Winnipeg Blue Bombers president and CEO Wade Miller wants CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie to take a stand on illegal hits on quarterbacks.
A frustrated Miller sounded off to Jeff Hamilton of the Winnipeg Free Press after Blue Bombers star quarterback Zach Collaros was injured on a high hit from defensive lineman Miles Brown in Winnipeg’s 35-33 win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Sunday.
“At some point, maybe our commissioner will decide that we should protect quarterbacks after the play,” Miller told Hamilton. “This is ridiculous and needs to stop. We’ve seen this two years in a row now.”
Two-time CFL most outstanding player Collaros exited late in the first half after Brown appeared to make a helmet-to-helmet hit on him. Bombers coach Mike O’Shea said the decision to remove Collaros was precautionary.
Brown got a roughing-the-passer penalty, but was not ejected. Miller feels the latter should have occurred.
“Any player that hits a quarterback low or in the head after the play should receive a rough-play disqualification,” added Miller. “The Saskatchewan player now has two such hits this year alone on quarterbacks.”
Brown also caused an injury to Ottawa QB Dru Brown on a low hit earlier this year, forcing the Redblacks pivot to miss a game.
“Change will only come when the commissioner steps in and gives a directive to the officials,” Miller said.
It marks the second week in a row in which the CFL head office has taken heat from a significant team official.
Last week, Toronto Argonauts head coach Ryan Dinwiddie questioned why the league had a command centre to review plays after he was unhappy how things played out in a win over Saskatchewan.
It also marked the second straight Labour Day weekend game in which a Roughriders hit on Collaros caused tensions to rise.
Last year, Saskatchewan’s Pete Robertson head-butted Collaros late in the Roughriders’ overtime win.
Blue Bombers running back Brady Oliveira told Hamilton that the league needs to take a stronger approach on quarterback hits.
“The league’s got to be better with that, man,” he said. “We got to protect our quarterbacks, especially when it’s blatant. Whether you want to call it a late hit, or at least a hit to the head, it’s something you can visibly see. It sucks when you have anyone go down, but especially a guy like Zach. League’s got to step in and be better with that.”
The Blue Bombers and Roughriders meet again Saturday in Winnipeg.