CFL Reinstates QB Chad Kelly Under ‘Last-Chance Agreement’

Chad Kelly has officially rejoined the Toronto Argonauts after being reinstated by the Canadian Football League (CFL) on Sunday. The quarterback, who notably earned the title of the CFL’s most outstanding player last season, had been suspended on May 7 due to a violation of the league’s gender-based violence policy. This suspension saw him miss both of Toronto’s exhibition games, along with the first nine regular-season matchups.

In a statement on Sunday, the CFL announced Kelly’s reinstatement as part of a “last-chance agreement.” The league emphasized that Kelly must meet ongoing, confidential conditions to remain eligible for play. These conditions, although undisclosed, are intended to ensure that Kelly shows a sustained commitment to uphold the standards expected by the league.

The suspension stemmed from an independent investigation linked to allegations made by a former strength and conditioning coach, who filed a lawsuit against Kelly for sexual harassment, with the Argonauts named in a related wrongful dismissal claim. However, the parties reached a settlement through mediation in June.

Mike Clemons, the general manager of the Argonauts, expressed the importance of this moment for Kelly. “This is an important step for Chad, who has taken full accountability for his actions and represents just the beginning of his ongoing commitment to bettering himself and learning from this experience,” Clemons stated. He added that there is still significant work ahead in strengthening the team’s culture, and he reaffirmed a collective commitment to progress as a team.

During his suspension, Kelly was required to complete confidential assessments with an independent expert and attend mandatory counseling sessions with a specialist in gender-based violence. These steps were essential for his potential reinstatement, and the CFL retained the right to revise his disciplinary measures based on the outcomes.

Last weekend, the league confirmed the receipt of Kelly’s psychological assessment and highlighted that expert evaluations would take place before any reinstatement decision was finalized. Following this, Kelly engaged in a conversation with CFL Commissioner Randy Ambrosie.

Kelly has not taken the field with Toronto since their playoff exit in the East Division final last year, which ended in a disappointment against Montreal. During his suspension, he refrained from speaking with the media. However, in a statement released by the Argonauts, he expressed remorse for his actions and acknowledged the negative impacts his behavior had on numerous individuals, his team, and the CFL. He described his reinstatement as a crucial step in his path towards personal improvement, committing to becoming a better teammate and individual.

In practice on Sunday, Kelly participated by taking about 70% of the snaps with the starting offense. Head coach Ryan Dinwiddie indicated plans to increase Kelly’s participation Monday, leading up to Thursday’s game against Saskatchewan, where both teams boast similar records.

Dinwiddie conveyed enthusiasm over Kelly’s return, remarking, “It was good to have him back. His teammates were excited to see him back in the building.” Nonetheless, the coach acknowledged that starting Kelly on Thursday might be challenging, given the limited practice time and absence from training camp. He mentioned a possibility of having Kelly share snaps with the other quarterbacks, Cameron Dukes and Nick Arbuckle.

Before joining the Argonauts, Kelly had a diverse college career, playing at institutions such as Clemson and East Mississippi Community College. After being selected as the final choice in the 2017 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos, his career took a detour due to legal issues that led to his release from the team the following year.

In his previous season with the Argonauts, Kelly played a pivotal role in guiding the team to a franchise-record 16-2 outcome, although their campaign concluded with a loss against Montreal in the East Division final, with a score of 38-17.

Source: Particlenews