CFL teams start cancelling training camp workouts after contract talks break off
TORONTO — Three CFL teams formally cancelled the start of training camp workouts Sunday after the league and its players union were unable to reach a deal on a new collective bargaining agreement.
The Montreal Alouettes, Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Toronto Argonauts formally cancelled practices Sunday, which was scheduled to be the opening day of training camp for CFL teams. More are expected to follow suit.
The CFL and CFL Players' Association broke off negotiations on a new collective bargaining agreement Saturday.
The last agreement, reached in 2019 and amended last year to allow the league to stage a 14-game campaign, expired at midnight Saturday.
The union directed players from seven of the CFL's nine teams to participate in a work stoppage beginning at 12:01 a.m. ET.
Players with the Edmonton Elks and Calgary Stampeders will report to their respective camps as they'll be in a legal strike position later this month, as per provincial labour laws.
The lone previous CFL strike came in 1974. The labour situation was resolved before the start of the season that year.
It's unclear when the CFL and CFLPA will resume negotiations.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 15, 2022.
TORONTO — Three CFL teams formally cancelled the start of training camp workouts Sunday after the league and its players union were unable to reach a deal on a new collective bargaining agreement.
The Montreal Alouettes, Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Toronto Argonauts formally cancelled practices Sunday, which was scheduled to be the opening day of training camp for CFL teams. More are expected to follow suit.
The CFL and CFL Players' Association broke off negotiations on a new collective bargaining agreement Saturday.
The last agreement, reached in 2019 and amended last year to allow the league to stage a 14-game campaign, expired at midnight Saturday.
The union directed players from seven of the CFL's nine teams to participate in a work stoppage beginning at 12:01 a.m. ET.
Players with the Edmonton Elks and Calgary Stampeders will report to their respective camps as they'll be in a legal strike position later this month, as per provincial labour laws.
The lone previous CFL strike came in 1974. The labour situation was resolved before the start of the season that year.
It's unclear when the CFL and CFLPA will resume negotiations.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 15, 2022.
NO CAMPING?: With CFLPA turning down CFL offer, Redblacks players told not to report Sunday
Tim Baines, Postmedia - Yesterday
Uh oh, buckle up as the CFL and its players association are taking us on what could be a bumpy ride.
© Provided by Ottawa SunOttawa Redblacks rookie camp, Wednesday at TD Place in Ottawa. Zack Pelehos (52) during camp, May 11, 2022.
Training camps were supposed to open across the league Sunday. But after talks on a new collective bargaining agreement collapsed Saturday afternoon, players from seven CFL teams, including the Redblacks, have been told to stay away from the field. The CBA that had been in place expired at midnight.
A proposal by the CFL was turned down by the CFLPA Saturday afternoon, leaving what happens next in doubt. The CFL’s offer was shared to fans and players by commissioner Randy Ambrosie. Among the highlights: Partially guaranteed contracts when re-signing veterans, increases to the league’s minimum salary (to $70,000 in 2023 and $75,000 in 2027), each roster would have a minimum of at least six Canadian players (a seventh could be either a Canadian or a nationalized American – a non-quarterback who has been in the league for at least four years or has played with the same team for three years), a starting Canadian QB would count as a national, plus 25 per cent of revenue growth to be added to the salary cap in 2023
The CFLPA bargaining committee has directed its members from seven of the league’s nine teams (B.C., Saskatchewan, Winnipeg, Hamilton, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal) to participate in a work stoppage immediately – effective Sunday. Members under contract to clubs in Alberta (Calgary and Edmonton) will join the work stoppage as soon as provincial labour laws allow.
The Redblacks had planned to have morning practices through the week, leading to a fan fest next Saturday (May 21), from 10:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. But what happens next … who knows? The CFL will have to show a willingness to bend on some deal-breaking issues, including the number of padded practices.
If the league and its players can put aside their differences and find common ground, the Redblacks will be looking to put two disastrous seasons behind them. With three wins and 15 losses in 2019 and three wins and 11 losses in 2021 sandwiching a lost COVID season, it’s hard to imagine there’s anywhere to go but up. How do you get people to stop talking about being a bad football team? It’s simple. Win football games.
“I try not to look too far into the past — whether it’s a winning season or a losing season,” said Paul LaPolice, going into his second season as Redblacks head coach/offensive co-ordinator. “I’m just excited to be doing football again. The past is the past. The best part of our business is every year is a brand new year. We’re all undefeated — we haven’t lost a game and we haven’t won a game yet, either.”
