CFL fines seven players, including Simoni Lawrence & James Wilder Jr.

Photo courtesy: Edmonton Elks

The CFL has fined seven players following last week’s slate of games, including Hamilton Tiger-Cats Simoni Lawrence and Edmonton Elks running back James Wilder Jr.

Lawrence was fined for a high hit on Wilder Jr., while Wilder Jr. was fined “for his role in the altercation that occurred after play No. 72 on Friday night in Edmonton.”

Taylor Cornelius threw a pass intended for Wilder Jr. late in the second quarter of last week’s game that fell incomplete. Lawrence drove Wilder Jr. to the ground with a hit to his backside, after which the running back stood up angrily and tackled Lawrence, driving him back near the Edmonton sideline.

A melee ensued, after which six penalties were assessed. Elks head coach Jaime Elizondo indicated this week that Wilder Jr. was frustrated about a number of hits he felt should have resulted in penalties, one of which Lawrence was fined for on Thursday.

“We need to be more mature. Sometimes helping a teammate means pulling him back and not jumping in and making the fight worse,” Elizondo told the media this week. “It’s disappointing. We gotta be better as a team of — when those tempers flare — maintaining our composure and our poise and we didn’t do that.”

The CFL also administered fines to the following five players.

Hamilton Tiger-Cats defensive back Kameron Kelly was fined for spitting on an opponent.

BC Lions defensive lineman Obum Gwacham was fined for a high hit on Toronto Argonauts quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson.

Toronto Argonauts defensive back Chris Edwards was fined for a high hit on BC Lions quarterback Michael Reilly.

Saskatchewan Roughriders defensive back Loucheiz Purifoy was fined for unsportsmanlike behaviour during the fourth quarter against the Montreal Alouettes.

Saskatchewan Roughriders fullback Albert Awachie was fined for a high hit on Montreal Alouettes returner Martese Jackson.

As per league policy, the amounts of the player fines were not disclosed.