Employee Alleged Harassment Case - Chad Kelly

[Will]

From Argos media relation: "Revised transaction: QB Chad Kelly has not been moved to suspended list. Remains away from team."

Hard to know how to interpret this. Not suspended, yet not with the team? Might have just been a clerical error somewhere along the line, but this will undoubtedly lead to more ridicule from around the league.

A careless error that is going to be magnified because of the nature of the careless error.

[bluto]

Yup. To borrow a soccer phrase, it was a total "own goal".

[jerrym]

The following article from Saskatchewan shows the Argos handling of the Kelly "situation" has impacted its image around the league and could hurt its ability to diversify its fans, especially women. If Kelly appeals the ruling, he may end up being allowed to play while the appeal is heard, which will not look good for the Argos.While Mace was diplomatic, AJ Ouellette, whose wife, Haley, is a strength and conditioning coach, says he followed Mace to Riderville because Mace not gonna tolerate any of that.” Watching how the Argos handled the scandal must have been particularly hard for AJ.
​Half of the Riders paid staff is female.

There’s really only one polite way for anyone to say they’re happy to escape the embarrassing sideshow surrounding the Toronto Argonauts.“You know, I’m happy I’m here,” said first-year Saskatchewan Roughriders head coach Corey Mace, providing the proper, diplomatic answer when asked during his new team’s training camp if he’s glad to no longer be in Toronto as that woebegone CFL franchise muddies itself in a workplace scandal. “This is a heck of a place to be. We have so many people that work in our organization and constantly, whether it’s coming from myself or from Craig (Reynolds, Roughriders president/CEO) or from J.O. (Saskatchewan general manager Jeremy O’Day) and everybody else in between in the building, we’re really pushing and stress that it’s a healthy work environment. That’s really what we focus on in our building.”

That should be the intention of all nine CFL franchises: Making their workplaces safe and healthy. Although it’s impossible to verify from outside the operation, about half of the Roughriders’ paid staff are females and there have been no similar examples of a troublesome workplace. Evidently the Argonauts fall short, which is why they’re in turmoil and quarterback Chad Kelly — the CFL’s most outstanding player in 2023 — has been suspended for at least nine regular-season games. A CFL-sponsored investigation corroborated several accusations by a former strength and conditioning coach, who claimed Kelly repeatedly made unwanted advances and engaged in a public confrontation that led to her dismissal. ...

Kelly and the Argonauts plan to defend themselves against those charges of sexual harassment and discrimination, as filed in a civil lawsuit. Although not proven in court, the coach said she felt unsafe within the Argonauts’ facilities even after telling assistant general manager John Murphy about the incidents. The league has not announced any discipline for the Argonauts, although there have been hints any punishments would remain private. That’s a mistake for a league that conducted a “Diversity is Strength” promotional campaign to demonstrate it’s serious about such issues. It can’t shy away now. Argonauts general manager Michael (Pinball) Clemons met the media last week to discuss Kelly’s suspension on the same day the quarterback was running around with the other pivots during the team’s workout. In addition to terrible optics, Clemons took the blame for mishandling what he flippantly called a “situation” between two employees.

It keeps getting worse, which is why the story won’t fade away. At least the Argonauts aren’t allowing Kelly in future camp activities as they scramble to find a replacement quarterback. Kelly is pondering an appeal. That could allow him to play until receiving a hearing.


Kelly is pondering an appeal. That could allow him to play until receiving a hearing. To the league’s chagrin, Montreal Alouettes defensive end Shawn Lemon has grieved his recent, indefinite suspension for gambling on CFL games and rejoined his squad Tuesday for training camp. Ambrosie insisted the league will fight to uphold Lemon’s suspension and there’s little doubt it would do the same against Kelly.

Mace had been Toronto’s defensive co-ordinator, winning a Grey Cup with the team in 2022, before being hired this offseason as Saskatchewan’s head coach. He was expected to bring along several Argonauts, primarily because of his relationships within the team. Although Toronto’s problems occurred primarily last year, it would be unfair to believe everyone knew about them or that anyone chose to leave the Argonauts because of the “situation.” “I followed coach Mace because I knew that was the leader I wanted,” said running back A.J. Ouellette, a four-year Argonaut who signed as a free agent with the Roughriders during the offseason. “He’s not gonna tolerate any of that.”

[gilthethrill]

The following article from Saskatchewan shows the Argos handling of the Kelly "situation" has impacted its image around the league and could hurt its ability to diversify its fans, especially women. If Kelly appeals the ruling, he may end up being allowed to play while the appeal is heard, which will not look good for the Argos.While Mace was diplomatic, AJ Ouellette, whose wife, Haley, is a strength and conditioning coach, says he followed Mace to Riderville because Mace not gonna tolerate any of that.” Watching how the Argos handled the scandal must have been particularly hard for AJ.
​Half of the Riders paid staff is female.

Ah yes, the Saskatchewan Rough Riders...the Epitome of Perfection.