https://www.tsn.ca/naylor-many-questions-but-few-answers-on-a-2021-cfl-season-1.1543725

The Canadian Football League has been outrageously quiet since it pulled the plug on its season more than two months ago, leaving behind a wake of speculation about where things are headed next.

With the reality setting in that COVID-19 is likely to still be around in some form next summer, there is real concern about what the 2021 season might look like or if it will occur at all.

There are teams that believe it is vitally important to play in 2021 and that without a season the CFL is in danger of being mothballed. Whether every team believes that is another question. And there is a lot to sort out before anyone can accurately predict what a season might look like and how much pain the teams are collectively willing to stomach to make it happen.

The league and its franchises are currently running through various scenarios for next season, trying to get a handle on true costs of each and working at ways to trim budgets and save money. That’s likely to continue until the league can truly choose a course of action, which feels like next April at the earliest.

Why? Well, there’s not much point in fully committing to a scenario that’s seven months away if that scenario might be totally unrealistic by the time you get there.

There has been no 2021 business plan presented yet, only regular updates to the presidents and governors about what the league is doing to prepare for the unknown.

It should be noted that teams will need to make decisions about retaining assistant coaches with expiring contracts by December, which will be the first real economic commitments to a 2021 season. Restrictions on signing players will need to be lifted well before the opening of February free agency, where players are likely to meet a cautious market – one in which signing bonuses will probably be absent.

There’s a collective bargaining agreement to amend, if not renegotiate, with the players, which will require some kind of pressure point because it always does. But the league can’t sit down with the players until it gets a true handle on revenues and it can’t do that until it chooses a course of action.

Will CFL teams be allowed to have full stadiums next summer? It doesn't seem likely. But just what percentage of capacity will be allowed – if any at all – is impossible to guess. It seems as if the league is counting on the restrictions that currently prevent fans from being in stadiums being lifted. But to what degree?

When will we see a schedule? Good question. Or could we see multiple schedules for different scenarios? Never say never.

Could it be a 21-week, 18-game season played in home stadiums? Unlikely, given the losses teams are expected to take with reduced numbers of fans in the stands. Could we see a return to the 10-week bubble? Maybe. A nine-game schedule played in home stadiums before fans? Perhaps.

The point is no one knows, so demanding answers to questions that can’t possibly be answered right now is a waste of time.

All we know is that there’s going to be a lot less revenue for teams to operate with under any scenario, not just because of crowd restrictions but also due to older fans choosing to stay home for their safety. The CFL’s fan demographics do it no favours in this regard.

Getting consensus on a best course of action won’t be easy for the CFL’s nine teams. Back in the summer, there were teams that were willing to play without government support and teams that weren’t. And just like then, the biggest challenge commissioner Randy Ambrosie faces now is finding a scenario they can all live with.

Adopting a revenue-sharing model so that each team absorbs the same amount of red ink would certainly make consensus-building easier, which many believe should be the direction for the future, COVID-19 or not.

The other elephant in the room is federal government, which many in the CFL believe left it high and dry last summer after months of back-and-forth talks where the league believed it was making progress.

Is the CFL prepared to go down that road again, knowing it doesn’t control the timeline and larger forces can change things in an instant? Perhaps, although it’s not as though the feds don’t have a long list of people coming at them with their hands out.

There will be voices demanding the owners suck up the losses of playing a season under any circumstance, as owners have done in other sports. But the business calculation in sports such as MLB, NFL, NHL and NBA is different because of the percentage of revenues those leagues derive from television.

Losses sustained by playing in those leagues can also be viewed as investments towards protecting massive franchise values. That’s not the case in the CFL, where teams can’t just float money on the backs of their franchise values, and where one third of the teams are publicly owned.

It would be beneficial for the league to soon announce its formal commitment to play some kind of season in 2021.

But beyond that, get ready for months more of waiting with lots of questions and speculation but very few answers.

they don't need a back-up, 'cause Jesus Sprinkles is gonna go 18-0, throw for 10k yards, 60TDs  vs 0 INTs........

I dont know who this guy is or anything more then the tweet...but it could be interesting 

Oh my bad....I read his tweet like he already had a meeting lol. 

Edited April 10, 20214 yr by Bigblue204

 

 

4 hours ago, Noeller said:

 

 

Thanks for sharing. Im nervously hoping for the best. 

 

 

3 hours ago, Noeller said:

 

 

Funny, Naylor links to a non-existent post. It’s that kind of thing that leads to........conspiracy theories. 

