Chick Flies South

[Blue In BC]

Make 'em sign a hard contract if they want to play here and only can leave when the contract expires .

Tell that to the players. Contracts are a one way street right now. There are iron-clad as long as the team wants the player. But just as soon as somebody comes along who might be better the contract isn't worth the paper is written on. Teams can get out from under a contract any time they want. Why should it be so bad for players to have an out even if they can only exercise it for a 2 month window. The teams still hold most of the cards unless the player actually cracks the NFL lineup and such players are the exception to the rule.

CFL teams sill can lose a guy for half a season +.

[Rammer]

Contracts are a one way street right now. There are iron-clad as long as the team wants the player. But just as soon as somebody comes along who might be better the contract isn't worth the paper is written on. Teams can get out from under a contract any time they want.

Not true with players with 4 or more years of experience. They're contracts are guaranteed for the last half of the season after Labour Day, or thereabouts. Even if the player is cut, his contract is guaranteed for the remainder of the season and playoffs.

Nobody would deny CFL players the opportunity to seek employment in the NFL. For very good reasons over the past 50 years or so, the CFL has mandated minimum two-year contracts for all players. But for the past 10 years, the league has allowed players to play in the NFL in the final year of their contracts...and this loophole is now part of the CFL players contract. I say the league should do away with this loophole and require players to serve a minimum two-year sentence in the CFL. It would do players like J. Hefney, K. Campbell or P.K. Sam no harm to play two seasons in the CFL before bolting south, and this would add some stability to CFL rosters. Players like Cam Wake, C. Wilson, D. Flutie, M. Sellers, W. Moon, J. Garcia, who played two or more years in the CFL, could still go on to have productive careers in the NFL.

NFL average playing career has an impact on any player wanting to play in the CFL. Once you have had a season to garner NFL interest, playing an additional season in the CFL doesn't always help you with a larger bonus (Cam Wake exception to this) and you could end up with an injury that would prevent your opportunity. Given the short shelf life, I don't blame a player from taking their shot after one season, although it for the most part doesn't help their CFL team, not themselves should they end up back in the CFL, as they are behind a half season. Most even put on weight that isn't CFL productive and arent' at their CFL playing weight upon returning.

[B.C.FAN]

Nobody would deny CFL players the opportunity to seek employment in the NFL. For very good reasons over the past 50 years or so, the CFL has mandated minimum two-year contracts for all players. But for the past 10 years, the league has allowed players to play in the NFL in the final year of their contracts...and this loophole is now part of the CFL players contract. I say the league should do away with this loophole and require players to serve a minimum two-year sentence in the CFL.

Fine in theory but it's in the CFLPA contract and the league can't take it out without consent of the players. And the players have the upper hand in negotiations this time around. The Saskatchewan Rouighriders brought in $30 million in revenue last year while the SMS cap was at $4.2 million. Players are underpaid and will want more money and benefits this time, not less. They're not going to give up the chance at a bigger paycheque without getting something of equal or greater value in return from the league.

[Hambone]

Not true with players with 4 or more years of experience. They're contracts are guaranteed for the last half of the season after Labour Day, or thereabouts. Even if the player is cut, his contract is guaranteed for the remainder of the season and playoffs.

All depends on years of service. I don't have the CBA handy today but I believe vets of 6 or more years are guaranteed after 9 games. It goes down from there with I believe vets of 4 years being guaranteed after 11 games have been played. Players with 3 years or less have no guarantees. Seems to me none of the recent signings in the NFL have reached the threshold of their contracts being guaranteed. Again they are only guaranteed after the team has played the specified number of games. Every year we see a veteran cut just before their contracts would be guaranteed.

[Hambone]

Of course, changes to player contracts will have to be negotiated. The CFL has 2-yr minimum contracts for a very good reason and should be enforced. While this may hinder some player's chances in the NFL, players who want to leave after one season shouldn't sign in the CFL.

That "minimum" isn't necessarily as it seems. The contract is not a 2 year minimum. It's a 1 year minimum plus the option year which is part of every standard CFL players contract be it for 1 year or 10 years. It's effectively a 2 year minimum to the team, but not for the player. The club holds the option, not the player and it isn't automatic. Can't remember the date but there is a deadline somewhere around early May where the team must tender an offer to the player to signify they are picking up their obligation for the option year. It used to be that they didn't even have to offer the same money. As long as the offer was 90% of the original salary the team had met their obligation for picking up the option. That was several years ago so that may have since changed.

[Belize City Lion]

Make 'em sign a hard contract if they want to play here and only can leave when the contract expires .

