Grey Cup status up in the air for Redblacks’ Rose

EDMONTON (CP) — Ottawa Redblacks all-star Jonathan Rose’s status is up in the air for the Grey Cup after being handed a one-game suspension for pushing an official — a punishment that at least one teammate thinks is too steep.

The defensive back immediately appealed his suspension and a CFL source told The Canadian Press it is unlikely an arbitrator will be able to hear the case and make a decision before kickoff Sunday against the Calgary Stampeders in Edmonton.

The Redblacks travelled to the Alberta capital on Tuesday and are scheduled to hold their first practice of the week today.

Rose did not speak with reporters as the team arrived at the airport.

But fellow defensive back Antoine Pruneau said he thought the suspension was too harsh.

“It’s a tough call,” Pruneau told reporters. “Of course, he would like to play this weekend. So far, he is suspended. We’ll see what happens with that. But he is a great football player and I know his intentions were not bad on that play.”

Rose, a CFL East Division all-star this season as well as in 2016, was flagged for unnecessary roughness and ejected in the Eastern Final for contacting an official in a sideline melee after a Tiger-Cats reception.

Pruneau said Rose went around the locker room after the game and apologized to teammates.

Head coach Rick Campbell said the team is currently treating Rose like an injured player as it game plans for Sunday not knowing whether he will play or not.

“I know that he was not going after an official. I know that,” Campbell said. “This means the world to him.”