Six days later, the discussion of Ed Hervey’s press conference isn’t simmering down.
The Edmonton Eskimos’ general manager took his team to task last Tuesday, putting all of his coaches and players on notice. The most pointed comments of the day were directed at offensive lineman Simeon Rottier.
“It wouldn’t bother me if he did not play another down this year,” Hervey said.
On Monday, the Canadian Football League Players’ Association came to the defence of Rottier, who did not play in Friday’s loss to the Calgary Stampeders.
“The CFL Players’ Association considers recent comments made by Edmonton Eskimos general manager Ed Hervey to be both inappropriate, and contrary to the collective bargaining agreement,” a press release posted on the players’s association site reads.
As TSN pointed out on Friday night, in singling out Rottier, Hervey is in violation of an often overlooked section of the CBA that prohibits such talk.
Screen grab via TSN
“The collective bargaining agreement clearly prohibits clubs and their employees from publicly criticizing the on field performance of any player in the CFL,” said Mike Morreale, the president of the CFLPA. “The purpose of this provision is to ensure that all CFL players, as well as all CFL Personnel, are dealt with in a manner that is respectful and professional, and the CFLPA will not tolerate anything less in the treatment of one of its players.
“Given how quick the league is to respond and punish CFL players for remarks it deems inappropriate, it is troubling that the CFL has made no public announcement of any action that has been taken in this matter,” Morreale continued. “The CFLPA expects the league to announce what disciplinary action has been taken against Mr. Hervey to ensure that this behaviour is not repeated in Edmonton or with any other CFL club.”
TSN had said on Friday that Hervey had been addressed by the league for his violation of the CBA but that there was no disciplinary action taken.
A representative of the Eskimos said on Monday afternoon that the club is aware of the stance of the players’ association but that it has no comment at this point.
Hervey’s strong words weren’t enough to pull the Eskimos out of their poor start to the season. They lost to the Stampeders 22-12 on Friday, for their eighth loss in a row. They’re winless (0-5) at home this year and have the league’s worst record, at 1-9. The 2-8 Winnipeg Blue Bombers, who stunned the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Sunday, visit Commonwealth Stadium on Saturday night. An Edmonton loss on Saturday would match the team’s worst-ever start, 1-10, in the 1971 season.
