2014 CFL Offseason Thread

[Drake]

The Canadian Football League is considering making pass interference subject to video review as part of a significant review of its rule book, the league revealed today.

Under a proposal to be voted on Thursday evening by the league’s Rules Committee, coaches would be allowed to challenge both called and potential defensive pass interference fouls under certain conditions.

Under the proposal, a team would be able use any and all of its Coaches’ Challenges to challenge a called or potential pass interference foul up to the final three minutes of a game. In the final three minutes of a game, and overtime, a team could only challenge such a call or non-call one time, and only if it still has an unused challenge and a timeout remaining.

The Committee is also considering expanding the role of the Command Centre by requiring it to automatically review all turnovers (fumbles lost and interceptions) and allowing it to detect illegal participation during a play (when a player returns to the field after voluntarily leaving it).

The Rules Committee is also reviewing several changes aimed at further strengthening the health and safety of CFL players:

• Eliminating low blocks below the waist, other than those delivered to the front plane of a player.
• Eliminating blocks from behind in the area between the offensive tackles and within two yards of either side of the line of scrimmage.
• Outlawing peel back blocks, which occur when a play changes direction in the backfield, forcing the defender to modify his pursuit, making him susceptible to blind low blocks executed by an offensive player moving toward his own end zone.
• Clarifying the rules make it illegal to “deliver a blow” to an opponent above the shoulders, a standard already followed by officials but not yet codified in the rule book.
• Requiring an injured player to leave the field regardless of whether a penalty was called on the action leading to the injury (players currently have the option to stay in the game if a penalty was called on the play.)\

The Committee is considering other changes designed to promote scoring and improve the flow of the game:

• Allowing quarterbacks for each team to use their own team supplied Wilson footballs, provided they have met the “new ball” quality standard established by the league.
• Allowing centres to bob their heads multiple times in an effort to signal timing of the snap of the ball (to be used by visiting teams coping with noise in stadium).
• Allowing offenses to further dictate the pace of play by no longer requiring the Head Referee to hold the 20 second clock for the defense to substitute.

The CFL Rules Committee is also expected to review proposed editorial changes to statistical scoring rules including one which would make blocked field goals count as missed field goals for the purpose of record keeping.

http://cfl.ca/article/open-for-discu...-table-changes

[Drake]

Going back to the Chad Johnson news from last week where he tweeted he was joining the Lions, with Buono saying he had no contact with him. He has been added to the Alouettes negotiation list. Johnson aware he's on the Alouettes negotiation list now.

@TSNDaveNaylor:

WR Chad Ochocinco @ochocinco has been added to Montreal Alouettes negotiation list. #cfl #alouettes

@ochocinco:

Nothing to negotiate, I'll be fast as hell and in shape. RT @CFLonTSN: (@ochocinco) has been added to @MTLAlouettes negotiation list

[Cheese]

There is nothing better than watching an NFL blowhard fail in the CFL. Must be hard up for cash if he wants to work for 50 Grand.

[Blaster86]

Originally Posted by Cheese

There is nothing better than watching an NFL blowhard fail in the CFL. Must be hard up for cash if he wants to work for 50 Grand.

Or he wants to play football?

[Lil Pedro]

Originally Posted by Cheese

There is nothing better than watching an NFL blowhard fail in the CFL. Must be hard up for cash if he wants to work for 50 Grand.

Still would love to see if he still has anything left in the tank

[tvp2003]

I actually think CJ would do well in the CFL. He's always used his speed and athleticism (ie. rather than size) to get open and make plays in the NFL. So long as he hasn't lost a step or three, the extra space he would get in the CFL could make him a solid receiving target. The question is whether bringing him in would be worth the circus/distraction that would inevitably follow.

[Drake]

News1130 Sports ‏@News1130Sports:

#BCLions announce that running back Andrew Harris has signed a contract extension through the 2015 season.

Buono also says linebacker Adam Bighill got his contract re-structured - he did not get an extension.

[Drake]

Marcus Ball has signed a three-year deal with the New Orleans Saints. He is a very talented player, who IMO has a good at shot of making the Saints roster.

http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=4481...medium=twitter

[OzSome]

I can just feel it...this union thing will mess up the upcoming CFL season. Personally I do not like union but I guess the players needed it to make sure they cover their b^tt. I just hope they don't get advise from Donald Fehr or Goodenow.

[Drake]

Going back to the Chad Johnson news from a weeks back, someone asked him on twitter last night if he was really coming to Canada or just screwing around with people. He responded with he is busy getting the Alouettes routes down.

[Drake]

Montreal to work out Chad Johnson this Tuesday in Florida.

Former NFL star Chad Johnson will work out Tuesday with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League.

Alouettes general manager Jim Popp released a statement Saturday confirming that contract talks "have escalated" recently between the team and Johnson, who has not played in the NFL since the 2011 season.

"We do expect to meet with Chad Johnson and work him out in Vero Beach, Fla. this week," Popp said in the statement. "Talks did take place and have escalated over the last week."

Johnson took to Twitter later Saturday, confirming that he will work out for Montreal on Tuesday.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/10...ootball-league

EDIT: And Alex Hall has signed with the Carolina Panthers.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-...t-de-alex-hall

[M*A*S*H 4077]

Chad Quatre vingt cinq

[M*A*S*H 4077]

Durant signs extension with Riders

http://www.riderville.com/article/du...on-with-riders

[Drake]

There's a very realistic chance that @ochocinco will be w/ #Alouettes when their season starts for real in June" - Tim Reynolds

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/sport...015/story.html

[sureLoss]

signing official

CFL Official Feed @CFL
BREAKING: The @MTLAlouettes have signed @ochocinco. Details to come. #CFL

[FanIn80]

Holy crap, that's insane.

[Fire]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

signing official

CFL Official Feed @CFL
BREAKING: The @MTLAlouettes have signed @ochocinco. Details to come. #CFL

I'm just happy he changed his name back to Chad Johnson.

[tvp2003]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

signing official

CFL Official Feed @CFL
BREAKING: The @MTLAlouettes have signed @ochocinco. Details to come. #CFL

Week 1: June 28 - 1:00 pm - Montreal at Calgary

Can't wait!

[OzSome]

CFL : Seven of Eight Teams Were Under Salary Cap

http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=450184

Surprise, surprise...hmmmm...

The Canadian Football League announced on Wednesday that an extensive audit process has confirmed seven of eight teams were under the league's salary cap.
According to a release sent by the league, the Saskatchewan Roughriders were the only team to exceed the cap. Their total salary expenditure of $4,417,975 was $17,975 over the salary cap of $4.4 million. The team will be penalized one dollar for each dollar they were over the cap for a total fine of $17,975.

[MissTeeks]

Draft is in prime time this year.

“@calstampeders: The #CFL has announced that draft will begin at 5 pm MDT on May 13. Stamps have 7th overall pick and 8 total picks #calstampeders #YYC”