👀 

 

7 hours ago, TrueBlue4ever said:

Funny, Naylor links to a non-existent post. It’s that kind of thing that leads to........conspiracy theories. 

It looks as though that Twitter user deleted his original tweet after Naylor called him out, though.

He then proceeds to share some crap article from 3DN and Naylor politely explains reality to him.

This John Bender seems like a bit of an idiot. 

 

"This" John Bender was an OL with the Stamps & a 3rd round pick in the 2010 CFL Draft. He played his college ball at Nevada. Only played 1 season for the Stamps & was a TC cut in 2011. 

Edited April 14, 20214 yr by SpeedFlex27

22 hours ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

"This" John Bender was an OL with the Stamps & a 3rd round pick in the 2010 CFL Draft. He played his college ball at Nevada. Only played 1 season for the Stamps & was a TC cut in 2011. 

Not surprising that someone in Alberta went on a Bender. <Lotsa liquor/porn stores there.

4 (1) Winnipeg Blue Bombers — Les Maruo, LB, Japan

 

The first Japanese born player to ever start in Division One college football, Maruo spent much of his childhood in Wichita, Kansas before going to UTSA.

He’s a mean, violent linebacker who moves really well and will instantly be a core special teams player for Winnipeg.

7 minutes ago, Bigblue204 said:

4 (1) Winnipeg Blue Bombers — Les Maruo, LB, Japan

 

The first Japanese born player to ever start in Division One college football, Maruo spent much of his childhood in Wichita, Kansas before going to UTSA.

He’s a mean, violent linebacker who moves really well and will instantly be a core special teams player for Winnipeg.

Seems like a great fit. Smart, hard working, physical lber who can play teams and back up hansen. 

Tomoya Machino, an OL who measured just under 6'5 302 who was the most agile OL at the combine and put up 31 reps. 

Edited April 15, 20214 yr by wbbfan

next up another LBer, this one from GB Ayo Oyelola.  He was apart of the the NFL international program but allegedly his performance was not up to what he showed in game film.  He looks extremely fast and explosive for the level of play hes facing. The clip where he runs down a WR from behind in full stride is nuts. 

https://www.americanfootballinternational.com/british-lb-ayo-oyeloa-sets-sights-on-nfl-in-his-sporting-second-act/

 

Final pick is Arryn Siposs. a punter out of Australia. He was an aussie  rules football player who converted and went to auburn. UDFA pick up of detroit and in january signed a futures deal with philly.  

1 hour ago, wbbfan said:

next up another LBer, this one from GB Ayo Oyelola.  He was apart of the the NFL international program but allegedly his performance was not up to what he showed in game film.  He looks extremely fast and explosive for the level of play hes facing. The clip where he runs down a WR from behind in full stride is nuts. 

https://www.americanfootballinternational.com/british-lb-ayo-oyeloa-sets-sights-on-nfl-in-his-sporting-second-act/

 

Looks like an explosive player who would be well suited to be a safety in the CFL. Crazy fast and quick.

 

Actual CFL news?? By gar, it's been awhile! 

^^ that above quote is straight outta the Mike O'Shea handbook.....

 

Also, re: 2021 season..... https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/video/what-next-week-s-bog-meeting-means-to-the-future-of-the-2021-cfl-season~2182003

important part of above: Team reps are meeting daily, and there is a board of governors meeting on Tuesday, after which they're expected to announce the delay of the start of the season. Lalji believes they do not want just an open-ended "season is postponed indefinitely" statement, and are instead wanting to have a hard confirmation of when exactly they will get going, barring another emergency...

On 2021-04-09 at 3:06 PM, rebusrankin said:

What will the Riders do now with only 25 QBs under contract?

One less bell to answer. One less egg to fry. 

47 minutes ago, Tracker said:

Looks like an explosive player who would be well suited to be a safety in the CFL. Crazy fast and quick.

 

Yeah seems like he would bring a lot of versatility. He really gets off the ball well on those blitz clips. 

Im not sure if he is still in that international program with the NFL or not. But even if hes a futures pick he seems like a great get for a global. 

10 minutes ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

One less bell to answer. One less egg to fry. 

I think you stole those lines...LOL...part of the empty bunk syndrome ..

I know this guy is full of **** more often than not, but if even some of this is true, it's gonna be a rough future........

https://3downnation.com/2021/04/15/promise-of-2021-cfl-season-a-fallacy-scary-stuff-behind-the-scenes-not-being-talked-about-rod-pedersen/

Saskatchewan-based media personality Rod Pedersen has some good news and plenty of bad news.

