M.Silverback

Not to be Debbie Downer here, but, another update from Dave Naylor and Farhan Lalji. https://www.tsn.ca/video/naylor-some-within-cfl-concerned-clock-will-run-out-on-potential-2020-season~2012795 Not sure the issue of guaranteed contracts can be settled. Too much risk on both sides, as Naylor and Lalji point out. Players understandably want some guarantees if they disrupt their lives, come to the bubble, and COVID stops the season. And owners understandably don't want to pay out guaranteed salaries if the season stops in a year where they're already losing a ton of money. I really miss the CFL, but, I don't think it can happen this year.

Good update article on the CFL status by Dave Naylor. Not looking promising for a 2020 CFL season. https://www.tsn.ca/talent/where-things-stand-with-a-2020-cfl-season-1.1507703

Wow! So the federal government has become an ATM for Trudeau friends and family, but Fat Tony when it comes to the CFL. Nice.

You're both bang on about the CFL and CFLPA. I'm sure both have some responsibility in how fractured the relationship is, but, it has to stop. This is a pro league teetering on the edge. It's collaborate or die really. Ambrosie certainly deserves the criticism he's getting, but, I still think his CFL 2.0 global player idea had some potential as a revenue source pre-COVID. Untapped potential TV, streaming fan bases if a few global players actually became CFL stars.

Good discussion around this topic. It's a really complex issue because I agree that the 1 year CFL contracts for players then walking to the NFL is not working as a long term CFL strategy. Tough for teams to manage, sucks for fans. And, I agree that the NFL really doesn't have any interest in financially compensating the CFL in any way. Realistically, what incentive does the NFL have to compensate the CFL in any way? With increasing practice roster sizes and hundreds of new college players coming out every year, why do they need any type of "farm system"? And honestly, it's not as if the CFL typically provides them with elite NFL talent. The Cameron Wake's are very rare. Mostly CFL players who make the NFL end up at the bottom of a team's roster. Easily replaced by a late round NFL draft pick or a UDFA. I'm not criticizing anyone's take on this. It's a complicated issue. The CFL has to figure out a better model for building revenue and retaining players on it's own.

Agree. That's the point I was trying to make. If there's no season at all, no games on TSN, good luck trying to drum up either fan attendance or TV viewers in the biggest markets in Canada. Which definitely would impact any future TV deals with TSN or whomever. I don't hate those teams or cities. I lived in both. The CFL is a very tough sell in both. Toronto is Raptors and Leafs. Vancouver is snow boarding, hanging out, Canucks, in that order. So, for the sake of the small number of hardcore fans in those cities, and to hopefully attract more there, I think the CFL has to try some kind of season this year. Maybe even consider some type of involvement for those cities for games being played. Something!

The CFL definitely will face the same issues every other pro league has and will. I hear you on the cost of starting up. But, there's also a big cost for the CFL not trying a start up. The fan base, TV deals, advertising, sponsorship just aren't as strong as the other leagues. If the CFL goes away for a year, they may not recover. No one cares about the CFL in Toronto and Vancouver now. Do you think they will a year from now, having not had a CFL game played for almost 2 years. I think the CFL would be pretty much dead in those cities then. There's no great solution - trying to run a shortened season is going to be risky and cost teams money; punting on the season now is going to cost teams money and support. I think the optics are worse if they don't try at all.

Some realtor in the US trademarked a bunch of potential names that Washington may have been considering. https://www.bardown.com/a-virginia-realtor-filed-trademarks-for-a-bunch-of-new-washington-football-names-1.1494956 I hate when people do that with websites or trademarks. Just looking to hold a company or team hostage for a cash grab. Hope Washington chooses a name this guy did not trademark and he gets nothing.

https://www.cjme.com/2020/07/07/jamie-nye-six-games-is-better-than-nothing-or-at-least-thats-what-i-thought/#.XwSGA9ot6uM.twitter Interesting take from Jamie Nye. I keep hearing fans of all sports including the CFL calling to "just cancel the season already". My take is I'd rather see all sports try to return with some form of modified season, knowing full well that may have to be stopped or modified again at any point. And for the CFL, I really think they need to try to have some type of season in 2020. The CFL just doesn't have the fan engagement in the big cities, and to some extent in the strong CFL cities, to sit out an entire year.

Good point. Pains me to say but I think the CFL will eventually have to move towards a salary management system like the XFL or AAF. More of a “guaranteed” amount, with less variations. Pay newer players more, but stars less. Less variation between high and low. Like $100K minimum to $300K max for everyone. We’d attract more practice roster type NFL players with a higher minimum, but not handcuff teams when they have a star QB. And, if a CFL player is truly exceptional, they will still go to the NFL and earn big $. Thoughts?

Definitely. And cap management is going to be even more important in the post COVID CFL. I think the days of signing almost million dollar QB's are over. As are the days of signing close to $300K receivers. Say hello to developmental low priced QB's, and bringing in lots of US receivers to compete with higher priced veterans.

He was great! Thanks. Forgot about him. And what a story. The first African-American to start at the quarterback position in an SEC school. The first black baseball player in University of Tennessee history. Also drafted by the Expos!

