Does any other league have it in the rules that they are ineligible for awards if they test positive for a banned substance? At some point you don’t need specific rules, you just need common sense. Ryan Braun was having a great season in 2012 when he was busted for PEDs and he got no award recognition that season. Why should the CFL be any different?
If Simoni Lawrence were on the Bombers and Andrew Harris were on the Ticats, what would be your reaction to all this? Likely general indifference, no? Lawrence is a dirtbag, but it’s still not on the same level as testing positive for PEDs.
No, I don’t but it doesn’t change that it sets a bad precedent. Even if he was merely unlucky with a contaminated sample (unlikely, but possible) the worst case scenario is he doesn’t get nominated for an award over a testing error. It sucks but it’s hardly the end of the world. Let’s not forget that most Bomber fans are willing to give him the benefit of the doubt solely because he’s a fan favourite and a great football player on their favourite team. Even the most hardened homers have to acknowledge that.
Let’s be real... if the tables were turned and it were the Riders who had Andrew Harris in this situation, we’d be singing the praises of those who kept him off their ballot. Regardless of whether you believe he was completely innocent (I don’t), it sets a bad precedent to give prestigious awards to a player who tested positive for a PED that same season. This isn’t complicated and the right thing happened.
It’s worth nothing that Calgary can’t run the ball for ****, and they care so little about the run game that they’re starting Litre, who absolutely sucks. Running the ball is absolutely useless beyond the occasional distraction. Having the best RB in the league does us very little good.