The recently vaccinated broadcaster joined The Jason Gregor Show on TSN 1260 in Edmonton to share that current health models could have fans back in stadiums by September or early October. While that sounds like good news for the CFL, not everything is so cheery.

“Let’s not forget half the league office was gutted and aren’t coming back. These aren’t great days in the Canadian Football League and I’m very leery of what I hear from the leaders in the CFL,” Pedersen said.

“I don’t think that you can go out on a limb right now and guarantee that there will be a season.”

Major media players and top ranking CFL executives have insisted that the league will have a 2021 season, even if it is delayed. Pedersen doesn’t see it the same way, believing the financial ruin suffered by the CFL and the evolving COVID situation makes such statements ludicrous.

 

“I think that they don’t know, and to throw it out there and say, ‘Oh, just trust us, we guarantee there’s a season’ — I just think that’s a fallacy. I think it’s unfair to the fans, but the damage has already been done,” Pedersen emphasized.

The league reportedly lost between $60 and $80 million due to the cancelled season in 2020 and some teams are in dire straights according to Pedersen.

“There’s some teams very low on cash — very low. I wouldn’t put the Redblacks in that category nor the Stampeders and obviously not the Argos, but these community owned teams have lost millions upon millions,” he explained.

 

“What’s going on in the CFL right now is there’s some teams that I have no idea how they’re keeping the lights on. There’s what’s being publicly portrayed in, ‘Hey, we had a Global Draft and 44 percent of the first round were punters.‘ And then there’s the other side where we’re not sure we’re bringing back our staff. There’s some scary stuff that people aren’t talking about.”

The answer to these financial difficulties may lie in the XFL, as the owners from both leagues have agreed to work together to identify opportunities to innovate and grow the game of football. Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson has stated he’s excited for the ‘unique opportunity’ the CFL and XFL ‘can potentially create together.’

The most recent incarnation of the XFL lasted just five games before the COVID-19 pandemic put their season on hold, which led to Vince McMahon filing for bankruptcy and selling.

Johnson, Dany Garcia and RedBird Capital were selected as the winning bidders last August for all of the assets of Alpha Entertainment LLC, the parent company of the XFL. It cost $15 million and the goal is to make the XFL a stable league in the future, which could be aided by a merger with the CFL.

The Canadian league in turn could benefit from their infusion of cash, though it might come at the expense of some of the things that make the CFL unique.

 

“Yesterday, a guy that I talked to on the phone from the States, who is a Canadian, said ratio gone. From what he hears, there won’t be one,” Pedersen speculated. “That’s just what he’s hearing, I don’t know if that’s true or not.”

Also likely gone is the three down game and the 110 yard field, though no rule conversations have taken place. Additionally a shift to a spring/summer season is favoured by the XFL, begging the question why games should even be played in Canada this year.

“There’s a lot of talk about the spring/summer league starting as early as one year from now, the next CFL. So as some have said, why even try to play this year? Why not turn the lights out and go full bore towards next year?,” Pedersen asked.

Some may wish to do that, namely Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, Toronto Argonauts owners and the driving force behind XFL talks.

 

“Look guys, the CFL was dying as it was! The rumor is MLSE and the Argos and Alouettes don’t even want to play now. Why are you pounding a square peg into a round hole of playing with a league that is shrinking as it is?,” Pedersen stressed.

Whether the CFL plays in 2021 or not may simply be window dressing. The league may already be gone.

“No matter what, we’re having a swan song season for the CFL as we know it.”

Honestly, so sad. Don't blame this on covid. Blame it on bad leadership.

2 hours ago, Noeller said:

I know this guy is full of **** more often than not, but if even some of this is true, it's gonna be a rough future........

https://3downnation.com/2021/04/15/promise-of-2021-cfl-season-a-fallacy-scary-stuff-behind-the-scenes-not-being-talked-about-rod-pedersen/

Saskatchewan-based media personality Rod Pedersen has some good news and plenty of bad news.

The recently vaccinated broadcaster joined The Jason Gregor Show on TSN 1260 in Edmonton to share that current health models could have fans back in stadiums by September or early October. While that sounds like good news for the CFL, not everything is so cheery.

“Let’s not forget half the league office was gutted and aren’t coming back. These aren’t great days in the Canadian Football League and I’m very leery of what I hear from the leaders in the CFL,” Pedersen said.

