Argos dodge huge bullet as QB Bethel-Thompson has chance to play after Raptors blunder
The Toronto Argonauts dodged a major bullet ahead of Sunday's CFL Eastern Final against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
Starting quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson has been cleared to play after violating the league's COVID-19 protocol on Thursday by attending the Toronto Raptors game, the CFL announced Friday afternoon.
The CFL's COVID policy prohibits players from attending large sporting events. Bethel-Thompson, who was sent home from practice Friday, was reportedly facing a four-day quarantine for violating's the league's policy but instead will only have to quarantine for two days and two nights, allowing him to return in time for Sunday's game. He will also need to test negative on a pair of PCR tests Friday and Saturday, along with a rapid test on Sunday. The league said it made the decision based on the advice of the Medical Committee, which took into account the increased vaccination rate in the CFL community.
Toronto's Dexter McCoil, Charleston Hughes, Llevi Noel and Jeff Richards were also in attendance at the game and will be subject to the same quarantine and testing requirements.
It was reported on Thursday that Bethel-Thompson was requested by the Argos to attend the game, where he promoted Sunday's tilt on the TSN broadcast.
McLeod's daughter wants the mic 🗣@TorontoArgos pic.twitter.com/HJhll9sdDW
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 3, 2021
The nearly colossal mistake garnered nationwide attention and plenty of jokes from the sports community.
The Argos situation with QB McLeod Bethel-Thompson summed up in GIF form pic.twitter.com/7EYEJBlf3d
— 3DownNation (@3DownNation) December 3, 2021
This is laugh out loud hilarious https://t.co/oP7elDM2dI
— Doug Smith: Raptors (@SmithRaps) December 3, 2021
The @Argos just emailed me and said because I have a ticket for Sunday there’s a chance I may have to play quarterback. Is that normal?
— George Reinblatt (@georgereinblatt) December 3, 2021
Regardless of the outcome, people are going to be upset and calling it a fix.
He sits - #Argo fans complain the league wants a full house for the Grey Cup.
He plays -#TiCats fans will complain TSN wants the #Argos in the Grey Cup for Toronto ratings. #CFL— Spitzka (@Spitzka) December 3, 2021
Live look at Argos headquarters -- pic.twitter.com/rAqD2en25t
— Arash Madani (@ArashMadani) December 3, 2021
In related news, Rider fans have started a Go Fund Me to rent a box for the entire Blue Bombers team at the Jets game tonight. https://t.co/p8Rat2SBkI
— Not Rod Black (@notrodblack) December 3, 2021
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