Toronto Leaving Arland Bruce At Home

Things are heating up in Toronto between first-year Head Coach Bart Andrus and veteran receiver Arland Bruce. Hot enough that Bruce has been told to stay in Toronto while the rest of the Agros head to Winnipeg to do battle with the Blue Bombers.

Arland Bruce has placed himself on shaky ground this season after a number of incidents including: being fined by the CFL for an end zone celebration, being late for a team meeting, misplacing his playbook on the team plane, and now being left behind while the rest of the team plays an important road game.

Bart Andrus has finally had enough of what he deems to be unacceptable and unprofessional behaviour from his veteran wide receiver. The first-year coach decided it was best to have Bruce sit out this week's game to make a point.

However, Bruce has not taken the discipline well to this point.

Bruce feels vilified by his new head coach saying, "He's trying to make an example of me but he can take that back to NFL Europe or wherever he was coming from."

The outspoken veteran also went on to point the finger at another player on the Argos, "Instead of worrying about me, he needs to worry about getting the quarterback right and worrying about him."

This is hardly the kind of statements you expect from a CFL veteran in his sixth year with a CFL franchise.

It is also alleged by Bruce that Coach Andrus told him that they can release him from the team.

"If this coach doesn't feel comfortable with me here, well I've done my time here," Bruce said. "For him to say we can get rid of you, he doesn't even know the CFL."

Looks like the CFL rookie and the CFL veteran are not seeing eye to eye whatsoever thus far this season.

Another case of coach versus player and so far the general manager of the Toronto Agronauts Adam Rita is staying out of it. On Wednesday he stated that he would not comment on the situation and he is likely waiting to hear both sides of the story from coach and player.

It appears that the Argos locker room is having some serious issues early in the season. This may be the source of the problems they are experiencing on the football field this season. An effort will need to be made to mend the fences and get the players and coach working together or it may be time for some players to be removed from the team.

General Manager Adam Rita will need to work some magic in putting out the current fires in his team's locker room. This is shaping up to be a long season for the Agronauts and their fans. But Rita is a long time CFL general manager with the tools needed to steer this team back into the playoffs.

Crazy coach or prima donna player? You be the judge.