CFL: Former Stampeder Jasper Simmons just the latest player to be tripped up by tweets
Linebacker Jasper Simmons was released by the Calgary Stampeders on Tuesday after his agent, Sammy Gahagan, blasted the team on Twitter for his client’s lack of playing time, calling them the “worst organization in the CFL” and saying they were holding Simmons “hostage.”
Here are five other social media misadventures by CFL players:
Khalif Mitchell: The former Montreal Alouettes player was fined by the league and the team in May for making insensitive remarks, including tweeting a link to a 2015 YouTube video titled “The greatest lie ever told — The Holocaust,” which called the murder of six million Jews an “alleged” act. He was later released.
Nik Lewis: In 2012, the wide receiver, then with Calgary, tweeted: “I just bought OJ’s gloves on eBay. Now all I need is a white girl named Nicole.” He added the hashtag #MaybeALittleToFar. The Stampeders said the tweet “was inappropriate” and it was deleted. He was fined an undisclosed amount by the league.
Khalif Mitchell again: In the fall of 2012, Mitchell was watching the U.S. presidential debate between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney when he made a derogatory slur against Chinese people. The CFL fined Mitchell an undisclosed amount for violating the league’s social media policy.
Darian Durant: In 2013, Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Darian Durant replied to a critical tweet. “Key to success,” A fan tweeted to Durant, “get you’re ass out (of) the pocket. You ain’t (Anthony Calvillo)!!! Like at the beginning of the season!!” Durant replied: “Wasn’t running at the be- ginning of the season dumb f---,” warranting a fine from the CFL.
Maurice Price: The former Calgary Stampeders wide receiver, now with Ottawa, was fined by the CFL for posting a comment about Michael Sam, who became the first openly gay football player to be selected in the NFL draft. A tweet removed from Price’s account said: “My faith won’t allow me to ACCEPT what took place over the weekend. Sorry. NOT sorry! #AdamandEve #NotAdamandAdam.”