Yikes! Lions 2024 potential free agents

[don corleone]

Would be nice if they added "Cap Hit" to the 3DN articles on player remuneration.

It looks to me like Brady Oliveira comes in at $180,000 rather than the $230,000 total package. No mention of Kadeem Carey similar to Dakota Prukop makes me think they did their best with the information they had.

[Toppy Vann]

There are plenty of bad GMs and bad contracts in all sports. I much prefer to see teams be able to flush mistakes than to have to pay millions of dollars a year to overpaid, underperforming players with no-movement clauses in other sports. It's a two-way street. Players have the NFL tryout window, which allows them to walk out on their CFL contract if an NFL offer comes their way, no matter how tenuous.

As for the CFLPA contract, only veterans are voting members. Rookies in camp are excluded. Thankfully, the league and CFLPA successfully negotiated a seven-year deal in 2022 that will keep the peace and the status quo through the 2029 season,. The salary cap increases each year, and players can earn a share of increased league revenues and negotiate promotional and marketing deals in addition to their playing contracts. Both sides seem happy so far.

True that with the players being able to walk for the NFL without honoring the end of their deals. It's a fickle argument to lament GMs not honoring contracts when the CBA forces 3 year deals on rookie Canadian picks and 2 year deals on American rookies. The accusation of 90% 1 year deals rings hollow too, particularly in BC where the majority of extensions and FA signings they've made over the past 2 or 3 years have been for 2 years with a few 3 year deals..

The ONLY issue I have when players who played well the year and if back with the team could still play well but gets released ahead of the off season money.
Did the GM getting a player to take less money actually sign the contract intending to release the player before payment.

The good faith duty in Canadian contracts is not clear cut as even if a GM were dishonest and knew this guy was going to be gone it's impossible to prove despite the duty not to mislead. If's a bonus of $15K, it would cost much more to try and win that in court.


I'm not sure if these off season deals are a bonus for the prior year OR as IIRC Hambone suggested once (correct me if I get this wrong) that it's sort an advance on the upcoming season.

[Toppy Vann]

Milt Stegall on his experience at the TC day 1.

He's also cognizant of not wanting to diminish those trying out by taking too many reps.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba ... -1.7198544

It was a good thing as it stoked up media interest something hard to do with hockey on - well not for the Jets lol.

Milt Stegall raw:

[B.C.FAN]

I'm not sure if these off season deals are a bonus for the prior year OR as IIRC Hambone suggested once (correct me if I get this wrong) that it's sort an advance on the upcoming season.

The CFL SMS is based on entirely on player payments during the calendar year. Contracts are paid out in equal instalments for each game of the regular season unless stipulated otherwise. Offseason bonuses are advances on that season's contract. If a player is released before or during the season, he keeps the advance payment, and it counts toward the team's salary cap. That is usually negotiated by players and their agents to ensure that teams honour contracts. Players who receive roster bonuses in January or February can feel more comfortable about their status heading into the season.

[Hambone]

I'm not sure if these off season deals are a bonus for the prior year OR as IIRC Hambone suggested once (correct me if I get this wrong) that it's sort an advance on the upcoming season.

The CFL SMS is based on entirely on player payments during the calendar year. Contracts are paid out in equal instalments for each game of the regular season unless stipulated otherwise. Offseason bonuses are advances on that season's contract. If a player is released before or during the season, he keeps the advance payment, and it counts toward the team's salary cap. That is usually negotiated by players and their agents to ensure that teams honour contracts. Players who receive roster bonuses in January or February can feel more comfortable about their status heading into the season.

Many examples in the new 3D reports. The hard money parts are usually the sum of signing or roster bonus, base salary, housing allowance and travel allowance. Performance or report and pass bonuses are not considered hard money as something has to happen for them to be earned. Once earned they count against the SMS.

One example of the signing or roster bonus being like an advance:
Schoen's base salary for game cheques is only $76.2K but he does get a $150K signing bonus plus $13.8K housing allowance plus $35K for non-football-related services. That adds up to the $230K hard money. If the signing bonus wasn't considered an advance then Schoen is barely making minimum salary.

What's fuzzy as DC alluded to is whether that $35K is a cap hit or that allowable Marketing money. 3D doesn't use the term "marketing" but given the article headlines are all about "Highest Paid" whether they count against the cap or not they are still part of the hard compensation that pushes the player into the "Highest Paid" rankings. The rankings are always sorted in order of hard money because the player could earn anywhere from none to all if the performance and playtime incentives.

