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.

51 minutes ago, Booch said:

A good DB makes a great receiver coach.

Who better to help receivers exploit what DB's see and do...and how to attack them.

Generally at the pro level that coach is just augmenting what they should already know about catching a ball..any DB knows all the routes in the receiving tree and how to best defend them so parlaying that to receivers is a benefit...plus as stated...is an entry level position as well..

I was at kevin kelley coaching clinic down south years ago and and late in the day he talked briefly about making his position coaches flip and coach opposite positions for a week once a year. It was such an interesting concept.

I think it's a great idea to have a guy like suberman coach wrs. 

Imo catching is like shooting free throws in basketball. It's all about reps. Wrs gotta spend a considerable amount of time with a jugs machine and qb throwing go em. But that's really an individual thing. Generally guys with great hands are guys who put in all the extra work they can. 

 

1 hour ago, bigg jay said:

 

The bc lions should face fines and Their head athletic trainer should be sent for a certification review. 

5 hours ago, wbbfan said:

The bc lions should face fines and Their head athletic trainer should be sent for a certification review. 

Like WTH??? Player safety... They worry so much about brain injuries but don't care about broken bones???

This doesn't look good on the CFL...

Newsflash:

Players play with broken bones all the time. If there is minimal risk to further injury it is not an issue. If taped and supported there was really not much risk for Whitehead to do further injury. It was stupid by the LIons to trot out a one handed receiver but he is far from the first guy that's ever played with a broken bone.

17 minutes ago, GCn20 said:

Newsflash:

Players play with broken bones all the time. If there is minimal risk to further injury it is not an issue. If taped and supported there was really not much risk for Whitehead to do further injury. It was stupid by the LIons to trot out a one handed receiver but he is far from the first guy that's ever played with a broken bone.

Yup. Strevs being a great example. He could still run though. Lucky was useless out there.

21 minutes ago, GCn20 said:

Newsflash:

Players play with broken bones all the time. If there is minimal risk to further injury it is not an issue. If taped and supported there was really not much risk for Whitehead to do further injury. It was stupid by the LIons to trot out a one handed receiver but he is far from the first guy that's ever played with a broken bone.

I'm with others on this one;

- Hands are kind of important to receivers, he wasn't even using it when testing it.

- Not sure how you tape or support those broken bones where they were.

- they never even looked his way after anyways. You don't have anyone else to put out there?

- medical staff should have stepped in the name of safety. I get the player doing whatever they can, but at some point cooler, more educated heads need to step in, just like they do with concussions

1 minute ago, itchy said:

I'm with others on this one;

- Hands are kind of important to receivers, he wasn't even using it when testing it.

- Not sure how you tape or support those broken bones where they were.

- they never even looked his way after anyways. You don't have anyone else to put out there?

- medical staff should have stepped in the name of safety. I get the player doing whatever they can, but at some point cooler, more educated heads need to step in, just like they do with concussions

He was a decoy. There was literally no chance the ball was coming to him and therefore almost no risk for further injury. I'm not suggesting they should have played him, just that there was no real risk in doing so either.

7 minutes ago, kelownabomberfan said:

Yup. Strevs being a great example. He could still run though. Lucky was useless out there.

Exactly...that's what makes this strange. There was literally no chance he could do anything but go for a run out there.

3 minutes ago, itchy said:

I'm with others on this one;

- Hands are kind of important to receivers, he wasn't even using it when testing it.

- Not sure how you tape or support those broken bones where they were.

- they never even looked his way after anyways. You don't have anyone else to put out there?

- medical staff should have stepped in the name of safety. I get the player doing whatever they can, but at some point cooler, more educated heads need to step in, just like they do with concussions

You can tape up a game cast in no time. Which is what they did.

10 hours ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

Like WTH??? Player safety... They worry so much about brain injuries but don't care about broken bones???

Broken bones heal, as does tissue damage. Concussions are forever.

