CFL officials have never kept their flags in their pockets, and they don't plan to start now.

While the NHL is infamous for disregarding the rule book late in playoff games or in tight regular-season contests, the three-down football loop will continue to call it by the book no matter the circumstance.

That's what happened Sunday night at BC Place in the final minute of the 102nd Grey Cup game, when Taylor Reed was flagged for an illegal block during Brandon Banks' 90-yard punt return touchdown for the Tiger-Cats that would have given them the lead. Instead, Calgary held on for the 20-16 win, giving the Stampeders their seventh championship.

"It was the right call," CFL vice-president of officiating Glen Johnson said Tuesday. "The guys work long and hard to train for those moments. We work hard all year to put the best guys out there. It was needed."

As for CFL officials changing their ways to "fit the moment," so to speak, Johnson said that won't be happening.

"All of those things are completely out of our control and out of our input," he said. "We need to make the call we need to make at the moment. Nothing will change the standard."

Interestingly, Johnson noted that Reed's shove of Calgary's Karl McCartney wouldn't have been a penalty a few years ago. The standard is different now, he said, because the coaches wanted it changed. The reason why that penalty is called is because the returner could always cut back and use the area where the penalty occurred.

"We define an area that's the point of attack," Johnson said. "It could be seven, eight or 10 yards, depending on where it's going."

BANKS ON IT

The Stampeders had a victory celebration in Calgary Tuesday, while the glum Tiger-Cats cleaned out their lockers back in Hamilton.

Banks met with the media for the first time since Sunday night, and told reporters he was "not emotionally stable" enough to return to the game for the final offensive series after his touchdown was called back.

The former Washington Redskins returner has the potential to become a free agent in February and will likely examine NFL opportunities.

Ticats GM and head coach Kent Austin once again didn't come right out and say the officials cost his team a Grey Cup, but one sure got that impression reading between the lines.

"The issue is: Is the level of consistency there in whatever area you're talking about? That's what needs to be looked at," Austin said. "If it is, great. If it isn't, it needs to be changed."

STOCKPILING CHIP

The Alouettes locked up weak-side linebacker Chip Cox Tuesday. He could have been a free agent in February but instead signed a three-year deal.

Cox is the franchise's career tackles leader and was the CFL's most outstanding defensive player in 2013. He has been Montreal's top defensive player three times.

"Chip Cox is a model of consistency," Alouettes GM Jim Popp said in a press release. "Never one to draw attention, he just comes to work every day as though it's game day. Over the past six years I do not think there has been any one player that has consistently affected the game anymore than Chip."

OUT WITH THE OLD

Now that the Grey Cup party is over and all the visitors have left town, the B.C. Lions are getting right to work to clean up their mess.

GM Wally Buono met with the media Tuesday and announced what was expected, that quarterback Kevin Glenn won't be offered another contract and can consider himself a free agent. The Lions acquired Glenn for a first-round draft pick last May as insurance for the injured Travis Lulay, and he ended up starting 18 of 19 games, including the East semifinal.

Buono also revealed options were not picked up on cornerback Dante Marsh, defensive tackle Khalif Mitchell, linebacker Jamall Johnson and punter Ricky Schmitt.

The GM has spoken to Paul LaPolice and Jeff Garcia about the team's head coaching position, and he plans to ask the Stampeders for permission to talk to offensive co-ordinator Dave Dickenson, who said last week he isn't leaving Calgary.

SHOTS FIRED

The Argos and Ticats are doing everything they can to keep the rivalry going in southern Ontario.

The Argos fired a cheap shot at their QEW rivals Sunday night after their second straight Grey Cup loss.

A little history first: When the Ticats won on the final week of the season to keep the Boatmen out of the playoffs, their official Twitter feed Tweeted "Sup?" to the Argos. Well, Toronto fired back with the same message Sunday night, but they also included a picture of a blue ribbon with the following message on it: "Back 2 Back Grey Cup Participants."

Ticats linebacker Simoni Lawrence responded on Twitter, of course: "u guys need some attention I see. You guys win a grey cup in your city and still have no fan support."

