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.

18 hours ago, Jpan85 said:

Duke Williams or Lirim Hajrullahu if you could only choose one?

Duke Williams all day .. 

 

48 minutes ago, Bigblue204 said:

??? Is this a serious question? Are you new to football?

I found the assessment of the current Bomber receiving corps a little over the top. 

Edited August 25, 20214 yr by TrueBlue4ever

11 hours ago, TrueBlue4ever said:

I thought you said Darvin Lawler Demski and Woli were as good a foursome as there is out there. Why then being in Duke?

Because Darvin woli and demski aren't healthy and 4 isn't the same number as 5. When you have a chance to take out your weakest wr and add maybe the best wr in the league you do it. Even if your 4 is the 2000 wr core. 

1 hour ago, Bigblue204 said:

??? Is this a serious question? Are you new to football?

Clearly doesn't get the cfl or football. 

Why are people ragging on Bailey so hard after that last game? Was it the one drop on the short pass? Cause that was a shitty throw by collaros more than a receiver problem...

3 minutes ago, 17to85 said:

Why are people ragging on Bailey so hard after that last game? Was it the one drop on the short pass? Cause that was a shitty throw by collaros more than a receiver problem...

Because according to some the rest of our corps is so elite that he needs to be as perfect as them. 

40 minutes ago, 17to85 said:

Why are people ragging on Bailey so hard after that last game? Was it the one drop on the short pass? Cause that was a shitty throw by collaros more than a receiver problem...

Its not a one game thing. Hes taken 3 horrible holding penalties that cost us. He has had bad drops in each game. The difference in week 3 is a few guys had the dropsies. But yes not all the incompletions where on the wrs. Collaros threw a fist full of balls low and behind targets. Darvin had a much worse game, but bailey was dropping short passes. And going back to last year has been the weakest of our current wrs. Bailey was 4/8 with 2-3 bad drops. 

I don't recall him having any bad drops in that game. He had some incompletions on balls that would be difficult to catch at the best of times... honestly he was probably the best receiver in that game. Adams and Lawler gassed way easier passes and collaros didn't do anything to help at all. Worst game I have seen from collaros in for ever.

Just now, 17to85 said:

I don't recall him having any bad drops in that game. He had some incompletions on balls that would be difficult to catch at the best of times... honestly he was probably the best receiver in that game. Adams and Lawler gassed way easier passes and collaros didn't do anything to help at all. Worst game I have seen from collaros in for ever.

He did. Lawler and woli both had much better games. Lawler had 2 drop but still was hands down better. Lawler was catching balls down field. Bailey was all short tosses. Mcknight was better though not spectacular by any means. 

20 hours ago, Jpan85 said:

Duke Williams or Lirim Hajrullahu if you could only choose one?

Duke. Assuming he hasn't regressed in the NFL, or is hurt, he'd be our best WR by a long shot. He was an elite CFL WR. Something the Bombers haven't had since ... ? 

But, if our kicking doesn't improve soon, it's going to cost us a win or two. So, can we say both?

12 minutes ago, M.Silverback said:

Duke. Assuming he hasn't regressed in the NFL, or is hurt, he'd be our best WR by a long shot. He was an elite CFL WR. Something the Bombers haven't had since ... ? 

9 years when we had Chris Matthews  😭

31 minutes ago, M.Silverback said:

Duke. Assuming he hasn't regressed in the NFL, or is hurt, he'd be our best WR by a long shot. He was an elite CFL WR. Something the Bombers haven't had since ... ? 

But, if our kicking doesn't improve soon, it's going to cost us a win or two. So, can we say both?

He was a fan favorite after a strong early showing in buffalo. He got hurt and missed a chunk of time, and his release may involve some injury as well. 

 Hes not just elite, imo duke at 100% is a top 2 wr in the league. And hes a big elite wr. Every team in the league should be in on a guy like duke. Its not about who you have, no team has a wr core soo good that he doesnt drastically make it better. 

It looks like dane evans is back in the starters spot for hamilton. 

39 minutes ago, Brandon said:

9 years when we had Chris Matthews  😭

Terrence Edwards was still a stud back in 2012, too.

