EDMONTON - A.J. Gass might get around to serving his one-game suspension - eventually.
The Edmonton Eskimos linebacker is expected to play Saturday in Regina against the Saskatchewan Roughriders after requesting the services of an arbitrator in his battle with the Canadian Football League.
CFL commissioner Mark Cohon handed Gass a one-game suspension after he ripped off the helmet of Calgary lineman John Comiskey in an Aug. 4 game at Commonwealth Stadium and hurled it down field 35 yards.
The suspension was initially delayed a week because Gass was entitled to a formal hearing. Cohon listened to arguments from Gass on Monday, but upheld his original ruling.
"I am very respectful of the decision," Edmonton head coach Danny Maciocia said Tuesday. "But I'm having a tough time understanding the reason they suspended him. He launched a helmet down field in dead space. He never picked it up and used it as a weapon to strike an opponent or an official. That's our argument, and we're having a tough time with it.
"A.J. is really baffled by the whole thing."
The independent arbitrator is expected to rule on the case before the Labour Day Classic in Calgary against the Stampeders, which gives Gass a reprieve for Saturday game against the Roughriders.
"I think we have a decent chance at getting it overturned," Gass said. "The commissioner's note said throwing the helmet was a dangerous act. That's why he stood by his decision.
"But I think there have been some things that have taken place in the past that kind of help me out here."
Last season, B.C. lions quarterback Dave Dickenson ripped off his helmet and threw it in disgust toward the B.C. bench during a game against Saskatchewan. Dickenson reportedly received a fine for his helmet toss, and Gass feels he should face the same penalty.
But doesn't Gass just want to put the whole sordid deal behind him, especially considering the slim chances of a reversal?
"It's a shot," said Gass, 31. "Whether it's long or short or a great chance or whatever, we've got an opportunity to use it, and that's what we're going to do."
Gass practised Tuesday with the starting defence, and the 10-year veteran is tasked with shutting down the potent Saskatchewan running attack. With 10 starters in danger of sitting out due to injury, the Edmonton coaching staff obviously decided Gass was needed in the lineup this week, even if that means he'll sit out on Labour Day.
"The health of our team is obviously one of the reasons why I'm going for it," said Gass, who will be represented by a lawyer from the CFL Players Association. "But I do think we have a good chance."
Last week, Gass worried out loud about the helmet incident becoming a distraction to his teammates, but receiver Kamau Peterson said that's not the case.
"We're behind A.J. 100 per cent," Peterson said. "A.J. is the heart and soul of our defence. I don't think it's a distraction. We should be focused in. This is a huge game.
"If we can go into our bye week with a win, that would be gigantic."
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