“What happened here last year was a lot of players got opportunities when maybe they didn’t know the league as well or maybe weren’t quite as ready,” said Redblacks general manager Shawn Burke. “I’m definitely excited to see some of the guys coming to their second training camp. The expectations will be raised for them, they’re not rookies anymore.”
© Tony Caldwell
Tim Baines, Postmedia - Yesterday
Uh oh, buckle up as the CFL and its players association are taking us on what could be a bumpy ride.
© Provided by Ottawa SunOttawa Redblacks rookie camp, Wednesday at TD Place in Ottawa. Zack Pelehos (52) during camp, May 11, 2022.
Training camps were supposed to open across the league Sunday. But after talks on a new collective bargaining agreement collapsed Saturday afternoon, players from seven CFL teams, including the Redblacks, have been told to stay away from the field. The CBA that had been in place expired at midnight.
A proposal by the CFL was turned down by the CFLPA Saturday afternoon, leaving what happens next in doubt. The CFL’s offer was shared to fans and players by commissioner Randy Ambrosie. Among the highlights: Partially guaranteed contracts when re-signing veterans, increases to the league’s minimum salary (to $70,000 in 2023 and $75,000 in 2027), each roster would have a minimum of at least six Canadian players (a seventh could be either a Canadian or a nationalized American – a non-quarterback who has been in the league for at least four years or has played with the same team for three years), a starting Canadian QB would count as a national, plus 25 per cent of revenue growth to be added to the salary cap in 2023
The CFLPA bargaining committee has directed its members from seven of the league’s nine teams (B.C., Saskatchewan, Winnipeg, Hamilton, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal) to participate in a work stoppage immediately – effective Sunday. Members under contract to clubs in Alberta (Calgary and Edmonton) will join the work stoppage as soon as provincial labour laws allow.
The Redblacks had planned to have morning practices through the week, leading to a fan fest next Saturday (May 21), from 10:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. But what happens next … who knows? The CFL will have to show a willingness to bend on some deal-breaking issues, including the number of padded practices.
If the league and its players can put aside their differences and find common ground, the Redblacks will be looking to put two disastrous seasons behind them. With three wins and 15 losses in 2019 and three wins and 11 losses in 2021 sandwiching a lost COVID season, it’s hard to imagine there’s anywhere to go but up. How do you get people to stop talking about being a bad football team? It’s simple. Win football games.
“I try not to look too far into the past — whether it’s a winning season or a losing season,” said Paul LaPolice, going into his second season as Redblacks head coach/offensive co-ordinator. “I’m just excited to be doing football again. The past is the past. The best part of our business is every year is a brand new year. We’re all undefeated — we haven’t lost a game and we haven’t won a game yet, either.”
“What happened here last year was a lot of players got opportunities when maybe they didn’t know the league as well or maybe weren’t quite as ready,” said Redblacks general manager Shawn Burke. “I’m definitely excited to see some of the guys coming to their second training camp. The expectations will be raised for them, they’re not rookies anymore.”
© Tony Caldwell
Ottawa Redblacks rookie camp began Wednesday at TD Place in Ottawa. Keaton Bruggeling during camp.
Training camp is a coming together of old and new faces, trying to get them working together. It’ll certainly be much different than camp of a year ago, which was delayed into July.
“The biggest difference is obviously COVID protocols and everything,” said LaPolice. “The coaches were quarantined for seven days and we weren’t able to see them until the day before camp. Being able to have the time with the coaches has obviously been a welcome change.”
As for out with the old and in with the new, LaPolice said: “There are possibly 28 new guys here who have some CFL experience. We talked about in our staff meeting that one of the most important things we have to do get these guys to understand what we want and what we think wins football games in the Canadian Football League. We have to get this group to grow together, where they want to be together and don’t want to leave the building. We have to start building those relationships as soon as possible. We want to create an environment where these guys come together as a team as quickly as possible.”
© Tony Caldwell
Training camp is a coming together of old and new faces, trying to get them working together. It’ll certainly be much different than camp of a year ago, which was delayed into July.
“The biggest difference is obviously COVID protocols and everything,” said LaPolice. “The coaches were quarantined for seven days and we weren’t able to see them until the day before camp. Being able to have the time with the coaches has obviously been a welcome change.”
