CHAD KELLY SUSPENDED!

Chad Kelly has been suspended for violating the CFL’s Gender-Based Violence Policy. Here I will explain the suspension and how this may affect the league standings for the upcoming season.

The Argos star QB, reigning CFL Most Outstanding Player, and 2022 Grey Cup Champion has been suspended for all of the Argos pre-season games, and then at least 9 regular season games. Chad is required to undergo confidential assessments by an independent expert and attend mandatory counseling sessions conducted by a gender-based violence expert.

If both the counseling sessions and the assessments are satisfactorily completed, the CFL will consider reinstating his suspension. If he doesn’t complete those, the CFL reserves the right to modify his discipline.

Any future violations of the gender-based violence policy will result in further discipline.

As for the Argonauts, they will be without Chad for at least half of the season, so that leaves the Argos without a quarterback. They still have backup Cameron Dukes who will presumably start for Toronto, but since this is the CFL, you never know. They may trade for a QB, and if they were to, McLeod Bethel-Thompson could make a possible return to Toronto.

But with Kelly gone, Montreal and Hamilton have a great chance to steal Toronto’s playoff spot, but with Ottawa in the division, Toronto should still get into the playoffs unless the crossover rule needs to be applied.

But for the West Division, the crossover rule wouldn’t be that much of a surprise because of this suspension. Montreal and Hamilton will likely go 1-2 in the East, and for the West, there is plenty of talent. Winnipeg and BC will likely be a close race for first place, and Edmonton and Calgary could go third. I don’t think Saskatchewan will be a playoff team, even if the CFL ranks them 4th in the preseason power rankings. Even with Trevor Harris off the IR and the Addition of AJ Ouellette, they are an inconsistent team.

The Argonauts were ranked 3rd in my pre-season power rankings, but with this suspension, they fall to 6-7.

For more information about the Chad Kelly situation, visit the link below.

https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2024/02/23/argos-engulfed-in-scandal