Tell that to the players. Contracts are a one way street right now. There are iron-clad as long as the team wants the player. But just as soon as somebody comes along who might be better the contract isn't worth the paper is written on. Teams can get out from under a contract any time they want. Why should it be so bad for players to have an out even if they can only exercise it for a 2 month window. The teams still hold most of the cards unless the player actually cracks the NFL lineup and such players are the exception to the rule.

I agree with Hambone. Contracts in the CFL hugely favour the teams, so this option year window is a small advantage that most CFL players will never enjoy. CFL owners pockets are not deep enough to give out guaranteed contracts for any length of time, so what are you going to do? Ask a player to sign a 3 year deal with no option and no guarantee? In theory you probably could offer players that sort of deal, but the reality is most young guys dream of making it to the NFL and will not what to give up that shot by agreeing to a long term CFL contract until AFTER they have tested the waters down south. If a player feels he is that good, he will not sign a multi year deal with any CFL team and what you will end up with is a bunch players signing 1 or 2 year CFL deals, then once they become an unrestricted free agents they sign on with an NFL team and, if that fails, start a bidding war in the CFL when they return after getting cut in training camp.

[Blue In BC]

Players used to sign deals with no option clause for decades, so that comment doesn't fly.

If they choose to not sign a 2 year deal, then they have no opportunity to showcase their talents in order to get a 2nd NFL deal.

[Tighthead]

NFL veterans (I think 4 years) who make the opening roster are guaranteed to be paid for the season. You see some guys cut and resigned in week 2 for this reason.

The NFL had a provision )and as far as I know still does) that a veteran at the minimum is no more of a cap hit than a younger player, who has a much more modest minimum. There can easily be a $400K difference.

[Hambone]

Be careful what you wish for. The majority of players who exercise the option year clause do not make the NFL and return to their same CFL team that year, often with a new long term extension. Only a small minority actually make it in the NFL. Option year clause or not those who do try will still give it a shot. Take out the option year clause and all it means is every player who accepts an NFL contract offer is free to sign anywhere in the CFL should they not make it and that is the vast majority of them. Buono has publicly stated he has no problems with players using the option year clause to "get the NFL out of their system". When they come back they usually are greeted with an contract extension offer. More often than not I think you see players trying it as soon as they can ergo under the option clause, than as CFL free agents. There is no substantiated evidence I can provide but I would suggest that with the option year clause 70% of those who sign an NFL contract return to play again for the same CFL team should they not make the NFL. Get rid of it and I would suggest that 30% would return to the same CFL team.

[Belize City Lion]

Be careful what you wish for. The majority of players who exercise the option year clause do not make the NFL and return to their same CFL team that year, often with a new long term extension. Only a small minority actually make it in the NFL. Option year clause or not those who do try will still give it a shot. Take out the option year clause and all it means is every player who accepts an NFL contract offer is free to sign anywhere in the CFL should they not make it and that is the vast majority of them.

Again I agree with Hambone. As much as we don't like seeing guys like Logan or Wake leave the Lions after the team has helped develop them, the reality is if they are good enough they are going to go south. At least the option year contract offers the team who invested in that player some sort of protection on their investment.

Take Logan for example. What reason would he have had to sign a 2 + 1 with the Lions if he really believed he could make the NFL was he got his highlight reel together? The only incentive would have been if the Lions had been willing to pay him more if he had signed a longer term deal. But for a young guy with his entire career ahead of him, why lock himself down for an extra year in the CFL if he really believes he can make the jump to NFL sized contracts next year? So most likely he's going to sign a 1 year deal or a 1 + 1 deal. But at least with a 1 + 1, the Lions benefit if the guy doesn't stick.

Bottom line, IMO, take away the option year escape clause I just think you see players wanting shorter contracts. That will lead to more free agents and ultimately higher payrolls.

[Blue In BC]

If players sit out for a season, the may also fall off the NFL radar and into oblivion. There are new rookies every season that the NFL drafts.

Would they really look at a guy like Logan if he hadn't of played so well in the CFL?

[Hambone]

If players sit out for a season, the may also fall off the NFL radar and into oblivion. There are new rookies every season that the NFL drafts.

Would they really look at a guy like Logan if he hadn't of played so well in the CFL?

Similarly the window of opportunity is very brief. Had Logan signed a 2 + 1 deal with BC I don't think he draws the same NFL interest this coming offseason as he did last offseason. In a league where most running backs are put out to pasture before they turn 30 Pittsburgh took a flyer on Logan last year as he was heading for 28. No matter what he might've done for BC this season I think they would be less interested this coming offseason just because he's one more year older and one more year closer to the end of the career expectency for a running back. For players who still have NFL aspirations then longer they are locked into a CFL deal the less opportunity they will have.