53 minutes ago, GCn20 said:

Newsflash:

Players play with broken bones all the time. If there is minimal risk to further injury it is not an issue. If taped and supported there was really not much risk for Whitehead to do further injury. It was stupid by the LIons to trot out a one handed receiver but he is far from the first guy that's ever played with a broken bone.

played with a cast on my arm/hand for 2 different seasons...not an issue

42 minutes ago, GCn20 said:

Newsflash:

Players play with broken bones all the time. If there is minimal risk to further injury it is not an issue. If taped and supported there was really not much risk for Whitehead to do further injury. It was stupid by the LIons to trot out a one handed receiver but he is far from the first guy that's ever played with a broken bone.

Look at his hand and look at the nature of the break. He couldve suffered a compound fracture, not to mention break one of the many connecting bones.

24 minutes ago, kelownabomberfan said:

Yup. Strevs being a great example. He could still run though. Lucky was useless out there.

Not the same kind of break though. Strevs wasnt a full fracture nor was it going to become one. 

18 minutes ago, GCn20 said:

He was a decoy. There was literally no chance the ball was coming to him and therefore almost no risk for further injury. I'm not suggesting they should have played him, just that there was no real risk in doing so either.

Exactly...that's what makes this strange. There was literally no chance he could do anything but go for a run out there.

You can tape up a game cast in no time. Which is what they did.

Broken bones heal, as does tissue damage. Concussions are forever.

Decoys still get hit on running plays, we say this exact scenario play out and lucky got barked at. 

Nothing removes the chance for contact in football. If reilly wouldve thrown a pick on the same side as lucky, lucky couldve been laid out with a block. Hand contacts the ground first by instinct. Look at his xray, the bone is completely broken. The only thing suporting it is soft tissue. 

Tell walby, or any OL that that hands heal. Or floyd mayweather, or any boxer thats suffered a boxers break. Or Angus chrichton, the rugby player who had fingers amputated because they wouldnt heal in properly, so he could continue playing. The rugby union wasnt going to allow him to continue to play with his damaged fingers. Which happened from him playing with broken fingers. Aussy rugby league, wouldnt let him play with injured fingers. If its too much for them, its too much for football. 

2 minutes ago, wbbfan said:

Look at his hand and look at the nature of the break. He couldve suffered a compound fracture, not to mention break one of the many connecting bones.

Not the same kind of break though. Strevs wasnt a full fracture nor was it going to become one. 

Decoys still get hit on running plays, we say this exact scenario play out and lucky got barked at. 

Nothing removes the chance for contact in football. If reilly wouldve thrown a pick on the same side as lucky, lucky couldve been laid out with a block. Hand contacts the ground first by instinct. Look at his xray, the bone is completely broken. The only thing suporting it is soft tissue. 

Tell walby, or any OL that that hands heal. Or floyd mayweather, or any boxer thats suffered a boxers break. Or Angus chrichton, the rugby player who had fingers amputated because they wouldnt heal in properly, so he could continue playing. The rugby union wasnt going to allow him to continue to play with his damaged fingers. Which happened from him playing with broken fingers. Aussy rugby league, wouldnt let him play with injured fingers. If its too much for them, its too much for football. 

I have had that twice..Boxer's Fracture they call it....had it set and casted and played following week....I didnt need my hands for catching just maiming so a club came in handy, and no longterm ailments due to it.

Having him come in mid game without a cast and having it set was very dumb, and yup could have caused complications, but I am sure it was Lucky's call, and he wanted to, so any liability is off training staff

4 minutes ago, Booch said:

I have had that twice..Boxer's Fracture they call it....had it set and casted and played following week....I didnt need my hands for catching just maiming so a club came in handy, and no longterm ailments due to it.

Having him come in mid game without a cast and having it set was very dumb, and yup could have caused complications, but I am sure it was Lucky's call, and he wanted to, so any liability is off training staff

Ive never had one, ive been very lucky and careful. But Ive seen them and its gnarly. I have though seen a hand mangled to the point of fingers being gone and not re attachable. If luckys hand had gotten crushed with out the cast on like that, man, some one would be up on charges.  

If its cast and you are a lber, dl, etc its not much of a risk.

