B.C. Lions’ quarterback Nathan Rourke is fine with providing bulletin board material so long as it means standing up for what he believes.
Speaking to the media following his team’s 33-17 loss to the Toronto Argonauts on Friday night, the 26-year-old Canadian signal-caller said he did not regret his offseason comments about the sexual harassment allegations against opposing QB Chad Kelly.
“I stand by what I said. I mean, I’m wearing the shirt right now,” Rourke said, referencing the slogan “See Somethin’, Say Somethin'” which was plastered across his chest.
“I know I’m not the only one, but I do feel like I have a platform to be able to say certain things. A platform that I often don’t use, but I think that the time and place was right for me to say something and I’d say something again if I was in the same circumstance.”
Several members of the Lions wore the t-shirts, which were created in support of the team’s Be More Than A Bystander gender-based violence prevention program, ahead of their meeting with Kelly. The 30-year-old quarterback was reinstated by the CFL last month after serving a nine-game suspension for violating the league’s gender-based violence policy.
Rourke was one of very few active players to speak out publicly against the reigning Most Outstanding Player prior to his suspension. In a post to his X account in April, the then-member of the New England Patriots criticized the CFL and the Argonauts organization for their “lack of urgency” in addressing the allegations against Kelly and stated that they should be handled with the “utmost seriousness,” questioning the example that was being set for children.
The two rival quarterbacks returned to their respective CFL teams within a week of each other in August and faced each other for the first time on Friday. Kelly got the better of the matchup, completing 18-of-28 passes for 268 yards and one touchdown while also rushing 10 times for 56 yards and another major in a dominant victory.
The controversial passer indicated in several social media posts that he was keeping track of those who spoke negatively about him amidst the allegations, but declined to comment when asked if Rourke’s tweet provided him with extra motivation against B.C.
“I don’t have anything to say about that,” Kelly stated.
Rourke, who was benched at halftime after completing six-of-12 passes for 110 yards and rushing for a touchdown, admitted that his previous comments may have had an impact on his opponent.
“Possibly, that’s hard to say. I’m not in that locker room,” he said. “Whatever motivation they were using, it worked. Chad played great. They were the better team tonight.”
An independent investigation commissioned by the CFL corroborated three of six claims made against Kelly in a lawsuit filed by a former Argonauts strength and conditioning coach, including “sexual harassment as defined by the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act.” The civil case was later settled out of court to the satisfaction of both parties, but not before the CFL handed down an unprecedented half-season suspension.
Kelly was forced to complete mandatory counselling and underwent an independent psychological evaluation by a gender-based violence expert before being reinstated. He is on a last-chance agreement and must meet certain unspecified ongoing conditions to remain employed.
Since returning to the Argos, the Ole Miss product has thrown for 1,375 yards, five touchdowns, and six interceptions in four games, while rushing for another 112 yards and two scores. In five games this year, Rourke has thrown for 1,099 yards, four touchdowns, and seven interceptions, while rushing for 155 yards and three majors. Both quarterbacks have won two of their starts.
“It’s a shame we don’t get to see them again,” Rourke remarked. “Hopefully, we do in the Grey Cup, but we’ve got a long way to go ’till then.”
