Instant Analysis: Winnipeg Blue Bombers Johnny Sears Suspended

The Canadian Football League announced today that following Johnny Sears helmet-to-helmet hit on Toronto’s quarterback Steven Jyles, that a one-game suspension was appropriate.

Looking at the hit repeatedly, there was no cause to determine what the player’s state of mine was at that time.

After watching the hit you could see that as the player went forward, Jyles did not slide at the appropriate time, allowing sufficient room for Sears to make his move. It appears the result of that action followed up with the hit was the only available option.

What will make this suspension harder to tolerate is the lack of consistency and transparency throughout the league after a similar hit was applied to Winnipeg’s quarterback, Buck Pierce, by Ejiro Kuale.

That hit resulted in a fine and no suspension for Kuale. That verdict should have been applied here as the plays were similar, except for that Jyles had the ball this time around.

One of the issues that has plagued the league for several years now has been their revolving door for inconsistent calls towards certain players and teams.

The league did announce that Rob Murphy and Taylor Robertson were both fined for their comments on Twitter, directed towards Johny Sears.

There is certainly no room in the CFL for language and threats towards any other player regardless of what happened. This league has built itself a solid image over the years; however, results like this will bring the integrity down.

Whatever the case may be, it is expected that the CFLPA will appeal, delaying any suspension that Johnny Sears may face as a result of his actions.