I have no doubt lucky made the call and was 100% willing. The guy has the most heart of any speed tool player Ive seen in a very long time. That said, the medical and coaching staff have to protect guys like that. Just like a fighters corner has to throw in the towel when a guy cant and isnt protecting him self any more. It breaks my heart and makes me angry when guys have all the will to continue, but cant, and arent protected. 

 

This is interesting

Edited October 12, 20214 yr by M.O.A.B.

42 minutes ago, M.O.A.B. said:

 

This is interesting

 

Trevor Harris trade incoming?

40 minutes ago, M.O.A.B. said:

 

This is interesting

Pretty clear he separated his shoulder in real time. He is done.

Trevor Harris would be the only target you would have to think.

 

1 hour ago, Booch said:

I have had that twice..Boxer's Fracture they call it....had it set and casted and played following week....I didnt need my hands for catching just maiming so a club came in handy, and no longterm ailments due to it.

Having him come in mid game without a cast and having it set was very dumb, and yup could have caused complications, but I am sure it was Lucky's call, and he wanted to, so any liability is off training staff

I wonder how a receiver comes back from that? 

I can't remember your position, Booch. 

I am sure they can freeze it to mediate the pain, but that seems like trouble for catching and ball security.

It would be a great move for Als and a bonehead one for the Elks... if that's a trade for Trevor Harris.

I don't think it would be that dumb a move for the Elks 

Their season is done and they can go after a FA in the off season with the extra cash. He makes way too much.

11 minutes ago, Geebrr said:

Pretty clear he separated his shoulder in real time. He is done.

Trevor Harris would be the only target you would have to think.

 

I wonder how a receiver comes back from that? 

I can't remember your position, Booch. 

I am sure they can freeze it to mediate the pain, but that seems like trouble for catching and ball security.

Linebacker and long snapper, as well as some full back work

4 minutes ago, Geebrr said:

I don't think it would be that dumb a move for the Elks 

Their season is done and they can go after a FA in the off season with the extra cash. He makes way too much.

yeah and given that they're burning the bridge with him in real time they clearly don't have use for Harris anyway. 

 

It's truly a Tim Burke / Mike Kelly level stupid of the QB handling. 

Just now, Geebrr said:

Pretty clear he separated his shoulder in real time. He is done.

Trevor Harris would be the only target you would have to think.

 

I wonder how a receiver comes back from that? 

I can't remember your position, Booch. 

I am sure they can freeze it to mediate the pain, but that seems like trouble for catching and ball security.

I would think harris would be target no 1. Maybe they get crazy and call up glenn or durant. Maybe they try to shake one of the argos qbs free, though I doubt it. Hamilton? Take a risk on dane evans hoping he will be back, probably not. 

If I was them, Id be after paxton lynch, duck hodges, or see if calgary would part with maier. And maybe see about bringing in jennings. 

I dont feel like harris would hold up, or execute well in montreal. 

2 minutes ago, wbbfan said:

I would think harris would be target no 1. Maybe they get crazy and call up glenn or durant. Maybe they try to shake one of the argos qbs free, though I doubt it. Hamilton? Take a risk on dane evans hoping he will be back, probably not. 

If I was them, Id be after paxton lynch, duck hodges, or see if calgary would part with maier. And maybe see about bringing in jennings. 

I dont feel like harris would hold up, or execute well in montreal. 

Any port in a storm.

2 minutes ago, wbbfan said:

I would think harris would be target no 1. Maybe they get crazy and call up glenn or durant. Maybe they try to shake one of the argos qbs free, though I doubt it. Hamilton? Take a risk on dane evans hoping he will be back, probably not. 

If I was them, Id be after paxton lynch, duck hodges, or see if calgary would part with maier. And maybe see about bringing in jennings. 

I dont feel like harris would hold up, or execute well in montreal. 

I don't see those teams getting rid of anyone right now.

I actually think he would be better in Montreal than VA. 

That isn't saying much though.

 

17 hours ago, 17to85 said:

yeah and given that they're burning the bridge with him in real time they clearly don't have use for Harris anyway. 

 

It's truly a Tim Burke / Mike Kelly level stupid of the QB handling. 

Exactly. They are doing a terrific job of ******* up and showing vets that they don't want to play there.

Edited October 13, 20214 yr by Geebrr