@TorontoArgos u guys need some attention I see.You guys win a grey cup in your city and still have no fan support .. Your media sucks — Simoni Lawrence (@Simoni_Lawrence) December 1, 2014

INSIDERS SAY



CFL coaches and managers give their anonymous thoughts on what they're talking about behind closed doors:

As coaches, all we want is consistency in officiating. If you call it loose, call it loose the whole game. If you call it tight, call it tight the whole game. We just want consistency. I would be pissed if I was (Kent) Austin and those guys. Their defensive line got held during the game. Two or three penalties more obvious than the soft clip at the end. No flags. The hit on their little guy (Brandon Banks) out of bounds with four or five minutes left was the same kind of soft contact as the clip they called on (Taylor) Reed at the end. Ignore that hit on Banks and you have to ignore Reed's block if you're going to be consistent. I really didn't give a crap who won, but inconsistent officiating had a lot to do with who won and lost. That's bad ... The Banks thing was an unfortunate set of circumstances. It was a penalty, though, and the best team won ... I was sitting on my couch screaming at the TV. How can you show five replays of the Banks return and not talk about whether number 94 (Frank Beltre) violated the five-yard rule? If you're going to call a clip by the book, you have to call the no yards by the book. Banks had both feet past the 20. The Calgary player had one foot inside the 25. Right in front of Banks -- less than five yards ... Tell people to look at the block by 27 (Delvin Breaux) on 1 (Lin-J Shell) and the one by 43 (Neil King) on 27 (Jeff Hecht). Both around the 33-yard line. Both were clear clips that did allow Banks to get to the perimeter. The call they made may not have affected the return, but the other two did ... You media guys always think offence first, but (Brandon) Smith may have saved the game when he tackled (Bakari) Grant with two minutes left. Touchdown Hamilton if he doesn't make that diving tackle. Who knows what happens if that's a touchdown and a tied game ... I think Mark Washington could be the head coach in B.C. ... It sounds like everyone on the coaching staff but (Jason) Tucker and (Doug) Malone are getting wiped out in Regina. Apparently (Bob) Dyce won't be fired but is not returning ... Dave Dickenson with Bo Levi Mitchell as his quarterback is going to make the Stamps tough to beat in our division. Edmonton's good, too. Home playoff games are going to be hard to come by in the West ... In a year or two, John Murphy is going to be a GM. We don't have a chance as coaches without guys who get good players. Murphy does a great job for Calgary ... I've heard (Delvin) Breaux and (Ben) Heenan are getting NFL attention, in addition to (Duron) Carter ... We are hearing (Wally) Buono wants to keep Mark Washington as defensive co-ordinator in B.C. Can't see a defensive coach taking that job. Buono will be watching film and telling him what to do, just like they tell us he did with Benny (Mike Benevides). The next head coach will be an offensive guy. If you polled us, Paul LaPolice would probably get the most votes. Big market. Big name. I think he's the Lions next coach ... Jason Maas as offensive coordinator in Ottawa. Don't know him, but he comes from a great system. Look at Ricky Ray and what they did with him in Toronto. His completion percentage and touchdown to interception ratio both got a lot better after the Eskimos traded him. That's coaching. That's the system ... (Mike) O'Shea is fighting to protect his coaches. (Corey) Chamblin is throwing his assistants under the bus ... Hope we play Saskatchewan three times next year ... I don't get the (Zach) Collaros hype. Holds the ball too long; bad delivery; average accuracy deep. Maybe it's his intangibles and good coaching by (Kent) Austin. I've never coached the young man, but it's not close as a pure passer. Bo Levi Mitchell is much more accurate ... You guys in the media will be talking about Ottawa after free agency. They'll be the most improved club in our league next year ... Coach of the year? John Hufnagel ... There's no doubt Bo Levi Mitchell could get an NFL tryout ... Underperformers in the Grey Cup? (Justin) Medlock sucked in the beginning of the game, (Sederrik) Cunningham couldn't stand up, and there was not much pass rush from Hamilton's D-line. On the other hand, Juwan Simpson and (Andy) Fantuz really stepped up ... (Devone) Claybrooks could be the next defensive co-ordinator in Saskatchewan.