Signing bonuses are somewhat irrelevant under the topic of player releases because they are paid at the time the contract is initiated. It's the roster bonuses for subsequent seasons that can push teams to release players prior to the end of their contracts. Those are there at the insistence of the players. Give they are usually scheduled to be paid a few weeks before free agency they force the GMs to fish or cut bait at the optimum time for the player to find a new gig should the team be unsure of retaining the player for the upcoming season.

Life would be far easier for GMs without roster bonuses as thwy'd have no salary commitments for the player until he was on the Week 1 roster. They could cut him at the end of camp when the rest of the teams really aren't interested. They'd rather see what they have in their own guys who made final cuts.

[SammyGreene]

Alexander Hollins spent over half of the 2022 season on the Lions practice roster. Today, he is the league's 5th highest paid receiver thanks to his new 2-year deal signed in early February. Only Geno Lewis and the Blue Bomber trio of Kenny Lawler, Dalton Schoen and Nik Demski rank ahead of him.

Cottoy's new deal leaves him 9th, just behind former teammate Dom Rhymes. Hatcher's new deal will have him among the top 10 when it fully kicks in next season.

https://3downnation.com/2024/05/09/the- ... 24-season/

5) Alexander Hollins, B.C. Lions (A)

Hard money: $223,800
Maximum value: $234,800

The 27-year-old was named a West Division all-star after recording his first 1,000-yard season in 2023 and cashed in accordingly on a two-year extension, which included a $70,000 signing bonus. Hollins will make an extra $1,000 if he’s named a divisional all-star, $2,000 if he’s named a league all-star, and $5,000 if he eclipses 1,000 receiving yards for the second straight year.

9) Jevon Cottoy, B.C. Lions (N)

Hard money: $193,800
Maximum value: $198,800

The six-foot-five, 230-pound target set all-new career-highs this past season and cashed in with a three-year deal that included a $30,000 signing bonus. Cottoy will also collect $30,000 the first time he makes B.C.’s active roster this season as well as $10,000 in non-football-related services to the team.

[Hambone]

Last year BC had 2 DL in the 20 highest paid DEs and DTs. This year they grouped them all together and listes only 15. Argos have the top 2 and 3 in total. Hamilton also lists 3, all in the top 7. Ottawa chips in another 3 and Montreal 1 giving the East 10 out of 15. Out West Winnipeg with 2, Calgary with 2 and Riders with 1 round out the top 15. With Betts and Menard no longer with BC and EE trading Ceresna neither have a player listed. That does come with a caveat. Hodge likely didn't have the details on Covington's recently signed contract when he put things together.

[Toppy Vann]

Interesting that players want the roster bonuses as there are instances where the older player gets released but if not for the roster bonus could still be a starter albeit higher paid than a younger player.

Would Jason Clermont be a case in point?

It's the roster bonuses for subsequent seasons that can push teams to release players prior to the end of their contracts. Those are there at the insistence of the players. Give they are usually scheduled to be paid a few weeks before free agency they force the GMs to fish or cut bait at the optimum time for the player to find a new gig should the team be unsure of retaining the player for the upcoming season.

Life would be far easier for GMs without roster bonuses as thwy'd have no salary commitments for the player until he was on the Week 1 roster. They could cut him at the end of camp when the rest of the teams really aren't interested. They'd rather see what they have in their own guys who made final cuts.

[SammyGreene]

Last year BC had 2 DL in the 20 highest paid DEs and DTs. This year they grouped them all together and listes only 15. Argos have the top 2 and 3 in total. Hamilton also lists 3, all in the top 7. Ottawa chips in another 3 and Montreal 1 giving the East 10 out of 15. Out West Winnipeg with 2, Calgary with 2 and Riders with 1 round out the top 15. With Betts and Menard no longer with BC and EE trading Ceresna neither have a player listed. That does come with a caveat. Hodge likely didn't have the details on Covington's recently signed contract when he put things together.

That sure sounds accurate regarding Covington. Would have a hard time believing he is making less than the $135,000 15th ranked D-linemen.

Baron originally signed for $190,000 in 2022 but then had his deal renegotiated after he got hurt prior to camp. Still was making enough to be a salary cap casualty and Menard’s release seemed to coincide with Covington signing

There has to be more there as the Lions have shed a ton of D-line salary with Betts gone too. And we have no idea what Robertson signed for or Tuhema’s new deal.