Recently suspended Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly has announced his decision to withdraw from training camp in order to focus on personal growth and self-improvement through counseling. The CFL suspended Kelly for a minimum of nine regular-season games following an investigation into a lawsuit filed by a former strength and conditioning coach against both Kelly and the club.
Kelly, who is also suspended for Toronto's two preseason games for violating the league's gender-based violence policy, will be required to undergo confidential assessments by an independent expert and attend mandatory counseling sessions conducted by a gender-based violence expert.
In a statement released through his agent, Kelly expressed his commitment to taking full advantage of the counseling opportunity to learn, grow, and better himself. He emphasized his desire to support the Argonauts organization as it prepares for the upcoming season and acknowledged the need to minimize distractions for the team.
The 30-year-old quarterback, who was named the CFL's outstanding player last season, led Toronto to a league-best and franchise-record 16-2 record. Despite the team's success, their season ended with a 38-17 home loss to eventual Grey Cup champion Montreal in the East Division final.
Kelly's football journey includes stints at Clemson, East Mississippi Community College, and Mississippi before being selected as the final pick in the 2017 NFL draft by the Denver Broncos. However, his time with the Broncos was cut short when he was released in 2018 following an arrest for criminal trespassing.
Reflecting on the CFL investigation findings, Kelly expressed his disappointment, stating that they were not consistent with the person he strives to be as a team and community leader. He emphasized his commitment to fostering safe and healthy workplaces for all team members and reiterated his eagerness to return to the field soon.
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