2014 CFL Offseason Thread

[Jacks]

I often sympathise with owners, I think they should be able to make a good profit, but not in this case. Here it seems they are being really greedy. The increases they are proposing to the cap are tiny, especially with revenues going up so much. Just the TV deal alone almost covers the salary cap. We'll see if the players are prepared to go without pay for any length of time.

[Cheese]

“@ArashMadani: Last year's #CFL TV deal: $15.3 million. In 2014, it's $40 mil. Last in-writing offer from league to players was a $100k hike to cap in '14.”

The TV deal almost triples revenue derived from the boob tube. Offering $100 grand to players is a slap in the face to the product that makes you the coin.

[tvp2003]

Bad timing for the Redblacks if there is a strike/lockout...

[Drake]

Arash Madani does a great job breaking it down, they did come to an agreement on a change of roster-sizes (more on that below).

At the centre of the debate is a new television deal, reportedly worth $40 million this coming season. The current deal is worth $15.3 million.

Last season’s salary cap was $4.4 million and proposals obtained by Sportsnet show the CFL has offered the following when it comes to player compensation:

2014 – $4,500,000.00
2015 – $4,600,000.00
2016 – $4,650,000.00
2017 – $4,700,000.00
2018 – $4,750,000.00
2019 – $4,800,000.00
2020 – $4,900,000.00
2021 – $5,000,000.00

There are several other points of contention. The CFLPA has proposed a minimum annual player salary of $55,000—with a 10 percent increase annually. The league countered with a $46,000 minimum, which caps at $49,000 in 2021.

The union has proposed practice roster players make no less than $1,000 a week (or $18,000 per season). The league has countered with $750/week, but to increase the practice roster size to 12, from seven, and implement “two-way” contracts, making it easier for teams to release players.

The union is also pushing for an increase to post-season playoff share, and a hike to the Grey Cup bonus cheque, which the league has refused.

One area the two sides have come to terms on is the increase in roster size–from 42 to 44 on game day. The extra two spots would be occupied by a non-import and one designated import. The reserve list would drop from four per game to two.

The CFL has proposed an eight-year collective bargaining agreement, double the length of the current deal. The union wants the duration to be “subject to negotiation.”

A source tied to the league, speaking on the condition of anonymity, believes the tactic of the league and its governors/owners is patience—the thinking being that the union will eventually give in once the risk of losing pay is a legitimate possibility.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/football/cfl...bour-stoppage/

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by Drake

There are several other points of contention. The CFLPA has proposed a minimum annual player salary of $55,000—with a 10 percent increase annually. The league countered with a $46,000 minimum, which caps at $49,000 in 2021.

While I think most pro-athletes are grossly overpaid, 55k/year is embarrassing, let alone the counter of 46k. That's less than 25/hr in a regular job.

[Da_Chief]

The owners are being jerks here but CFL has to be the easiest league for replacement players. Bring up imports from south and half of current players will cross the line on the first day.

[Drake]

My mock draft with a few hours to before the draft. I'm likely only going to get 2 or 3 of these picks right.

1.) Ottawa- Pierre Lavertu
2.) Winnipeg-Matthias Goossen
3.) Edmonton-Evan Gill
4.) Montreal-David Foucault
5.) BC-Antoine Pruneau
6.) Toronto- Devon Bailey
7.) Calgary- Dylan Ainsworth
8.) Saskatchewan- Casey Chin
9.) Hamilton- Andrew Lue

[sureLoss]

@FarhanLaljiTSN: #BCLions & #RedBlacks are having trade discussion right now re Kevin Glenn

[Drake]

Glenn has been traded to BC for their 5th pick.

[Drake]

Suprised Edmonton took Bailey as they have Coehorn and Chambers.

[DOOM]

I worked with Matt Webster three summers ago, it's cool to see him get drafted, shame it had to be the Roughriders though, haha.

[OzSome]

Originally Posted by Drake

Glenn has been traded to BC for their 5th pick.

I guess BC is hoping Glenn will work his magic with the Lions. Love KG during his Stamps days but I was never a fan of him befoe. In fact, I was so ticked off when we picked him up because he tends to throw INT a lot. He proved me wrong last two seasons but I can start not liking him again.

[Pizza]

Stamps Trade up for #1 overall pick, Pierre Lavertu

http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=452097

In Lavertu, Calgary secured a player regarded as the most pro-ready prospect. That cost the Stampeders offensive lineman Jon Gott, a five-year CFL veteran who played previously for Redblacks offensive co-ordinator Mike Gibson in Alberta.

