Riders’ Jones says he hopes CFL holds all teams to same standard regarding rosters

Aug 12, 2016 | 3:30 PM

REGINA — Saskatchewan Roughriders head coach head coach and general manager Chris Jones said he accepts the fine his team received from the CFL for a roster violation, but he hopes the league is equally as vigilant when dealing with other teams.

The Roughriders were fined $60,000 on Thursday after the league found the team violated league-wide roster policies over the use of injured players and free agents during practices.

“I accept the league’s decision and am aware of the errors,” Jones read from a statement Friday. “We have made the necessary adjustments and will be moving forward accordingly.

“I’m here to talk about the Saskatchewan Roughriders, but I hope the other eight teams are held in the same regard and to the same standard.”

According to a release from the league, its weeks-long investigation found that the Riders practised with ineligible players, used players on the six-game injured list during practices and had free agents practice with signed players under contract, all of which violate CFL bylaws.

The league also hit the team with a $26,000 deduction from its 2016 salary cap due to the infractions.

“After getting clarity from the league, we will continue to bring in players, many of which are Canadian, on an evaluation basis,” Jones said, declining to answer reporters’ questions on the matter after reading the statement.

On Wednesday, when Jones was asked about allegations made by Stampeders’ quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell on Twitter, he said, “We’re able, by CFL rules, to have tryout people at practice every single day.”

“They want to cry about how many people we have on the six-game, and all those are legitimate injuries, and we’ve got to make sure we know who the next person is that’s going to step in and play, because that next game is going to come.”

The Canadian Press