As for out with the old and in with the new, LaPolice said: “There are possibly 28 new guys here who have some CFL experience. We talked about in our staff meeting that one of the most important things we have to do get these guys to understand what we want and what we think wins football games in the Canadian Football League. We have to get this group to grow together, where they want to be together and don’t want to leave the building. We have to start building those relationships as soon as possible. We want to create an environment where these guys come together as a team as quickly as possible.”
© Tony Caldwell
Ottawa. Redblacks head coach Paul LaPolice at Ottawa Redblacks rookie camp at TD Place in Ottawa, May 11, 2022.
The highest-profile free agent brought in was quarterback Jeremiah Masoli, the East Division’s Most Outstanding Player in 2018. With some injuries sprinkled in, he struggled at times with consistency and hasn’t reached that level of play since. But, with significant signings on the offensive line and at receiver by the Redblacks, this could be a springboard for the 33-year-old quarterback.
“We know Jeremiah has talent, we know he has tools,” said LaPolice. “We’ve added things he’d been successful with in Hamilton to our system. Now we have to figure out what he does best — within his stuff and our stuff. I’ve got a note on my board: ‘How quickly can we get Jeremiah Masoli to take control of our offence?’ Everybody has said so many great things about the guy, how great he is as a teammate, how hard-working he is. We’ve had great conversations. He comes as advertised.”
One thing that should elevate the quality of the team is a much higher level of competition — there will be a sense of urgency with guys pushing each other for roster spots.
“Competition will always elevate everyone,” said Burke. “It’s one of the first words I brought up with Coach LaPolice. Constant competition at training camp and practice elevates you — you’re more ready to play on game day. The guys that want to be great pros, it’s my belief they’ll embrace that competition and they’ll buy in. That’ll make everybody better collectively. It’s something we focused on during free agency. We also have some good younger guys coming in to push those veterans. It’s supposed to be about the younger guys trying to take those veteran jobs and the veteran players saying, ‘Young guy, you’re not quite ready to take my job yet.’ ”
After pre-season games against Toronto May 27 (at home) and in Montreal June 3, the Redblacks will open their regular season with two games that are about as tough as it gets — against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, the two-time defending Grey Cup champs. They’re in Winnipeg June 10 and the teams will play at TD Place June 17.
“They threw us into the fire right away,” said LaPolice. “We’ll be ready to play, we’ll have a game plan.
The highest-profile free agent brought in was quarterback Jeremiah Masoli, the East Division’s Most Outstanding Player in 2018. With some injuries sprinkled in, he struggled at times with consistency and hasn’t reached that level of play since. But, with significant signings on the offensive line and at receiver by the Redblacks, this could be a springboard for the 33-year-old quarterback.
“We know Jeremiah has talent, we know he has tools,” said LaPolice. “We’ve added things he’d been successful with in Hamilton to our system. Now we have to figure out what he does best — within his stuff and our stuff. I’ve got a note on my board: ‘How quickly can we get Jeremiah Masoli to take control of our offence?’ Everybody has said so many great things about the guy, how great he is as a teammate, how hard-working he is. We’ve had great conversations. He comes as advertised.”
One thing that should elevate the quality of the team is a much higher level of competition — there will be a sense of urgency with guys pushing each other for roster spots.
“Competition will always elevate everyone,” said Burke. “It’s one of the first words I brought up with Coach LaPolice. Constant competition at training camp and practice elevates you — you’re more ready to play on game day. The guys that want to be great pros, it’s my belief they’ll embrace that competition and they’ll buy in. That’ll make everybody better collectively. It’s something we focused on during free agency. We also have some good younger guys coming in to push those veterans. It’s supposed to be about the younger guys trying to take those veteran jobs and the veteran players saying, ‘Young guy, you’re not quite ready to take my job yet.’ ”
After pre-season games against Toronto May 27 (at home) and in Montreal June 3, the Redblacks will open their regular season with two games that are about as tough as it gets — against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, the two-time defending Grey Cup champs. They’re in Winnipeg June 10 and the teams will play at TD Place June 17.
“They threw us into the fire right away,” said LaPolice. “We’ll be ready to play, we’ll have a game plan.
OUR BALLS ARE BIGGER THAN THE NFL
The Canadian Press
TORONTO — The CFL and CFL Players' Association broke off negotiations on a new collective bargaining agreement Saturday.
