CFL sends memo to players advising amplified supplementary discipline for quarterback hits

Canadian Football League commissioner Randy Ambrosie wants to protect quarterbacks as much as possible.

In the last couple of weeks, Ambrosie sent a memo to players around the CFL, through their respective teams, stating the CFL office has amplified supplementary discipline for dangerous hits on quarterbacks.

“That’s sending a message that we want our players to be more careful. We’re always trying to be half, if not a full, step ahead of the players. Educating them on what’s going to be permitted and what’s not,” Ambrosie told Dave Thomas on 620 CKRM. 

“We regularly send out memos to the teams noting something that took place, we’ll be making recommendations. Our football operations are constantly talking with the GMs and coaches about things that are happening.”

Most recently, following Week 15, Ambrosie fined Montreal Alouettes’ linebacker Geoffrey Cantin-Arku for a high hit to the head on Calgary Stampeders’ quarterback Jake Maier.

Saskatchewan Roughriders’ defensive lineman Miles Brown was fined in back-to-back weeks for high and low hits on Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ quarterbacks Zach Collaros and Chris Streveler, respectively.

A comprehensive list of fines for hits on quarterbacks this season is as follows.

Week 12 — Alouettes defensive lineman Isaac Adeyemi-Berglund was fined for delivering a high hit on Edmonton quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson.

Week 9 — Tiger-Cats defensive lineman Casey Sayles was fined for delivering a high hit on Montreal quarterback Davis Alexander.

Week 7 — Blue Bombers linebacker Adam Bighill was fined for unnecessary roughness, driving Saskatchewan quarterback Shea Patterson into the ground.

Week 5 — Redblacks defensive back Tobias Harris was fined for delivering a high spear on sliding Winnipeg quarterback Chris Streveler.

Week 5 — Blue Bombers defensive back Redha Kramdi was fined for delivering a high hit on a sliding Ottawa quarterback Dru Brown.

Week 3 — Alouettes defensive back Bryce Cosby was fined for delivering a low hit on Ottawa quarterback Dru Brown.

Week 3 — Roughriders defensive lineman Anthony Lanier II was fined for making high contact with Hamilton quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell.

Week 1 — Alouettes defensive back Reggie Stubblefield was fined for committing a non-football act, making unnecessary contact with Winnipeg quarterback Chris Streveler.

“There’s no joy for me — zero joy, zero joy — in reaching into our players’ pockets for our money or suspending somebody. That’s not why I took this job,” Ambrosie said. “When I’m all said and done at some point down the road, it’ll be the thing that I will say that I enjoyed the least, but it is a critical part of the commissioner’s job and it’s one that I take very seriously.”

The 61-year-old commish wants to be proactive and educate the players in real time. Based on his recent memo, defensive players have to adjust quickly to avoid further financial discipline.