Argonauts QB Kelly issues apology ahead of first start since suspension
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Chad Kelly will start at quarterback for the Toronto Argonauts when they host the Saskatchewan Roughriders in a Week 12 clash on Thursday, head coach Ryan Dinwiddie confirmed to the media on Tuesday.
Kelly, 30, was reinstated by the CFL on Sunday after he was suspended for two exhibition games and the first nine games of the regular season for violating its gender-based violence policy.
"I'm sorry for my actions. I'm sorry for what I did," Kelly told reporters following practice on Tuesday. "I affected a lot of people...my teammates, my coaches, women, my family. I feel bad for the situation that happened. I've grown, I've learnt from not only the past couple months, but everyday I'm trying to get better. Be a better person, better teammate, a better male. I have to own up to my mistakes and I know what I did wrong and I've learnt from it.
"I've done more than what is being asked from me because I want to get it right. I want to make sure everybody believes that I'm never going to do something like this again. I know I affected a lot of people, including the person, so I just want everyone to know that I'm sorry and I will be better."
Kelly said he came to realize "what actually had been done and been affected" during his time away from football.
"This person obviously deserves all the respect, no matter what gender you are," he said. "Everybody puts in a lot of work and time into perfecting their craft. No one should have to go through the heartache and the mental sides of things that people have go through being affected by this."
Cameron Dukes started the first seven games at quarterback this season, throwing for 1,398 passing yards with seven touchdowns and six interceptions before going down with a right leg injury.
Nick Arbuckle started in Week 10's matchup against the Calgary Stampeders, throwing for 181 yards with a touchdown and an interception in a 39-25 victory.
Kelly said he's not focused on the public scrutiny likely to come his way following his return.
"I'm focused on just trying to be a better person each and every day, and like I said, people are open to their own opinions," Kelly said.
Kelly is the league's reigning Most Outstanding Player after leading the Argonauts to a 16-2 record last season, which equaled the 1989 Edmonton franchise for the best in CFL history. The Mississippi product struggled in the East Final, throwing four interceptions in a blowout loss to the Montreal Alouettes.
The 6-foot-2 pivot finished fourth in the league with 4,123 passing yards to go along with 23 touchdowns on 270 completions with 12 interceptions.
The Argonauts sit in third place in the East Division with a 5-4 record in Kelly's absence.