All CFL training camps open now with tentative agreement between league, union
It’s time — finally — for running back Don Jackson and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats to get to work.
Jackson and the Ticats reported for their first day of training camp Thursday. Camp was supposed to open Sunday at Tim Hortons Field, but Hamilton was among seven CFL teams whose players went on strike after contract talks between the league and CFL Players’ Association broke off Saturday and the past collective bargaining agreement expired.
But the two sides hammered out a tentative agreement Wednesday night. It must still be formally ratified by both the CFL and CFLPA membership, but Hamilton and the other six teams formally began preparing for the 2022 season Thursday.
“Let’s get it crackin’,”
Jackson tweeted Thursday morning.
On Wednesday night, Ticats linebacker Simoni Lawrence posted a video of himself walking down a hallway, tweeting, “Me reporting back to camp at 11:11 (p.m. ET).”
This marked the second strike in CFL history. The first came in 1974 and it was also settled before the start of the regular season.
Edmonton Elks and Calgary Stampeders players reported to camp Sunday because they weren’t in a legal strike position. They would’ve been able to join the work stoppage Thursday afternoon.
The B.C. Lions also opened camp Thursday. They have a lot of lost time to make up as they’ll begin the regular season hosting Edmonton on June 11.
“We’re not going to wallow and pout around,” Lions head coach/co-GM Rick Campbell said of Edmonton’s competitive advantage. “But anybody who knows football knows it’s a huge advantage (to have had training camp this week).
“And us having Edmonton (to open season), there’s no question they’re at an advantage with the time they got in and the time we missed. But it is what it is. We’ve adapted our schedule and we’re going to try to squeeze some more practices in here or there as we can and try to make up what we can.”
The strike forced the CFL to reschedule its opening preseason game. The Saskatchewan Roughriders were to host the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Monday night, but they’ll meet May 31.
The CFL exhibition season now opens May 27, with the Ottawa Redblacks hosting the Toronto Argonauts and Edmonton visiting Winnipeg. The following night, the Calgary Stampeders are home to B.C. while Hamilton entertains the Montreal Alouettes.
The ‘22 regular season will open on time, with Montreal in Calgary on June 9.