Toronto Argonauts

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Toronto Argonauts Exec John Murphy Suspended Indefinitely After Altercation with Fans

Dec 9, 2021
TORONTO, ON - NOVEMBER 16: Vice President Player Personnel John Murphy of the Toronto Argonauts before a game against the Edmonton Elks at BMO Field on November 16, 2021 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by John E. Sokolowski/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - NOVEMBER 16: Vice President Player Personnel John Murphy of the Toronto Argonauts before a game against the Edmonton Elks at BMO Field on November 16, 2021 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by John E. Sokolowski/Getty Images)

The Canadian Football League announced that it has suspended Toronto Argonauts Vice President of Player Personnel John Murphy following a physical and verbal altercation with fans following the team's 27-19 loss to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the Eastern Final on Sunday.

The league also stated that its investigation into player altercations with fans is still ongoing.

A fan video captured an altercation that appeared to show Murphy jawing and pushing with numerous Tiger-Cats supporters:

Per TMZ Sports, a couple of Argonauts players jumped a railing and engaged in a physical altercation with fans after someone allegedly spit beer in a player's face.

TMZ Sports also noted that Murphy appears to use a gay slur toward someone in addition to making contact with a fan who gave him the middle finger.

There is also video of fans getting into altercations with players:

Toronto police are investigating, per Sportsnet.

3DownNation provided more context:

According to 6ix Buzz TV, the incident was precipitated by a Ticats fan spitting beer in the face of an Argonauts player as they were leaving the field after their 27-19 loss. The fans were also apparently waving flags close to players heads and directing verbal insults their way.

The video allegedly shows strong-side linebacker Chris Edwards in the stands with teammates climbing up to join him. Canadian receiver Dejon Brissett appears to speak to Edwards in an attempt to calm him before a fan, wearing a Ticats flag as a cape, appears to shove him.

Punches appear to been exchanged as Edwards retreats, before Brissett appears to pin the fan to the wall as security arrives.

3DownNation further reported that offensive linemen Dejon Allen and Shane Richards were also allegedly in the video, along with former NFL pass-rushers Shane Ray and Kony Ealy.

The Argonauts hosted the Tiger-Cats at BMO Field with a spot in the Grey Cup on the line. A crowd of 21,492 saw Hamilton overcome a 12-0 halftime deficit to beat the East Division regular-season champions.

Hamilton will now host the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the Grey Cup.

Former Steelers WR Martavis Bryant Signs Contract with CFL's Toronto Argonauts

Jan 25, 2021
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Martavis Bryant (12) runs during the first half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018. (AP Photo/John Hefti)
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Martavis Bryant (12) runs during the first half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018. (AP Photo/John Hefti)

Former Pittsburgh Steelers and Oakland Raiders wide receiver Martavis Bryant has signed with the CFL's Toronto Argonauts, according to the team's vice president of player personnel John F. Murphy. 

Bryant, 29, last played in the NFL in 2018 with the Raiders, posting 19 receptions for 266 yards in eight games (two starts).  

The wide receiver looked like he was bound for stardom after an excellent rookie season in 2014 that saw him catch 26 passes for 549 yards and eight touchdowns in 10 games. He followed that up with 50 receptions for 765 yards and six scores in 2015 across 11 contests, though he was suspended the first four games of that season for violating the league's policy on substances of abuse.

That suspension foreshadowed further issues that stalled Bryant's NFL career. He was indefinitely suspended by the NFL in 2016 and missed the entire season for multiple violations of the policy on substances of abuse. He was also banned indefinitely in Dec. 2018 for violating the conditional terms of his reinstatement to the league in 2017.

Bryant never played another snap in the NFL after that 2018 suspension. In total he played in 44 career games, catching 145 passes for 2,183 yards and 17 touchdowns. 

The former Clemson Tiger will look to resurrect his football career in the CFL. 

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