be traded to Hamilton? They provided a link to an interview where it wasn't even discussed.

This would not be the first time 3DN completely made up a story about Kelly.

[kellynjk]

It makes even less sense now that the Toronto Sun story has come out. In the original 3Downnation story, he says,

“I think there were a few times definitely that I was not in the right mind at all calling a play, even out on the field,” he said. “It was definitely rough the day after and I’d say probably two days after, really. I mean, it’s something that you don’t want to go through. I’ve had one (concussion) before and it wasn’t to the extent of this one, but it’s definitely something that you gotta get help.”

Well it's pretty obvious that Kelly is referring to a concussion that he had previously, knows what it feels like and but this one was worse. And it's definitely implying it was contributing to his poor performance. If it was a misquote or a misinterpretation, why didn't Kelly immediately come out and say so. It's one thing to say that he didn't feel like himself, that maybe nerves or the pressure of the game got to him, it's quite another to imply that he had suffered some sort of concussed hit.

Then the Sun story talks about how he has worked out twice in the last four days since their season ended, which is the very last thing you would do if there was any suggestion of a concussion.

I get that Kelly is probably embarrassed by his performance in the Eastern final, it was horrible. And he's looking at finding an excuse, but he is making himself and the organization look bad by implying that he maybe got a concussion during the game and that affected his performance.

Both Kelly and the Argos should clarify that he did not get a concussion during the game and that his comments were taken out of context. I like Kelly and he is a good quarterback with a great future, but this kind of behaviour makes him look immature and demonstrates some serious "lack of judgement."

[paulwoods13]

Remember, before last season started, when 3DN published a story about Chad Kelly "acknowledging" rumours that he may be traded to Hamilton? They provided a link to an interview where it wasn't even discussed.

This would not be the first time 3DN completely made up a story about Kelly.

3DN has been open (gleeful, even) about how any piece with Kelly gets a lot of "hits." It's click-bait, and they are open about it.

As you say, there have been other instances of journalistic malfeasance by that site going back years. I felt the journalistic standards had improved over the past year or two (if you can ignore the ridiculously slanted pieces by fanboys who "cover" a few of the teams), but this harkens back to some of the issues I've taken issue with in the past.

An experienced editor working in a reputable newsroom would almost certainly have asked some pointed questions about the piece. (Unfortunately, such things -- experienced editors and reputable newsrooms -- are in increasingly scarce supply these days.)

[j-ski]

I suspect Chad had an anxiety attack. Its understandable, and nothing to be embarrassed about.

[paulwoods13]

I suspect Chad had an anxiety attack. Its understandable, and nothing to be embarrassed about.

I agree anxiety attacks should not be stigmatizing in any way. Unfortunately, the macho world of pro football would probably view it differently. (To be clear, I don't know if Kelly had such an attack, but it is a plausible possibility.)