Ticats’ Simoni Lawrence: ‘I was not targeting’ former teammate, Riders QB Zach Collaros

Simoni Lawrence shared what’s on his mind for the first time since an arbitrator upheld the two-game suspension given to the Ticats star linebacker.

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To sit here and act like I don’t care about my suspension I would be lying. Since a little kid, the only thing that would make me cry uncontrollably was when my mom and dad would say that I couldn’t go to football because I got in trouble!!! Woke up this morning and realized how truly blessed I am and looked at all the positive things around me like my family, friends, teammates, my coaches, the whole Ticat organization and the best fans in the league. The only mission is to not let the circumstance dictate my character and to go out to practice and be the best teammate I can be every day because I owe that to my teammates. To #4, I still have you hung up in my new house in Ohio. I still care about you and I hope that you prosper. Football looks very easy on television and choices we make are all split decisions. Say what you want about me but I was not targeting #4. There is zero personal gain from taking a player out!! When you are one of the best players in the league, you want to compete against the best players in the league. That is just how I was raised. Everyday, look at life around you, look for the positives and just smile because life is short. Do not waste your time on uncontrollable factors!❤️🤞🏾🙏🏾 #bigfish

A post shared by Simoni Lawrence (@simmyhov21) on Jul 17, 2019 at 5:02am PDT

Lawrence had his appeal hearing Tuesday, July 9, which lasted nearly 12 hours according to Hamilton’s outspoken defender. He was given a two-game ban by CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie for a head shot put on Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Zach Collaros in Week 1.

To #4, I still have you hung up in my new house in Ohio. I still care about you and I hope that you prosper. Football looks very easy on television and choices we make are all split decisions. Say what you want about me but I was not targeting #4. There is zero personal gain from taking a player out!! Lawrence wrote on Instagram. 

Collaros and Lawrence spent four seasons together in Hamilton. Saskatchewan placed Collaros, who has a history of concussions, on the six-game injured list following the incident.