Jimenez affair regrettable: Henry Burris
Calgary Stampeders quarterback Henry Burris told CBC Sports on Sunday the devastating injury to teammate Anthony Gargiulo and stayed suspension to Jason Jimenez of the B.C. Lions was "a sad situation."
Jimenez was suspended for a low hit on defensive end Gargiulo at the end of a play in the season finale for both clubs.
Gargiulo suffered a broken leg plus torn ligaments and tendons and required surgery to put a plate in his leg. Jimenez was ejected from the game and suspended one game.
Under the terms of the collective bargaining agreement between the league and its players association, a suspended player can appeala decision to an independent arbitrator.
The CFL announced Friday an independent stayed the suspension, meaning Jimenez will be able to play in the Grey Cup if the Lions advance.
"There's no reason why the CFLPA should not have defended this guy [Gargiulo]," CFL on CBC analyst David Benefield said Sunday. "He needs to be defended."
Lions coach and GM Wally Buono was fined $1,000 for publicly disagreeing with the officials' decision on the Jimenez hit in the Nov. 3 game.
On Saturday, Buono engaged in a heated exchanged with Carm Carteri at a news conference, chiding the Saskatchewan broadcaster for forming an opinion without seeing conclusive video evidence.
Working as a guest analyst on Sunday, Burris saidit shouldn't matter whether video of a contentious play is readily available.
"With the official being right there and having a birds-eye view, tossing the flag, he wrote up his statement," Burris said. "What happened to that?
"Now all of a sudden we need visual evidence when [there is] an official who's paid to uphold the rules of the league?"
Burris said he couldn't criticize B.C. for using the existing rules to keep Jimenez in the lineup.
Earlier this year, the league received criticism when a suspension handed to Edmonton's A.J. Gass, eventually overturned, took 24 days to fully adjudicate.
"Fans across Canada are thinking that players are just manipulating this system," said CFL on CBC analyst Greg Frers. "The system needs to be evaluated going into this off-season."
It was the second time this season a member of B.C.'s offensive line has been suspended.Sherko Haji-Rasouli got a one-game ban after roughing up Saskatchewan's Scott Schultz in a September melee.
Lions offensive lineman Rob Murphy and receiver Cory Rodgers were also fined undisclosed amounts for their part in the altercation.