Why the CFL'S teams, including Roughriders, can't afford bad season
Fans have little patience for a rebuild in a league that needs to sell tickets now
The CFL is a win-now league.
For the Saskatchewan Roughriders and their eight rivals — all of whom have experienced various degrees of financial crises — they don't have time to rebuild. Fans and free agents avoid rebuilding teams because they want to be part of a winning organization, not one whose championship window is closed for a season.
The Roughriders know that. Which is why they made so many off-season moves, starting with a new coaching staff, in an effort to flush away back-to-back 6-12, non-playoff seasons. Those pitiful efforts caused consternation among the team's fan base, with the usual threats of “I'm never again buying another Riders ticket” appearing on social media.
What a difference six months make! With the Roughriders completing rookie camp Friday and preparing to open training camp Sunday, 8:30 a.m., at Saskatoon's Griffiths Stadium, now everyone wants to know, “How will the Riders do this year?” Well, obviously, they expect to win.
Winning leads to bigger crowds. More tickets sold. More money. It's the main reason why CFL teams need to win now.
Even though the Roughriders have climbed out of the financial pit that almost bankrupted the community-owned franchise when it wasn't winning during the 1990s, there are nearby reminders as once-powerful
CFL franchises in Calgary and Edmonton have had worrisome crowd counts reflecting the Stampeders and Elks having tumbled in the standings.
In Saskatchewan, running back A.J. Ouellette, linebackers Jameer Thurman and Adam Auclair, and offensive tackle Jermarcus Hardrick were among the high-profile players who recently joined the Roughriders, all as prized free agents. None said “I want to be part of a competitive franchise and maybe win the Grey Cup in a couple of years.”
They were lured to Saskatchewan for a couple of reasons: The organization wants to win the 2024 Grey Cup and their belief is that new head coach Corey Mace can lead them there.
Teams in other professional leagues can afford patience while constructing a roster that could vie for a championship. Watch the Chicago Blackhawks as they try digging their way out of NHL purgatory behind budding superstar Connor Bedard, their first draft choice in 2023.
It's been fascinating to see the Minnesota Timberwolves, who had the NBA'S worst record in 2020-21, become this year's odds-on champions behind Anthony Edwards, who they drafted first overall in 2020.
In the NFL, where each franchise is so flush with cash from the league's TV deals that they don't need to sell a single ticket to be profitable, coaches and general managers are hired to rebuild a team's on-field talent. The process could take three to four years, although Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes quickly developed into a three-time Super Bowl winner, winning for the first time in his third season after being a first-round draft choice in 2017.
The Chiefs advanced a little quicker than normal, but it emphasized the importance of drafting well and — even more importantly in football — having a great quarterback.
CFL teams don't rely on the Canadian draft to instantly make them competitive. It's rare for a draft pick to have an immediate impact, partly because it's a big step from Canadian universities to the pro ranks or, if a player was at a U.S. college, he needs to get introduced to three-down, 12-man football.
CFL teams do need an outstanding quarterback to be successful. Mace, general manager Jeremy O'day and offensive co-ordinator Marc Mueller have repeatedly expressed their confidence in veteran quarterback Trevor Harris.
Harris will be 38 this season and coming off a campaign shortened by serious knee surgery.
It's obviously not a long-term plan to rely on Harris. It is once again — and always — a win-now situation in Saskatchewan.