Rob Murphy To Appeal CFL Fine
15/10/2008 00:10
Lions offensive lineman Rob Murphy intends on appealing the fine handed down to him by the league Monday for his actions against Eskimos defensive back Jason Goss in Friday's game.
"Plain and simple, the fine I got yesterday is because I am - apparently - a repeat offender," Murphy told Team 1040 in Vancouver. "But I mean; I'm not changing the way I'm playing."
Murphy forced Goss to fumble the ball in the second quarter. Goss rolled over onto his back and Murphy squatted over him and then used one hand to pin Goss's head and neck to one side against the turf.
"I have never choked anyone in a game," Murphy told the radio station. "I've held people down. I mean, if I'd choked someone - they'd be dead, because I would choke someone. So I'm not choking someone on the field, I'm just pinning them down. Anyways, it was because he poked me in the eye."
The league reviewed the play and found that Murphy's conduct was clearly inappropriate but not enough to warrant a suspension.
"Murphy's actions alone did not constitute an unnecessary risk to Goss that was severe enough to merit suspension under the new player safety standard established recently by the league," the league said in a statement.
The two teams clash again this Friday in a rematch at Commonwealth Stadium, live on TSN, TSNHD and streamed on TSN.ca at 8:30pm et/5:30pm pt.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
What a joke. I can’t believe this, folks. Never mind a fine, Murphy should be thrown out of the Canadian Football League.