VAUGHAN, Ontario — Chad Kelly returned to the Toronto Argonauts on Sunday after the quarterback was reinstated by the Canadian Soccer League.
Kelly, who was the CFL’s most excellent participant final yr, was suspended on Might 7 for Toronto’s two exhibition video games and first 9 regular-season contests for violating the CFL’s gender-based violence coverage.
The league stated Sunday in a press release that it had reinstated Kelly “on a last-chance settlement supplied that he continues to fulfill a lot of ongoing situations.” The league stated the situations are confidential and will not be disclosed, however they “replicate the necessity for him to show a continued dedication to upholding league requirements.”
The CFL’s suspension adopted an unbiased investigation right into a lawsuit filed by a former energy and conditioning coach towards Kelly for sexual harassment and the Argos for wrongful dismissal. The lawsuit was settled in June by way of mediation.
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“This is a vital step for Chad, who has taken full accountability for his actions and represents just the start of his ongoing dedication to bettering himself and studying from this expertise,” Argos common supervisor Mike Clemons stated Sunday. “There continues to be a lot work to do to strengthen our group tradition, and we’re all dedicated with Chad’s return, to work on this collectively, as a group.”
Below the phrases of his suspension, Kelly needed to bear confidential assessments by an unbiased professional and attend obligatory counseling classes performed by a gender-based violence professional. Each the counseling classes and assessments needed to be satisfactorily accomplished earlier than the CFL would think about Kelly’s reinstatement, and the league reserved the suitable to change his self-discipline.
Final weekend, the CFL introduced it had acquired Kelly’s confidential psychological evaluation and would full an examination of the outcomes with the assistance of specialists earlier than making a choice on Kelly’s reinstatement.
Kelly then had a dialog with CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie.
Toronto’s 39-25 house win over Calgary on Aug. 9 was its ninth regular-season recreation.
Kelly, 30, hasn’t performed with Toronto since its loss to Montreal in final yr’s East Division last. He remained away from the group throughout his suspension and did not communicate to media Sunday.
“I’m sorry for my actions and the impression it has had on many individuals personally, the Toronto Argonauts and the CFL,” Kelly stated in a press release issued by the Argos. “I acknowledge that this is only one step within the strategy of bettering myself, nevertheless it is a vital one, and I’m dedicated to doing what is required to be a greater teammate, colleague and individual.”
Kelly took roughly 70% of the beginning offense snaps in Sunday’s observe, and coach Ryan Dinwiddie stated he plans to extend Kelly’s workload Monday. Toronto (5-4) hosts Saskatchewan (5-4-1) on Thursday evening.
“It was good to have him again,” Dinwiddie stated following the exercise. “His teammates had been excited to see him again within the constructing.”
Dinwiddie stated it could be asking loads for Kelly to begin Thursday with restricted practices and no coaching camp. He left the door open to Kelly splitting reps with Toronto’s different two quarterbacks, Cameron Dukes and veteran Nick Arbuckle.
Kelly performed in school at Clemson, East Mississippi Group Faculty and Mississippi. He was the final decide within the 2017 NFL draft, chosen by the Denver Broncos. The group launched him in 2018 after he was arrested for felony trespassing.
Kelly led Toronto to a league-best and franchise-record 16-2 document final season. The Argos’ season ended with a 38-17 house loss to eventual Gray Cup champion Montreal within the East Division last.
