The start of the season could not come at a better time for the Canadian Football League.
This 2024 campaign will be launched Thursday, in Winnipeg, when the Blue Bombers will host the Montreal Alouettes, a rematch of last November’s Gray Cup, when the Montrealers came from behind to win 28-24 in a exciting match.
Since then, the league has had a difficult few months.
In April, it indefinitely suspended then-retired defensive end Shawn Lemon for betting on Ambrosie Tour games. Lemon would have bet 70 euros (around 104 4 CAN) on two matches, including one in which he would have played with the Calgary Stampeders in 2021.
The league has no evidence that the outcome of these matches was influenced.
Then, last month, the CFL suspended Toronto Argonauts quarterback and 2023 MVP Chad Kelly for at least nine games for violating its gender-based violence policy.
This sanction was issued after an independent investigation, launched after a former Argos sports therapist filed a lawsuit against Kelly for sexual harassment and the team for wrongful dismissal. Two days after being sanctioned, Kelly reported to the Argos’ rookie camp, but did not train with the group.
The CFL Players’ Association then appealed the league’s decision, since the latter allegedly did not give it access to the investigation report leading to Kelly’s suspension. The Argos, the Kelly clan and the plaintiff’s lawyers only received a summary of the investigation report, not the full 87-page report.
The AJLCF also received the summary of this report. She demands access to the full report, something the LCF would have refused her until now.
On May 14, Lemon reported to the Alouettes camp after having appealed his case. He will be able to play until an independent arbitrator rules on this matter.
Two days later, Kelly formally withdrew from Argos activities.
Lemon’s situation took an intriguing turn last week, when the BC Lions signed defensive lineman Demetrious Taylor, who spent most of the 2022 season on the team’s practice squad. Detroit Lions. He played one game in 2023 before being released.
The NFL, however, suspended Taylor indefinitely for betting on games during his first season. He was part of a group of five players who were readmitted by the Goodell circuit in April, but were unable to sign a new contract.
Unfortunately, these off-the-field stories have distracted from a more than interesting 2023 season. Scores have been up 18% since 2021, with an average of 50.8 points per game, compared to 43.1. 60% of games were decided in the last three minutes of play, while this proportion was 51% in 2021. There were 17 punt returns returned for touchdowns in 2023, four more than in 2022 and counting twice the 2021 total. No less than 18 quarterbacks started a game and signed at least one victory last year.
Teams in the league’s three main markets — Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal — also had strong seasons, both on and off the field. Argos match day revenues increased 41.1%; those of the Alouettes 13.5% and those of the Lions, 12.3%.
With the season about to get underway, attention can once again turn to the field, as the Alouettes attempt to win back-to-back championships for the first time since 2009-2010.
“We don’t worry about winning two titles in a row, because the team will be very different from last year. It will therefore not be the same team that wins these two championships, explained head coach Jason Maas. But our goal remains the same. We want to win the ninth Gray Cup for this organization. »
“Every day we will focus on the small things we can do to improve. I want our team to focus every day on what they control. »
The Alouettes will also be looking for a ninth consecutive victory on Thursday. The team concluded the season with five season wins and three more in the playoffs, against Hamilton, Toronto and Winnipeg.
His last defeat dates back to September 15, against the Argos.
On Friday, veteran Bo Levi Mitchell is scheduled to return to Calgary where his Tiger-Cats will face the Stampeders. The 34-year-old quarterback played his first 10 seasons in the CFL in Alberta, winning two Gray Cups and two league MVP awards.
Saturday, it will be the turn of the Edmonton Elks, now led by quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson, to kick off their season by hosting the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
The first week of the calendar will conclude on Sunday with the duel between the Lions and the Argos at BMO Field.
This 2024 season will end in Vancouver, where the 111e Gray Cup will be played at BC Place on November 17.
With Daniel Rainbird of The Canadian Press