Rejected deal adds uncertainty to openers

CFL players rejected a tentative deal with the league, creating uncertainty less than three weeks before the scheduled regular-season opener.

According to a source, granted anonymity because no formal announcement had been made, the players voted against the sevenyear agreement reached Wednesday — four days after seven of the league’s nine teams had gone on strike.

The players’ union executive had recommended acceptance of the deal, which would increase the team salary cap (by $100,000 annually, starting next year) and minimum salary (from $65,000 to $75,000 by 2027) and give players the chance to have their final contract year guaranteed up to 50 per cent.

And while it called for a return to padded practices — one hour weekly during the regular season to a maximum of 12 — which the players oppose, it also extended medical coverage for retired players to five years from three.

Changes to the roster ratio formula, however, bothered many current Canadian players, to the point where there had been concerns whether the deal would be ratified.

What was unclear is whether players will immediately go back on strike, continue practising or be locked out by the league.

On Monday, CFLPA executive member Henoc Muamba said while the tentative deal had his support, if it wasn’t good enough for a majority of union members, he’d be prepared to return to the bargaining table.