{"id":142636,"date":"2025-09-14T05:25:18","date_gmt":"2025-09-14T05:25:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/142636\/"},"modified":"2025-09-14T05:25:18","modified_gmt":"2025-09-14T05:25:18","slug":"i-dont-look-at-c-j-as-a-dirty-player-riders-corey-mace-defends-reavis-after-fine-by-cfl-for-zach-collaros-hit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/142636\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018I don’t look at C.J. as a dirty player\u2019: Riders\u2019 Corey Mace defends Reavis after fine by CFL for Zach Collaros hit"},"content":{"rendered":"

Saskatchewan Roughriders’\u00a0head coach Corey Mace defended\u00a0C.J. Reavis<\/a> after he was fined by the CFL\u00a0for his high hit on Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ quarterback\u00a0Zach Collaros in the Labour Day Classic rematch.<\/p>\n

“I don’t look at C.J. as a dirty player.\u00a0I definitely know that it wasn’t his intention, but at the end of it, you look at it and see if there was helmet contact. The rules are the rules,\u00a0unfortunately, it ended the way that it did,” Mace said. “Uber respect for Zach,\u00a0I hope he’s fine, honestly, because that is the most important thing at the end of it. The league has their ruling system,\u00a0we have to respect all these players,\u00a0their organizations and find ways to coach it up better. The guys have to find a way to do it better so that they don’t rule it that way.”<\/p>\n

The Riders won\u00a0the Labour Day Classic rematch against the Bombers 21-13. Reavis finished the game with three\u00a0defensive tackles. Collaros\u00a0missed Winnipeg’s Week 15 game against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats with a head injury.\u00a0Going forward, Mace believes\u00a0it will still be a challenge to monitor such plays.<\/p>\n

“You definitely want to protect the quarterbacks, really\u00a0in any league, not even pertaining to this play, but moving forward.\u00a0It is a physical game, things are really close\u00a0and it’s hard to make those decisions moving fast. It’s not even truthfully as it pertains to a quarterback, it could be down the field as well,\u00a0it is tough, but I think the main thing is the intent of it,” Mace said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“I believe in the past there have been some players who played with intent. Not the case, for the most part\u00a0it’s a brotherhood,\u00a0whether you’re on the same team or not\u00a0you don’t ever want to see anything happen to another player that’s going to cost them a situation where they can provide for their family, play for their teammates, but it is a physical sport. I don’t know where it’s going to go from here and what it is now. I want to make sure that there’s still football being played years from now\u00a0and not a different variation of it.”<\/p>\n

Reavis responded to the fine on social media Thursday, detailing his frustration, according to 3DowNation<\/a>.<\/p>\n

“I got 350lb+ offensive lineman diving at my knees INTENTIONALLY after the play.. no flag or fine. But CFL wanna fine me a quarter of my game cheque because a QB got hurt,” Revais pointed out on X. “Do y’all actually care about player safety or QB safety? This some bullshit & y’all know dat.”<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

They care about player safety tho.. https:\/\/t.co\/4yILn3sI1B<\/a><\/p>\n


\n\u2014 CJ Reavis (@_reavisisland) September 11, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

Thar\u00a0play in question\u00a0Reavis\u00a0pointed out happened\u00a0when Winnipeg called\u00a0a screen play to Brady Oliveira in the Labour Day Classic.\u00a0Bombers’ right guard Patrick Neufeld\u00a0appeared to try and deliver a low block on\u00a0Reavis. The 29-year-old\u00a0strong-side linebacker has regrets about what he posted on social media.<\/p>\n

“You can’t tweet that. Obviously,\u00a0that’s against the rules,” Reavis\u00a0said. “I’ve got to be better,\u00a0I got to hold my composure and vent to my family and my dad.”<\/p>\n

The league office tried to\u00a0help Reavis\u00a0alter his hitting area on quarterbacks\u00a0in\u00a0the future so he can try to avoid similar situations.<\/p>\n

“They told me to keep my head out a little bit more, use my shoulder a little bit more, and lower my strike zone a little bit as well — aim more of the chest area to stomach area,” Reavis said.<\/p>\n

Reavis was humbled to find out Rider Nation wanted to pay for his fine with a GoFundMe campaign.<\/p>\n

“It means that at least they care\u00a0and we all want to be cared about.\u00a0I think that it’s human nature to have empathy and sympathy for somebody,” Reavis said. “I love the love, but\u00a0I’m good,\u00a0I don’t need that.”<\/p>\n

The six-foot,\u00a0198-pound playmaker\u00a0is in his fourth year with Saskatchewan. This season he has started 12 games for the Green and White,\u00a0accumulating\u00a048 defensive tackles, two sacks, one interception and one forced fumble.<\/p>\n

Saskatchewan hosts\u00a0the Montreal Alouettes at home on Saturday. Teagan Witko, Justin Dunk and Wes Cates bring you the pre-game show at 2 p.m. Dave Thomas and Luc Mullinder have the game call at 5 p.m. Listen or watch our detailed coverage on 620 CKRM Co-operators Rider\u00a0Broadcast Network<\/a>.<\/p>\n