Bruce absent from Argonauts practice

It doesn't appear as though Toronto Argonauts receiver Arland Bruce and rookie head coach Bart Andrus have patched up their differences.

Bruce, who was suspended for Friday's game at Winnipeg, didn't attend the Canadian Football League team's morning meeting Tuesday and later missed practice.

While Andrus said Bruce is not officially suspended, he added that nothing has changed with the receiver's status.

"He's not here because I don't want him here," Andrus said at the team's practice facility.

"We're looking at a lot of different things, a lot of different ways to bring this to a resolution," the coach added. "But right now, I do not want him around the team."

Bruce remains on the team's roster and is still getting paid, but Andrus said he won't be welcomed back until the situation is resolved. He didn't provide a timeline for a resolution.

The team is believed to be shopping the disgruntled receiver, who makes $190,000.

Toronto has until Friday to name its 46-man roster for Saturday's home game against Winnipeg but will have until an hour before kickoff to announce its 42-man active roster.

The Argos on Tuesday brought in receiver Chad Lucas, who led NFL Europe with eight touchdowns in 2006 while playing for the Amsterdam Admirals team coached by Andrus.

Lucas was just released by the St. Louis Rams.

Andrus told Bruce to stay home for last Friday's game, saying he was disciplining the six-year Argo for unprofessional behaviour.

Bruce has been suspended four times this season for several missteps, including leaving his playbook on a plane in Calgary and missing special-teams meetings.

He also made disparaging remarks about Toronto quarterback Kerry Joseph and was fined by the league for his Michael Jackson tribute touchdown celebration at Hamilton on July 1.