‘I undoubtedly wasn’t making an attempt to harm him, however it’s an unlucky scenario generally’
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You don’t take out the league’s main passer and get away with it.
Until you’re Kony Ealy, apparently.
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The Edmonton Elks defensive sort out knocked Zach Collaros out of the sport early on in Thursday’s 38-29 loss to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
The quarterback left the sphere after falling to the turf on the way in which to tossing up a prayer that ended up going for a landing the opposite method when it was intercepted by protection linebacker Louchiez Purifoy.
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It was a messy play that ended even messier for Collaros, who got here into Week 10 with a Canadian Soccer League-best 2,292 passing yards and on tempo to crack 5,000, however solely managed so as to add six extra yards whereas finishing simply two-of-five passes, together with the pick-six, which occurred simply as he obtained landed on by Ealy.
Whereas the Bombers formally known as it an upper-body harm, there’s concern Collaros suffered successful to the pinnacle and neck space. And there was additionally a query of whether or not or not the hit was late.
Ealy made contact with Collaros on the bottom, simply after the quarterback dished off a shovel cross whereas falling.
The Bombers challenged for roughing the passer on the play, however the CFL command centre caught with the unique name on the sphere and no penalty was awarded.
Given the present panorama within the league, the place defending the star gamers who take the snaps has grow to be a main focus, a penalty wouldn’t have been shocking.
However the proper name was made, in response to Elks head coach and normal supervisor Chris Jones.
“He was simply making an attempt to provide effort,” he stated of Ealy. “There shouldn’t have been. If there was, I’d have extra of an issue with it than with there not being. He was simply giving nice effort to attempt to go after the ball and it simply so occurred that (Collaros) pitched the ball ahead.
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“And I believe even in the event you ask Zach, and I can’t communicate for him, however he most likely didn’t suppose it might (be a penalty) both.”
The non-call left a minimum of among the Bombers scratching their heads.
“I don’t know. They stated that (Ealy) braced himself and didn’t hit him within the head and didn’t land on him full power,” Winnipeg head coach Mike O’Shea instructed CJOB following the sport. “Clearly I disagree with that as a result of I challenged it.”
The harm led to Bombers backup Dru Brown giving the efficiency of his life, finishing 17 of 24 passes for 307 yards, 4 touchdowns and 0 interceptions within the win.
However the results of the hit will seemingly transcend that one recreation, as Collaros watched from the sidelines wearing avenue apparel as Brown ran the first-team offence in observe Monday, forward of their recreation Friday towards the Calgary Stampeders.
“I heard that he obtained damage, I undoubtedly wasn’t making an attempt to harm him, however it’s an unlucky scenario generally,” stated Ealy. “I noticed him scramble, I’m simply making an attempt to get to the ball. Actually making an attempt to get a sack.
“When a quarterback’s out of the pocket, he’s not protected, so I used to be enjoying to the whistle, truthfully.”
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There’s a superb line for cross rushers between clear hits and a penalty or superb, which frequently comes all the way down to choices made in milliseconds.
“For myself, making an attempt to get to the ball, carrying 300 kilos and the power of gravity equals much more,” Ealy stated. “So, making an attempt to cease your self, making an attempt to catch your self, or no matter, is sort of onerous in these conditions.
“I used to be simply making an attempt to get a sack, that’s it. Not making an attempt to harm no person. I’m not making an attempt to harm myself, clearly. Making an attempt to get a dub.”
It’s removed from the primary time Collaros has suffered a daunting harm in his profession, although the 34-year-old has but to overlook a recreation because of harm since becoming a member of the Bombers partway by the 2019 season.
“This recreation is getting far more protecting these days, so I wasn’t shocked,” Ealy stated of seeing Winnipeg problem the play. “That’s a bonus to them. It’s an unlucky factor, you by no means wish to see something like that on both facet of the ball.
“When he walked off the sphere within the recreation, I sort of tapped him on the shoulder and simply let him know, ‘Hey, I hope you’re feeling higher. I hope you get higher.’
“He’s an important quarterback, you understand? Clearly, he’s a (future) Corridor-of-Famer, athletic man. Kudos to him so far as that. I hope it’s a quick restoration. However like I stated, generally it’s simply unlucky conditions that occur.”
E-mail: [email protected]
On Twitter: @GerryModdejonge
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