Wray Morrison: Between right and long

The process was correct; it was just too slow in reaching a verdict.

I’m speaking of the process which, through an arbitrator, upheld the CFL’s two-game suspension to Hamilton’s Simoni Lawrence following his June 13 helmet-to-helmet shot on Roughriders quarterback Zach Collaros.

For what it’s worth, I believe the arbitrator was right in upholding the suspension. That said, many have called out the players’ association for attempting to defend Lawrence. That is what the association is supposed to do — defend its members.

Lawrence’s hit was irresponsible, but had it not been on an injury-prone player and had the player who was hit popped right back up and went to the huddle, there may not have even been a penalty let alone a suspension. These are issues the association examines in trying to lessen punishment to disciplined players.

The system works, but 32 days from incident to arbitrator’s ruling is far too long.