STAMPS NOTES: Lemon accepts responsibility, but alleges Williams spat in his face

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Shawn Lemon took responsibility for his actions.

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He owned it. He apologized for losing his cool and hitting Saskatchewan Roughriders receiver Duke Williams in the face.

Lemon is a veteran. He knows hitting Williams hurt his team. The Calgary Stampeders needed him and hitting Williams at halftime meant Lemon was disqualified for the second half of Sunday’s West Division Semifinal.

While he offered no excuse, Lemon did explain what prompted his attack. While the defensive lineman himself will likely be hearing from the CFL’s disciplinary committee about what happened, his allegations will surely merit investigation, as well.

“I just let my emotions get the better of me and I was wrong for that,” Lemon said. “As a veteran I’ve got to keep my cool. I just felt very disgusted and disrespected in a COVID time like this when someone spits on you and backs out like everything’s OK. It was a knee-jerk reaction from me and I should have made a smarter decision. It’s always been a priority of mine to put my team first in situations like that and I was definitely wrong for my actions.”

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Asked directly if Williams spat on him, Lemon offered a one-word answer.

“Yes,” he said.

Nobody among the Stampeders players or coaches argued against Lemon’s disqualification in the immediate aftermath of Sunday’s game. It was an unfortunate end to a productive season for the veteran d-lineman — he had 26 defensive tackles and eight sacks — but the rules are clear about making contact to the head.

“We lost our poise,” said Stamps head coach Dave Dickenson. “Everyone knew what was happening, should have been easy, take a knee and get back in the locker-room. Tough for Lemon, for his season to end, he has to know he did something wrong, we thought there was a potential punch earlier in the game.

“I love that rule, I don’t want to be in a football game where they allow people to fight. I’m not going to fight that rule. If you throw a punch, you’re gone, see you next week.”

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UNCERTAINTY

The Stampeders like their group. They like the way they built off a slow start and wound up in the playoffs. They want this year’s players back for next season.

A couple key veterans have some thinking to do, though.

Defensive back Jamar Wall is one of them.

“I’m not sure, honestly, getting up there in age obviously, but always keep opportunities open,” Wall said. “We’ll see what happens here with the Stamps and if not, let’s see what happens elsewhere. Just kind of take it a day at a time, it’s a little early to make a decision, but we’ll see what the future brings.”

Kicker Rene Paredes also acknowledged that he has some thinking to do about his future, while receiver Reggie Begelton has to consider pursuing another NFL opportunity after returning to the Stamps for the final two games of the regular season and the West Division Semifinal.

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“I am going to sit back and ponder and weigh my options,” Begelton said. “I’m in no rush, as of right now I’m not a free agent until February 1 anyways, so I have some time to think about it.”

While that uncertainty may be a source of concern for Stampeders fans, Bo Levi Mitchell did make it clear that he intends on coming back next season after there was some confusion about that on Sunday night. There will be more on that in the coming days.

Dickenson also made clear that he wants backup QB Jake Maier back, as well, although Maier may find that he has a more clear path to being a starter with another organization. There could be some NFL opportunities for him, too.

But after working his way back from a devastating knee injury he suffered in 2018 and becoming an all-star yet again this season, receiver Kamar Jorden offered some good news when he said he very much intends on returning next season.

“What? I ain’t worked this hard for nothing,” Jorden said. “I got a couple questions about that already, but I’m feeling good … My knee was really good all year.

“I wanna be a Stampeder for life. Obviously, I know how the business goes, but as long as both sides are where they’ve gotta be, I’m here.”

daustin@postmedia.com

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