The Canadian Football League handed a one-game suspension to Jason Jimenez on Monday, meaning the B.C. Lions offensive tackle could miss the team's CFL West final against Saskatchewan on Sunday.
Jimenez was suspended for on an illegal block on Calgary defensive lineman Anthony Gargiulo on the last play of the first half in a Nov. 3 game. Gargiulo suffered a broken leg plus torn ligaments and tendons.
Gargiulo needed surgery to put a plate in his leg.
"A professional football player is paying a huge price, and they do not get paid enough money to put their careers on the line every time out," Calgary coach Tom Higgins told reporters on Saturday before the Stampeders were eliminated by the Roughriders.
CFL on CBC analyst Greg Frers told CBCSports.ca the penalty could have been worse.
"I think it should have been at least a one-game suspension," said Frers. "It'll be interesting to see if it goes through the appeal process."
Under the terms of the league's collective bargaining agreement, players have the right to appeal a disciplinary decision to an independent arbitrator. It is not yet known if Jimenez will appeal the ruling.
"You can't appeal just to buy time," said Frers. "It has to be a legitimate appeal, otherwise it makes them look like idiots."
The appeal process came under criticism earlier this year when a final ruling on a play involving Edmonton's A.J. Gass took nearly a month.
Last week Lions coach and GM Wally Buono was fined $1,000 by the league for publicly disagreeing with the officials' decision to eject Jimenez from the game.
Jimenez is a key part of a strong offensive line that overcame injuries to quarterbacks Buck Pierce and Dave Dickenson, allowing just 32 sacks and creating holes for running back Joe Smith.
Playing without injured left tackle Rob Murphy, and with Jimenez ejected at halftime, B.C. allowed seven quarterback sacks to Calgary.
"They're a very big part of the Lions' offence," Frers said of Murphy and Jimenez. "[Running back] Joe Smith was also held to 28 yards on eight carries in that game."
The Lions are looking to win their second Grey Cup in a row, but will first have to beat Saskatchewan on Sunday (CBC, 4:30 p.m ET).
With files from the Canadian PressRelated
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