I too enjoyed your photos and write ups. Kept looking for them. I don't get the opposition. Is this a football discussion page or not? You're either a football fan or not, and real fans can root for their own team and appreciate great players on all teams.

Great list! Brian Kelly was one of those receivers that wasn't particularly fast or big, but always seemed open, and caught everything. Ray Elgaard - At the risk of being accused of supporting Rider pride, I loved/hated him as a player. Any coach in the league would have taken him, but you hated him as an opponent. Type of player that you could tell opposing DB's hated playing against. Tough, dirty, faster than he seemed, caught everything.

And my Eastern conference CFL players: Anthony Calvillo - Montreal - At first I'd notice that a D-lineman was always a half second too late getting to him, thinking next time he'll get there. Well, there was rarely a next time. Just Calvillo carving up defenses with the quickest release and best passing accuracy I've ever seen in a CFL QB. Amazing player. Could have easily started in the NFL Tony Gabriel - Ottawa - You could drop him in today's game in his prime and he'd still dominate. Great hands, red zone monster. Grover Covington - Hamilton - One of those players that opposing O-lines would circle on the schedule at the beginning of the year as a possible game where they might sit out with an "injury". Absolute terror Terry Greer - Toronto - Pinball was the greatest Argo. But, Greer put up 2000 yards in 1983! Pretty much could not be covered in the CFL

I liked this thread idea as a fan of football and the CFL, and as an actual football discussion. Is it dead because there's some unwritten rule that we're not allowed to appreciate talented CFL players who are not Bombers? I'm not abiding by that rule. Here's four Western Conference players I loved watching, but hated when they were dominating our Bombers: Mervyn Fernandez - BC Lions - really dominant player. Also had a decent NFL career. Warren Moon - Edmonton - Best player I have ever seen play in the CFL. John Helton - Calgary - Also a former Bomber, but, killed us for 10 years as a Stampeder Bobby Jurasin - Saskatchewan - Always disruptive, always involved. Secretly wished he was a Bomber

Exactly. This Eric Galko guy is just trying to be a hype man for another failed football league, on the remote chance that they reboot the XFL at some point. Unlikely. I'm repeating myself, but, why do rich successful people repeatedly piss their money away thinking that they could succeed running another pro football league in the US?

Exactly. Normally no pressure in terms of signing a negotiation list player. This time - Bombers better be right about him for the reason you stated. I hope so, but, he didn't exactly light up the AAF or XFL.

If they are planning to have any fans in attendance (socially distanced of course), I think the CFL is going to have to figure out some type of innovative, incentive based ticket sales structure. Maybe offering package tickets to fans where you could attend games for your own home team plus random games between the adopted team and another team. Then do revenue sharing. I might go see a Hamilton - Saskatchewan game if I got some type of discounted ticket with the purchase of a Bomber ticket.

Interesting idea. Makes some sense. Limits player housing expenses as the article indicates. Not ideal, but, nothing will be ideal this season. Who would be your choice for an Eastern team to buddy with in Winnipeg? I'll go with Ottawa, just to have our old pal Lapo hanging around town.

Bombers website says $890,000 in revenue for that event. Not defending the Riders financials, or saying you're wrong about Bombers road game expenses. The Bombers and Riders always rely on some type of non football event revenue, or in our case horrible NFL pre-season football revenue, to help boost the bottom lines. Also a Grey Cup win pretty much always leads to a revenue boost - merchandise, season ticket renewals and new purchases ... Of course this year, every team is in trouble.

Did the Riders just release their financials? I missed it. The Bombers last year got a big revenue boost from the NFL exhibition game at IG Field. It was an on field disaster, but big $$$ influx. Regina was the first choice for that, but there was a scheduling conflict I think.

I agree with JCon and Dr. CFL. Unlikely that there will be high school sports. Definitely not in the Fall. Slim chance they might try to do some Spring 2021 sports. My son plays USports football and that's what they're talking about as a possibility - potential Spring 2021 league. They haven't officially said no USports football for the Fall 2020, but, it's pretty much guaranteed not happening. No or very few on campus courses, means no students on campus, and no sports. Bummer year for so many.

I don't want to wade into this debate, but, just to clarify, the NBA is funding research conducted by the Mayo Clinic on better finger stick test for immunity antibodies. Good news for everyone. But, the Mayo Clinic certainly is a for profit business, that will team up with interested funding parties when beneficial. And the CDC ... not an agenda-less entity let's say. https://www.theringer.com/nba/2020/5/20/21264742/nba-coronavirus-testing-covid-19

Thanks for posting this. Really interesting article. However the CFL decides to proceed, lots of questions and obstacles to address. Many will come up that they didn't even anticipate. It's mentioned briefly in the article, but, I would think that the whole global player combine/draft idea will be squashed for this season. Ambrosie did mention a while ago that he hoped to do a mini version before the season. But, it will be hard enough trying to get Americans up here. Can't imagine the CFL is going to try to fly in players from all over the world, most of whom will never make a roster.