Calgary also landed the rights to veteran centre Marwan Hage. He played 10 seasons with Hamilton before going to Ottawa in the CFL expansion draft, then retiring last month. The Redblacks will get a conditional pick if the Stampeders trade Hage's rights.

[Drake]

Some more issues with a lockout looming, CFL teams aren't apparently willing to listen CFLPA's concerns regarding player safety.

According to documents obtained by Sportsnet this week, the players union is proposing four new clauses be added to the league’s CBA, focused on player safety and concussions–the hot-button topic in football on both sides of the border.

1. To make it mandatory for each team to have an independent neurologist on the sidelines for all games.

2. For players to be able to obtain a second opinion from a medical doctor of the players’ choice, in relation to the condition of their health after an injury.

3. That the CFL spend a minimum of $100,000 a year for the “sole purpose of conducting research in relation to injury and concussions in the CFL,” and that the research be jointly agreed upon by the union and league.

4. That football operation employees—including players, coaches, trainers, equipment personnel and sideline staff—be required to attend a seminar during training camp, providing further education on brain injuries, concussions, concussion symptoms, second impact syndrome and the treatment of concussions.

The CFLPA has also proposed that if a player suffers a career-ending injury, he receive one season worth of salary—paid out over four years—to assist him in his transition out of football.

The CFL does have an existing concussion policy and protocol, but it is not part of the expiring CBA, which was ratified in 2010.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/football/cfl...-negotiations/

[M*A*S*H 4077]

Those are actually pretty good proposals by the CFLPA, hopefully some or all of them will be adopted.

Unfortunately I don't think training camps are starting on time this year as the two sides just seem way too far apart. Hopefully the games are still able to be played as scheduled

[OzSome]

I don't care who's fault is it that the CFLPA are considering a strike... this is not good for CFL. We all know they are still having problem with some stadium attendance because some Canadians would much rather watch the NFL than CFL. I feel that CFL been doing better than the past years and with an expansion team coming in, some fans are excited fir the season. Losing a few games or a season due to strike will not help.

[Drake]

That sure made up for my crappy day as I needed a good laugh...

@garylawless:
CFLPA is asking for salary cap to rise from $4.4 million to $7 million #bn

[Drake]

I would have to say that's a very reasonable offer from the CFL.

With talks between the Canadian Football League and the CFL Players Association at a standstill, the league has taken its message directly to the membership.

Shortly after talks broke off during the latest bargaining session Wednesday morning, the league issued letters to the individual players which proposes a nine per cent increase in the salary cap for this coming season from $4.4 million to $4.8 million, with increases continuing over five season until the salary cap reaches $5,000,050.00.

The proposal would see the minimum salary increased from $45,000 to $50,000, and the average salary go from - by the league's math - $82,904 to $92,917.

The league has also proposed increasing the size of game day rosters from 42 to 44 players and limiting full contact practices to one per week during the season, with up to 10 more being held during the season at the team's discretion.

In addition, the league is dangling signing bonuses for every player if a deal is ratified by June 2, the first day or training camp. Rookies would receive $1,000 each, with veterans collecting $3,000 apiece.

The latest move by the league comes after a previous offer to the CFLPA was rejected on May 16. The player returned with an offer on May 20, which asked for an increase in the salary cap to $6.24 million for this coming season, with further increases to be built on top of that, starting in 2015, based on sharing in the league's revenue streams.

TSN reported Tuesday that the players were planning to propose on Wednesday a formula for the cap based solely on sharing revenue streams that would put the cap at $7 million.

http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=452722

Here's the full letter from Cohon:

http://www.cfl.ca/article/canadian-f...fer-to-players

[Drake]

Just came across my timeline on twitter.

@ArashMadani:
From source close 2 CFLPA members: "Reality setting in already. Players already started asking agents etc 4 loans" #CFL

[Drake]

And now a letter from Cohon to the fans.

http://www.cfl.ca/article/an-open-le...ll-league-fans

Two tweets that just came across my timeline.

@sportscage:
I'm hearing the CFLPA is TICKED with this CFL tactic and this strike could go into mid-July #CFL #CFLPA

@PaulWiecek
“I don’t think there’s any question we will have a yes to a strike vote.I’d be surprised if it’s not close to 90%" Bombers Glenn January #bn