CFLLemon's actions likely led to exit out of Toronto

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Showing up a teammate on national television is likely the reason Argos GM Jim Barker cut quarterback Cleo Lemon (pictured) on Tuesday. (Frank Gunn/Canadian Press)

The Cleo Lemon quarterback experiment is over. Long live Steven Jyles.

After the frightful display by the Toronto offence was over on Friday night and the B.C. Lions left with a 29-16 win, the media thronged down to hear Toronto head coach/GM Jim Barker refer to what he had just seen as the worst offensive performance since he'd arrived (27 games, for those counting).

That should have been a clue, though this writer thought it a clue to the demise of Dalton Bell as the Argos' backup signal caller, not Lemon as the main man. But when we shuffled off to the Argo dressing room, the answer may have been right in front of us, though we didn't realize it at the time.

No Lemon.

His stall was empty but for a single t-shirt, as he bolted for the door before the madding crowd came along to ask him about what had just transpired. This could not have been easy on the former NFLer, by the way, because his normal ablutions (shower, shave, talcum, body spray, best clothes in the room) take a long time.

Just across the way from Lemon's stall, there was Bell, slowly pulling his pants on two legs at a time before turning around to explain why he had come in for the second half and thrown two consecutive picks on the way to four overall as part of a horrific 5-for-16 performance.

He stood up, put the blame on his shoulders and told us he was ready to face whatever happened on Tuesday, the inference being his career might be over.

Tuesday comes and Lemon is released, Jyles is the No. 1 and Bell still has a job, at least for now.

Jyles was signed from Winnipeg in the off-season to much fanfare and a first-round draft pick, but came with a sore shoulder that took longer to heal than expected. He's been healthy for some weeks now, but because he was on the nine-game injured list, and it looked like things at quarterback were alright, he stayed there until eligible to come off.

That's now.

Lemon's stats were up

Stats wise, Lemon was doing alright this year, right up there in completion percentage and cutting his picks down. And on Friday in the first half he went 11-for-15 with four egregious dropped passes that kept him from perfect.

Wouldn't it have been great to have been in the Toronto Argonauts' dressing room at half time with the home side, trailing 13-6?

Something must have been said. Something was likely said back. When the Argo teammates marched back to the artificial turf Lemon retreated to the north end of the Argo sideline and made a big show of looking disgusted when Bell was throwing those interceptions.

Chatting with Barker you learn something quickly - he believes you keep things in the dressing room. You do not let anyone on the outside know your true feelings. It's a team. And its undisputed leader is Mr. Barker.

Showing up your coach is one thing, but showing up your teammate on national television is unforgivable.

Jyles next in line

On to Jyles, a career backup with Edmonton, Saskatchewan and Winnipeg who was given a chance to run a team last season when Bombers' starter Buck Pierce went down.

He started 11 games, won two but had pretty good stats while fighting off his own pains, including that shoulder.

So now we see. If anything has been learned from this it's about Jim Barker himself. Show up one of your teammates and he will cut you off at the knees.

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