Stamps/CFL Offseason

[Ziggy Lidstrom]

Originally Posted by flambers

In my view it doesn't matter what the reason was for the retirement but his timing is horrible.

His late...late...late announcment will cause lots of problems for the Stampeders.

IN YOUR OPINION, it will cause lots of problems... So what about timing, why does he have to do things for the greater good of the organization ahead of himself. Do you think it was an easy decision?

Typical...

[SportsJunky]

Originally Posted by Ziggy Lidstrom

IN YOUR OPINION, it will cause lots of problems...

Typical...

You don't think it is going to cause some personnel issues for Hufnagel? I think Ellis is able to step up but still, wouldn't you agree that Newman's late announcement would cause a few issues for the coaching/management staff?

[flambers]

Originally Posted by Ziggy Lidstrom

IN YOUR OPINION, it will cause lots of problems... So what about timing, why does he have to do things for the greater good of the organization ahead of himself. Do you think it was an easy decision?

Typical...

I bet the Stamps are looking around the league to make a trade to cover the hole this has created.

I have no clue if it was easy or not but this guy was a PRO player not an amateur (the expectations are allot different).

To announce something like this at the last minute is a huge blow to the organization.

I am also surprised he would not speak to the media.

[JayP]

Originally Posted by flambers

In my view it doesn't matter what the reason was for the retirement but his timing is horrible.

His late...late...late announcment will cause lots of problems for the Stampeders.

It happens every year in the CFL. It's just the way things are.

The timing makes perfect sense for the players - when the meat-grinder that is training camp and two-a-days is staring you in the face it can quickly turn a player who was on the fence, but decided to give it another year to retirement.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by JayP

It happens every year in the CFL. It's just the way things are.

The timing makes perfect sense for the players - when the meat-grinder that is training camp and two-a-days is staring you in the face it can quickly turn a player who was on the fence, but decided to give it another year to retirement.

Maybe for a 30 year old player who has played 8 or 9 years in the league and is looking to accept a full time job in the Oil Patch it happens. I understand that for sure......

However I can not remember the last time a player just a couple of years into the league (high first rounder) all of sudden retires at the very last minute before training camp.

When I first heard it, I was wondering if it was possible to retire from CFL and sign with NFL.

[JayP]

Originally Posted by flambers

Maybe for a 30 year old player who has played 8 or 9 years in the league and is looking to accept a full time job in the Oil Patch it happens. I understand that for sure......

However I can not remember the last time a player just a couple of years into the league (high first rounder) all of sudden retires at the very last minute before training camp.

When I first heard it, I was wondering if it was possible to retire from CFL and sign with NFL.

What's the difference how old he is? Teyo Johnson did the same thing last year. Just because Newman is a first rounder and a better player means that he's not allowed to do it?

Nobody on this site would have any problem leaving wherever they work at a tough time if a much better opportunity came along or if they wanted to go another direction or their life. Why should Newman be any different?

[flambers]

Originally Posted by JayP

What's the difference how old he is? Teyo Johnson did the same thing last year. Just because Newman is a first rounder and a better player means that he's not allowed to do it?

Nobody on this site would have any problem leaving wherever they work at a tough time if a much better opportunity came along or if they wanted to go another direction or their life. Why should Newman be any different?

There is zero chance, I would leave my job at the very last minute without giving sufficient notice.

Newman or any other Pro player should be different as they have signed a contract. They at least should give the team sufficient notice (i.e. like Jeff Pilon).

[JayP]

Originally Posted by flambers

There is zero chance, I would leave my job at the very last minute without giving sufficient notice.

Newman or any other Pro player should be different as they have signed a contract. They at least should give the team sufficient notice (i.e. like Jeff Pilon).

You'd give your two weeks notice and move on with your life. Two weeks is hardly sufficient notice to actually replace someone though.

So what you're saying is that Newman should have just played even though he clearly didn't want to? All that's asking for is a half-hearted attitude, most likely an injury is training camp because of said attitude, and then he sits on the bench because he someone took his position and he doesn't have his heart in the game enough to earn it back.

