Don’t Expect a CFL Season

After the game, everyone involved would have to be back in isolation until the next game, and everyone who works with them including stadium staff, hotel staff etc. So if anyone gets symptoms, then everyone goes into isolation for another 14 days.

For a league that is driven by people coming through the gate, how likely would it be that people would feel comfortable showing up in Mosaic Stadium with 33,000 other people sitting in close quarters? Maybe it would not matter so much in BMO Field in Toronto where you could separate season ticket holders easier with social distancing, but with concessions etc, you have to wonder how viable it is to run a stadium or anything like it that could get shut down in a minute if someone shows up with a fever or a cough?

The CFL is running through various scenarios as are other leagues and their player associations because not having a season has tremendous financial implications. Justin Dunk of ThreeDownNation reports the potiential for all CFL players to be free agents if the 2020 season is postponed or suspended.

CFL players would be paid for work provided and at this point, it is likely all the off-season bonus money has been paid out. With the XFL folding and not likely to be back, there could be a lot of players out on the market.

The CFL is not saying anything about the doomsday scenario because of potential legal implications and if the league is serious about working with the CFLPA, they will be discussing how to best navigate through this without the potentially unprecedented upheaval that voiding all contracts and then starting over would create.

The other factor to keep in mind is for the CFL to keep teams afloat that would be screwed without money coming in from the gate, concessions and merchandize. The Riders are in probably the best shape but the Riders are now asking season ticket holders if they want to consider options like refunds for season tickets.

As we move closer to summer and maybe get a better idea about how or if some restrictions will be lifted, the potential for the Grey Cup to not be played increases and while it is unlikely the Riders will get the 2021 Grey Cup, they might get the 2022 Grey Cup.

I usually work a midnight shift so I get the chance to go through the various CFL team websites noting the prices they are offering and while BC and Edmonton have closed down their on-line stores – and it goes without saying the actual team stores are closed, the rest of the teams are open and have even cut prices to reflect the lack of disposable income out there right now.

The Riders have cut their prices by 30 per cent which means you can now get a blank home jersey for $94.49 down from $134.99. For a customized jersey the Riders have reduced prices from $244.99 to $157.49, which is better but also a questionable markup when you look at what other teams have charged.

The move to keep the on-line portion going is probably best when you look at the options for these teams. At the very least it is income and for teams like Montreal, which seem most vulnerable to no playing, it is something.

The other thing to keep in mind is that some municipalities and jurisdictions like Quebec are asking for cancellation of all summer festivals, public sporting events and cultural events through to August 31. If that ban is adopted by the Province of Quebec, it would likely mean no CFL until Labour Day.

That is if the amount of Covid-19 infection in Canada is less than the US.

So in the meantime while the CFL figures out what options might work, the business side continues and there were some interesting developments this week.

The Riders released quarterback Bryan Bennett who has gone from Winnipeg to the Riders to Winnipeg and back to the Riders before being let go. Bennett was the third string short yardage quarterback who had 16 carries for 69 yards and one touchdown.

The Riders brought in James Franklin who had worked with new offensive coordinator Jason Maas in Edmonton in a prior stint. Harker is still on the option and the Riders signed Arkansas quarterback Justice Hansen.

Bennett may likely go back to Winnipeg who is a bit short of depth following the departure of Chris Streveler and Matt Nichols, leaving only Zach Collaros and Sean McGuire. The Riders seem confident that if Fajardo goes down, and he did have various injuries last year, Franklin could do the job in carrying the team leaving Hansen and Harker battling for third.

The NFL draft is coming up in a couple of weeks and the CFL draft usually comes afterward which allows teams to see which Canadians get drafted by the NFL. However, the NFL which has done its best to put up a business as usual front, is starting to get a bit nervous about the lack of access to college players, especially in a medical sense, before its draft and may look to push the draft back.

It’s unclear how that will affect the CFL, but if the NFL pushes its draft back and the CFL follows suit, then a CFL start of Labour Day will see an NFL Draft and a CFL draft following each other and having players made available later on than teams would like.

There is also some interesting things happening in Edmonton. The Eskimos announced they had signed receiver Armanti Edwards who started off in Riderville before going to Toronto and being a nice #2 receiver behind SJ Green. However, the Argos splurge in free agency and Edwards age and cost made him available. With Scott Milanovich, former Argo coach now in Edmonton, Edwards is a nice get for the Eskimos and his familiarity with the offense Milanovich wants to use will help him make an impression.

Meanwhile in Edmonton the team is being sued by former director of human performance Kyle Thorne for wrongful dismissal where he alleges he had been asked by Eskimo GM Brock Sutherland to keep healthy players on the injured list so their salaries would not count against the salary cap which was set at $5.7 million.

Black was getting about $100,000 a year and is asking for $615,000 in damages. The Eskimos terminated Thorne and said an investigation into his involvement in the misappropriation of team funds concluded he indirectly diverted funds from the team for his benefit.

This apparently came from an accounting error that was corrected the next day and was about $800. All of this has not been determined in court. It makes you wonder how other teams have managed to manage the cap and if there are grey areas in all teams.

So with no Combine, CFL teams have been forced to be innovative in evaluating players and with no real ability to do medicals. This may result in teams relying on film, contacts and play from last year. The Riders have the seventh overall pick and some mock drafts have the Riders taking Mason Bennett, a defensive lineman from North Dakota or linebacker Jordan Williams.

It’s an interesting scenario developing, especially if you think that maybe the CFL might have to rely on all Canadian players if American players are unable to cross the border. However, while the league and players consider all possibilities, it seems all roads end up in the same place – no 2020 season.

I hope I’m wrong.

by Greg Urbanoski

Don’t Expect a CFL Season

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