- Replies 98
- Views 10.6k
- Created
- Last Reply
Most Popular Posts
-
If I were Saskatchewan, Edmonton or Winnipeg I wouldn't guarantee any of the private teams a dime unless they agreed to open up their books to the scrutiny of the other teams. If Wetenhall, as an
-
Football, maybe more than any other sport, is one where I don't mind the players asking for big money. The physical punishment and the brevity of careers means they need to get as much as they can whi
-
Maybe it's just me but even going back to when he was a player Morreale has always struck me as an arrogant jerk. Wonder how the PA perceived him? Not very high I guess considering he's been replaced
From the Feb 27 Calgary Sun:
It’s been more than three months since the Saskatchewan Roughriders battled the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the 2013 Grey Cup.
The battle that takes place over the next three months, however, will be just as important.
With the current collective bargaining agreement set to expire the day before training camps open in May, the CFLPA and CFL owners are set to begin negotiations in earnest March 6-7 at the Delta Calgary Airport Hotel.
The two sides exchanged initial proposals earlier this month.
“I don’t think it was pleasing to anyone,” said CFL veteran Keon Raymond, who is one of two Calgary Stampeders player reps, along with fullback Rob Cote.
When the two sides meet face to face next week, Raymond is expecting opinions to be aired.
“I think we expect it to be a little rowdy,” Raymond said.
“(The owners) are going to come with a lot of minimal, but it’s the beginning of the negotiations, and when you have a lot of money on the line and guys fighting for something, it’s going to be tough.
“We definitely have to stick together and be unified as one.”
The most contentious issue will be how the monetary pie is divvied up, as it’s expected the CFLPA will want to see the league’s $4.4-million salary cap increase significantly.
A new five-year TV rights deal with TSN and RDS worth a reported $43-million was signed last year, which is worth approximately 21/2 times more than the previous deal and is expected to more than double what CFL franchises pull in on the TV side to $4.3 million.
“It factors in a ton, knowing it’s almost two or three times more than what it was the last time,” Raymond said.
“We feel like the league is doing a great job and, obviously, there’s no league without the players, but the fans are the most important thing, as well. This is entertainment, and I think we’ve given them a great product to put on the field.
“You definitely want to be compensated for the things that you put your body into.
“I don’t know if the owners really understand the type of physical punishment we put our bodies through.”
New stadiums and increasing viewership and interest in the CFL around the country have the players asking, what about us?
“It just kind of seems like everybody is kind of reaping the benefits except for the guys that are putting in the work,” Raymond said.
The last time around, a new CBA was signed on the final day before training camps opened in 2010.
“We have a great amount of respect between our two organizations,” CFL commissioner Mark Cohon said at the annual state of the league address during Grey Cup in Regina back in November.
“We have a good working relationship, we’re very transparent in terms of them understanding our businesses, our challenges, the opportunities ... We must remain prudent and smart about our business.”