The move comes after the two sides met for roughly 16 hours into the night Friday, then returned to the bargaining table Saturday morning. The current agreement, reached in 2019 and amended last year to allow the league to stage a 14-game campaign, is slated to expire at 12 a.m. ET on Sunday.
It’s unclear when the two sides will meet again. Training camps are scheduled to open Sunday but the union has directed players from seven of of the CFL's nine teams to participate in a work stoppage beginning at 12:01 a.m. ET on Sunday.
Edmonton Elks and Calgary Stampeders players will report to camp but will join the work stoppage once provincial labour laws allow. And while the union says Montreal Alouettes players won’t report Sunday, there's confusion regarding whether Quebec labour laws would put them in a legal strike position.
In a letter to CFL players that was posted on the league's website, commissioner Randy Ambrosie outlined the offer that was tabled to the union Saturday. He said the deal, which covers seven years, boosts total player compensation "by more than $24 million over the term of the agreement – plus an opportunity to share in revenue increases as we successfully work together to grow the league."
He added it "protects jobs for Canadian players, the bedrock of the CFL. It offers partially guaranteed contracts, for the first time in our league’s history. It recognizes the contribution of veteran Americans, with a new opportunity to extend their careers with their team, without restricting free agency in any way."
Other details of the offer include:
_ Two increases in the league’s minimum salary, which was $65,000 last season.
_ $18.9 million in total guaranteed increases to the salary cap league-wide.
_ $5.94 million in guaranteed compensation paid for community outreach and promotional appearances league-wide.
_ An opportunity for 25 per cent of all revenue growth over an agreed upon threshold to be added to the salary cap starting in 2023.
_ Clubs can re-sign their veterans to partially guaranteed contracts, a first for the CFL.
_ A club can choose one American player (non-quarterback), who has been in the league for at least four years or played with the same team for at least three years, who would be considered a Nationalized American.
_ The Nationalized American would count as a National on the roster, joining 20 or 21 Canadians who also count as Nationals on the roster.
_ Each roster would have a minimum of seven National starters. This would include at least six Canadian players. The seventh starter could be either the Nationalized American or an additional Canadian.
_ The roster would also include three quarterbacks of any nationality, 19 Americans and up to two Global players.
_ A starting Canadian quarterback would count as a National (Canadian).
_ These roster changes would kick in as of 2023.
_ The minimum salary would increase to $70,000 in 2023 and $75,000 in 2027.
_ An updated code of conduct that applies to all members of the CFL community, including fans, instead of just players.
_ A CFLPA seat on the board of CFL ventures, the commercial arm of the league to allow for all to work on marketing the CFL and building its business.
"It's designed to build a true partnership with you, our talented, hard-working, community minded CFL players," Ambrosie wrote. "This is a win-win offer.
"It creates a stronger partnership, so we can work together to further improve our game and build our business. And it comes at a critical time. Our league, our clubs, and especially our players have been through so much during the pandemic. We turned the corner in 2021, working together to get back on the field. Now we have an opportunity to accelerate towards a brighter future.
"Let’s seize that opportunity, together."
In a memo to players, the union said that the league was trying to undermine the CFLPA bargaining committee.
"You have or will receive an email from your Club outlining the League's spin on the breakdown of bargaining," the memo read. "We had tabled a counter offer to the League's 'take it or leave it offer' this afternoon. Instead of using the time to consider our counter proposals the league, instead, took the time to craft the communication you just received.
"When we returned to the bargaining table the league informed us they are walking away from the bargaining table and that they would be communicating directly to you. This is an aggressive and crass effort to try to undermine your Players’ Association Bargaining Committee."
The memo also mentioned that the CFL purposefully walked away from the bargaining table to "try to interfere in our internal structure."
Despite their issues with the league's messaging, the union appears ready to resume negotiations.
"We expressed our regret at the league’s decision and told them we are ready to return to the table whenever they are prepared to negotiate in good faith."
Former Montreal Alouette Marc-Olivier Brouillette took to social media to support the players and union.
"Stay strong and united," he tweeted. "You're worth a lot more than you think. @CFLPA"
The league and union resumed negotiations last Wednesday, six days after the CFLPA rejected the CFL's first proposal.
The lone previous CFL strike came in 1974. The labour situation was resolved before the start of the season that year.
The 2022 regular season is scheduled to begin June 9.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 14, 2022.
Dan Ralph, The Canadian Press
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