The Stamps are probably better off having the guy just retire and move on instead of him grudgingly show up to camp and not be nearly the same player because of it.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by JayP

You'd give your two weeks notice and move on with your life. Two weeks is hardly sufficient notice to actually replace someone though.

So what you're saying is that Newman should have just played even though he clearly didn't want to? All that's asking for is a half-hearted attitude, most likely an injury is training camp because of said attitude, and then he sits on the bench because he someone took his position and he doesn't have his heart in the game enough to earn it back.

The Stamps are probably better off having the guy just retire and move on instead of him grudgingly show up to camp and not be nearly the same player because of it.

All I am saying is Newman is a Pro player, he had a very long off season. Why did a huge decision like this wait till the last moment?

I fully support any player who wants to retire but crap make the decision early (i.e. like Jeff Pilon).

Here is an interesting article

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/C.../14279011.html


"Newman has refused interview requests, citing personal reasons for his decision and releasing a statement through the team."

"Hufnagel is still puzzled by the sudden retirement Friday of left guard Jesse Newman, who was being counted on as a starter in his third CFL season. "

"This leaves Hufnagel looking for more offensive-line help. "


“It’s not what you want. At this time, we just have to move forward and make the players we have better. I do have two veteran players (Matt Sheridan and Dan Comiskey) who have excelled in this league. "

[MJM]

Originally Posted by troutman

It could be many players are retiring because CFL salaries are crap. Players can make better $ in the real world.

Is it likely Tsoumpas will be an NFL cut, and come back to the Stamps?

The veterans (outside of the star players) make between 80-100K in a lot of circumstances. How's that a crap salary, they play a GAME for a living for 5 months of the year.

I'd like to see the job some fo the guys would get making that with half-finished educations (in a lot of circumstances) and ZERO practical work experience.

[MJM]

Originally Posted by JayP

You'd give your two weeks notice and move on with your life. Two weeks is hardly sufficient notice to actually replace someone though.

So what you're saying is that Newman should have just played even though he clearly didn't want to? All that's asking for is a half-hearted attitude, most likely an injury is training camp because of said attitude, and then he sits on the bench because he someone took his position and he doesn't have his heart in the game enough to earn it back.

The Stamps are probably better off having the guy just retire and move on instead of him grudgingly show up to camp and not be nearly the same player because of it.

That's a better answer than saying the salary is crap which is a lame excuse often pulled out by people.

[JayP]

Originally Posted by flambers

All I am saying is Newman is a Pro player, he had a very long off season. Why did a huge decision like this wait till the last moment?

I fully support any player who wants to retire but crap make the decision early (i.e. like Jeff Pilon).

By the looks of it, we'll never know what caused Newman to make this decision. Maybe I'm wrong, but I doubt Newman has been holding this decision back until training camp on purpose. Things can change quickly in life and football players are just as human as you or I. The Stamps would have no problem cutting Newman and moving on so I don't have any problem with Newman looking out for number one and doing the same.

[JayP]

Originally Posted by MJM

The veterans (outside of the star players) make between 80-100K in a lot of circumstances. How's that a crap salary, they play a GAME for a living for 5 months of the year.

I'd like to see the job some fo the guys would get making that with half-finished educations (in a lot of circumstances) and ZERO practical work experience.

I hate the whole "they play a game" argument. It has no merit. Sure these guys get to do something they love for a living, but lots of people do. More important than that, it's not all roses. By the end of the year, these guys are lucky if they're only playing with injuries that would keep the rest of us off our rec league teams in whatever sport for weeks.

The big thing is that by playing this game for a decent career, these guys are cutting 15-20 years off their life and drastically reducing their quality of life past 35-40 (and especially so in football).

I'd rather like to see the job these guys would get after getting killed on the football field for 12 seasons, are 37 and they still have those half-finished degrees and no work experience you mentioned.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by MJM

The veterans (outside of the star players) make between 80-100K in a lot of circumstances. How's that a crap salary, they play a GAME for a living for 5 months of the year.