1 hour ago, 17to85 said:

I don't recall him having any bad drops in that game. He had some incompletions on balls that would be difficult to catch at the best of times... honestly he was probably the best receiver in that game. Adams and Lawler gassed way easier passes and collaros didn't do anything to help at all. Worst game I have seen from collaros in for ever.

I agree Lawler and Collaros weren't very good vs Argos in Toronto. Play-calling seemed very vanilla too. Bombers failed to adjust to what Toronto's defence was showing. For me, the jury is still out on Buck as OC. But the offence generally looked very slow and disjointed. I'd like to see Augustine in for Oliveira next game or even a 2-back set.

Jamel lyles cut by bc. Hes one id love for us to take a flyer on especially if harris is gonna be another week +. Hed bring much more of a change of pace. Very athletic with a great frame could be a guy who goes to wr or gets multiple uses like demski. 

12 minutes ago, wbbfan said:

Jamel lyles cut by bc. Hes one id love for us to take a flyer on especially if harris is gonna be another week +. Hed bring much more of a change of pace. Very athletic with a great frame could be a guy who goes to wr or gets multiple uses like demski. 

And he has history here, being a former Bison.

6 hours ago, Bigblue204 said:

??? Is this a serious question? Are you new to football?

I think his question was rhetorical. 

59 minutes ago, bigg jay said:

And he has history here, being a former Bison.

Yep, and with harris a bit. You dont often get the chance mid season to add an NI with his size and athleticism. Little on a local product. He hasnt seen a lot of teams play but even to sit him on the PR and mold him into a wr or hybrid, or a teams guy would be a win. 

PLAYER DISCIPLINE – WEEK 3
Five players fined from Week 3

Wednesday, August 25, 2021 — TORONTO (August 25, 2021) -- The Canadian Football League (CFL) announced today:
Edmonton Elks wide receiver Greg Ellingson was fined for an illegal low block on BC Lions defensive back Boseko Lokombo.

Edmonton Elks linebacker Brandon Pittman was fined for a tourist hit on BC Lions punter Stefan Flintoft.

Montreal Alouettes defensive back Greg Reid was fined for making contact with an official.

Montreal Alouettes offensive lineman Tony Washington was fined for a chop-block on Calgary Stampeders defensive lineman Jarrell Owens.

Saskatchewan Roughriders defensive lineman Makana Henry was fined for spearing Ottawa REDBLACKS running back Timothy Flanders.

As per league policy, the amounts of the player fines were not disclosed.

 

 

Turned out that the penalty call to Alexander is a joke. If the CFL command center thought it was a dangerous hit, one would think that he should be fined and his name should be listed here. 

Edited August 25, 20214 yr by M.O.A.B.

I get that Duke made a lot of catches when he was up here, but I felt like most of them should have been penalized.  Every time he went up for a 50/50 ball, he pushed off the defender to get space and make the catch.

I'm not a pro scout or anything, so I don't know much, but that's what I remember about Duke's time in the CFL.

25 minutes ago, Sard said:

I get that Duke made a lot of catches when he was up here, but I felt like most of them should have been penalized.  Every time he went up for a 50/50 ball, he pushed off the defender to get space and make the catch.

I'm not a pro scout or anything, so I don't know much, but that's what I remember about Duke's time in the CFL.

Wrs going up for the ball almost never get called for offensive pi because the db almost always initiates contact. 

18 yards per catch tremendous speed especially for a 6 foot 4 225 lbs wr. He had monster yac and catch rate. The hardest wr match up in the league. almost 1600 yards and 11 tds on 88 catches. 

No one was close in 2018 to him. Darvin Adams best year too. 

10 hours ago, 17to85 said:

Why are people ragging on Bailey so hard after that last game? Was it the one drop on the short pass? Cause that was a shitty throw by collaros more than a receiver problem...

He caught 4 of 8 passes thrown his way. He also had a 5 yard penalty (Offsides) which turned what would have been a manageable 2nd and 6 into a 1st and 15.

People are too hard on Rasheed Bailey. We call a lot of underneath stuff ; short routes. Ours is a hard offense for receivers to shine in. They really ought to switch Woli inside & put Adams in his place. 

2 hours ago, Eternal optimist said:

He caught 4 of 8 passes thrown his way

Which is a stupid stat because at least half of those missed passes were godawful throws. Maybe more but I don't remember all of them.