“I don’t think that you can go out on a limb right now and guarantee that there will be a season.”

Major media players and top ranking CFL executives have insisted that the league will have a 2021 season, even if it is delayed. Pedersen doesn’t see it the same way, believing the financial ruin suffered by the CFL and the evolving COVID situation makes such statements ludicrous.

 

“I think that they don’t know, and to throw it out there and say, ‘Oh, just trust us, we guarantee there’s a season’ — I just think that’s a fallacy. I think it’s unfair to the fans, but the damage has already been done,” Pedersen emphasized.

The league reportedly lost between $60 and $80 million due to the cancelled season in 2020 and some teams are in dire straights according to Pedersen.

“There’s some teams very low on cash — very low. I wouldn’t put the Redblacks in that category nor the Stampeders and obviously not the Argos, but these community owned teams have lost millions upon millions,” he explained.

 

“What’s going on in the CFL right now is there’s some teams that I have no idea how they’re keeping the lights on. There’s what’s being publicly portrayed in, ‘Hey, we had a Global Draft and 44 percent of the first round were punters.‘ And then there’s the other side where we’re not sure we’re bringing back our staff. There’s some scary stuff that people aren’t talking about.”

The answer to these financial difficulties may lie in the XFL, as the owners from both leagues have agreed to work together to identify opportunities to innovate and grow the game of football. Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson has stated he’s excited for the ‘unique opportunity’ the CFL and XFL ‘can potentially create together.’

The most recent incarnation of the XFL lasted just five games before the COVID-19 pandemic put their season on hold, which led to Vince McMahon filing for bankruptcy and selling.

Johnson, Dany Garcia and RedBird Capital were selected as the winning bidders last August for all of the assets of Alpha Entertainment LLC, the parent company of the XFL. It cost $15 million and the goal is to make the XFL a stable league in the future, which could be aided by a merger with the CFL.

The Canadian league in turn could benefit from their infusion of cash, though it might come at the expense of some of the things that make the CFL unique.

 

“Yesterday, a guy that I talked to on the phone from the States, who is a Canadian, said ratio gone. From what he hears, there won’t be one,” Pedersen speculated. “That’s just what he’s hearing, I don’t know if that’s true or not.”

Also likely gone is the three down game and the 110 yard field, though no rule conversations have taken place. Additionally a shift to a spring/summer season is favoured by the XFL, begging the question why games should even be played in Canada this year.

“There’s a lot of talk about the spring/summer league starting as early as one year from now, the next CFL. So as some have said, why even try to play this year? Why not turn the lights out and go full bore towards next year?,” Pedersen asked.

Some may wish to do that, namely Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, Toronto Argonauts owners and the driving force behind XFL talks.

 

“Look guys, the CFL was dying as it was! The rumor is MLSE and the Argos and Alouettes don’t even want to play now. Why are you pounding a square peg into a round hole of playing with a league that is shrinking as it is?,” Pedersen stressed.

Whether the CFL plays in 2021 or not may simply be window dressing. The league may already be gone.

“No matter what, we’re having a swan song season for the CFL as we know it.”

 

"though no rule conversations have taken place. " Yet his source is soo sure that all these rules are changing and gone. Seems like dubious contradicting information from a dubious guy with a shady source. Might as well call up marty york and ask him what his 20 year old sources said. 

It is amazing how little the leadership of this league seems to understand their customer. Lose the diehard CFL fans and gain zero NFL fans. Great plan.

6 hours ago, Noeller said:

 

“Look guys, the CFL was dying as it was! The rumor is MLSE and the Argos and Alouettes don’t even want to play now. Why are you pounding a square peg into a round hole of playing with a league that is shrinking as it is?,” Pedersen stressed.

Whether the CFL plays in 2021 or not may simply be window dressing. The league may already be gone.

“No matter what, we’re having a swan song season for the CFL as we know it.”

This is what I've been saying. That no matter the outcome the 3 down game is probably finished. I'm not happy about it. I wish things would be different. I really do. It sucks but I guess I'm a realist about this.  I can't do a thing about it if it is so I just have to accept the world is changing. Other businesses that were run a lot better have failed & a league that is so marginalized by ticket sales, failing attendance & losing money that I'm not surprised it's on life support. This has also always been about a lack of leadership. Especially now. About having a business model that didn't work & hasn't for 30 years. I'm resigned to the fact that it's over. 

Edited April 16, 20214 yr by SpeedFlex27

I swear to God if MLSE and Montreal cost me the CFL......