Are you sure? I find that very surprising.

http://www.montrealgazette.com/sport...860/story.html

The average CFL salary is slightly below $60,000 a year. Based on last season's salary survey, 22 players were paid less than $42,000, according to the CFLPA . . . minimum salary of $41,000 last season

Take out QB/star salaries, and the average must be much less. Most of these young men have university degrees, and can make more than this in the real world, without risk of injury.

[MJM]

Originally Posted by troutman

Are you sure? I find that very surprising.

http://www.montrealgazette.com/sport...860/story.html

The average CFL salary is slightly below $60,000 a year. Based on last season's salary survey, 22 players were paid less than $42,000, according to the CFLPA . . . minimum salary of $41,000 last season

Take out QB/star salaries, and the average must be much less. Most of these young men have university degrees, and can make more than this in the real world, without risk of injury.

I have two friends who recently played in the CFL. Neither were stars, just solid veterans. Both made around 80K.

Undrafted rookied ont their first contract make that league minimum (of which there are many in the CFL), and it really brings the league average down. I don't believe QB's salaries are counted in that calculation (not certain though).


80K a year for 5 months is quite a living. These players are also able to use their football player status to land cushy PR jobs in the off-season should they so choose to stay in the community they play. One of my buddies was a beer rep that paid him an extra 30 K on top of his CFL salary.

As for the abuse on their body, that's there choice. Other people make the same choice while working regular jobs (see the Calgary men's rugby teams - all of which train nightly and play on the weekend).

[JayP]

Originally Posted by MJM

As for the abuse on their body, that's there choice. Other people make the same choice while working regular jobs (see the Calgary men's rugby teams - all of which train nightly and play on the weekend).

Well, it is their choice, but is $60-70k a year worth not being able to play with your kids when you're 40 because your body is too beat up? That's a legitimate question and one these guys have to answer every off-season. That doesn't even mention the fact that I'm sure the CFL gives these guys nothing for pension (if the NFL doesn't, how could the CFL) and all those medical bills post-football are enormous.

The fact that some rubgy players do it too is irrelevant.

Like it or not, in any sports league with salaries as low as the CFL, salary concerns are a huge motivating factor for players considering retirement.

[MJM]

Originally Posted by JayP

Well, it is their choice, but is $60-70k a year worth not being able to play with your kids when you're 40 because your body is too beat up? That's a legitimate question and one these guys have to answer every off-season. That doesn't even mention the fact that I'm sure the CFL gives these guys nothing for pension (if the NFL doesn't, how could the CFL) and all those medical bills post-football are enormous.

The fact that some rubgy players do it too is irrelevant.

Like it or not, in any sports league with salaries as low as the CFL, salary concerns are a huge motivating factor for players considering retirement.

No doubt it is a huge factor (as it should be). But for someone that is 23 to retire out of the blue like Newman did is quite unacceptable no matter what he gets paid. Should have played out the season, or gave them notice before training camp started.

We'll find out the real reason in a year if he comes back.

[OzSome]

Originally Posted by flambers

There is zero chance, I would leave my job at the very last minute without giving sufficient notice.

Newman or any other Pro player should be different as they have signed a contract. They at least should give the team sufficient notice (i.e. like Jeff Pilon).

That is true BUT do you even know what is the PERSONAL PROBLEM that Newman was referring to? Maybe this personal problem suddenly happened before the training camp starts. Noone can predict how and when the problem will show up.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by OzSome

That is true BUT do you even know what is the PERSONAL PROBLEM that Newman was referring to? Maybe this personal problem suddenly happened before the training camp starts. Noone can predict how and when the problem will show up.

No idea, guess we will have to wait and see if he all of sudden signs another contract next season.....

As per the below quote from an Calgary Sun Article. Even the GM was puzzled ... that says allot.

"Hufnagel is still puzzled by the sudden retirement Friday of left guard Jesse Newman, who was being counted on as a starter in his third CFL season. "

[CaptainCrunch]

Maybe Jesse saw that the CFL is implementing a drug testing policy.