National Post (National Edition)
CFL players union says to prepare for the worst
Pandemic will affect training camp, season
The union representing Canadian Football League players is telling them to dig in for a possible delay to the 2020 season — or worse.
A letter from CFL Players Association president and Saskatchewan Roughriders linebacker Solomon Elimimian to all players acknowledged, “the only thing that is certain right now is uncertainty,” while warning the COVID-19 pandemic, “will impact 2020 training camps and the CFL season.”
“And I’d be remiss if I didn’t tell you all to prepare for the worst,” the letter reads. “No decisions have been made, but there have been discussions with the CFL around whether training camps can start on time, as well as what a modified start to the CFL season could look like.”
The letter goes on to say the CFLPA is exploring the eligibility of players to apply for employment insurance, “in the event that the season cannot start on time or at all.”
Reached in Victoria, B.C., CFLPA executive director Brian Ramsay stopped short of saying the union is resigned to the fact the season will be delayed.
“We’re not going to speculate,” Ramsay said. “We have ongoing discussions with the CFL. We’ll wait for a decision. It’s our job to ensure that our players are as prepared as possible for any scenario. And that’s what we’re trying to do, is provide as much information because there’s so much unknown right now.”
The uncertainty surrounding the start of the season hits CFL players in the same way it hits most of us when our jobs are up in the air — financially.
Unlike their NHL or NFL brethren, they’re not protected by million-dollar cushions. Many still earn salaries less than six figures, even if the average is approaching $100,000.
That average is driven up by quarterback salaries of $500,000, or even higher — Calgary’s Bo Levi Mitchell and Mike Reilly in B.C. reportedly earn between $700,000 and $800,000 per season, respectively.
The CFL minimum salary this year is $65,000.
So while the prospect of a professional athlete applying for EI sounds absurd, in three-down football it’s not.
“There’s concern in society in general,” Ramsay said. “And our players fall into that category, for sure.”
Of course, players haven’t missed any paycheques, yet.
The league has agreed to pay all off-season bonuses in players’ contracts, at least up until training camp.
Those who have bonuses due upon reporting for camp can’t be assured those will be paid.
“That would be the next conversation,” Ramsay said. “But we’re not speculating at this point. What we’ve agreed on is anything that would be owed in the off-season. Right now, we can’t speculate what the summer’s going to hold.”
Rookie camps are scheduled to open May 13, with main training camp kicking off four days later.
The pre-season was to begin May 24, the regular-season kickoff June 11.
The letter from Elimimian also dealt with player concerns about health insurance.
There’s no issue for players living in the U.S.
But for those living in Canada, a pandemic clause in their policies voids their insurance if they’ve travelled out of the country after March 13.
“If you were already outside of Canada when the pandemic was announced, you have until March 27 to get back to Canada — Hurry!” the letter says.
Ramsay said he’s not aware of any players still scrambling to get back into the country.
Another issue players are talking about is their lack of workout facilities, as team gyms and weight rooms are closed just like those in the rest of the community.
There’s no solution in sight for that hurdle, or for most of the questions that are pouring in.
“It’s acceptable right now to not have an answer,” Ramsay said. “I don’t think anyone looks twice at you and normally they do when you say that.”
The latest event to be postponed is the league’s combine and draft of global players. Off-season combines for Canadian players were already casualties.
So far, the April 30 CFL Draft is on.
The CFLPA has set up a website for players to get whatever COVID-19 updates that become available.
One positive coming out of the crisis: it seems the often-contentious relationship between the league and the union has been replaced by one of cooperation.
“The regular talks we’ve been having the last couple of weeks haven’t been contentious at all,” Ramsay said. “When a crisis such as this hits, you immediately think of how working together is going to be the best result for all involved. You think of the people that, day-to-day, are affected with families, within our membership and our league.
“And with some of the medical staff and responders and people that are dealing with this day-in and day-out, it quickly becomes a priority to work together.”
That only makes sense. Because any significant delay to the season is going to hit both sides like a blitzing, blindside linebacker.