New TV money and the next CBA

[KCargosfan]

Interesting topic on the cfl.ca board on what the new CBA deal should be in 2014 with the new TV money. Thoughts on what you would like to see?

Assuming the salary cap rises to roughly $5 million per team, I would like to see the lower end lifted up.

Increase the minimum salary to $55K (from current $45K) and increase the practice roster money from $500 a week to $700. Arena League players make $830 a week, so giving our practice roster guys an extra $200 a week shouldn't be too much to ask.

I also wouldn't mind seeing a maximum salary of $500K, so the quarterbacks don't see all the benefit from the new TV money. Owners would be forced to spread the money around.

Playoff money should also go up:

$4K for Division semifinals

$6K for Division Finals

$10K for Grey Cup loser

$20K for Grey Cup winner

[Argo57]

Interesting topic on the cfl.ca board on what the new CBA deal should be in 2014 with the new TV money. Thoughts on what you would like to see?

Assuming the salary cap rises to roughly $5 million per team, I would like to see the lower end lifted up.

Increase the minimum salary to $55K (from current $45K) and increase the practice roster money from $500 a week to $700.


Arena League players make $830 a week, so giving our practice roster guys an extra $200 a week shouldn't be too much to ask.

I also wouldn't mind seeing a maximum salary of $500K, so the quarterbacks don't see all the benefit from the new TV money. Owners would be forced to spread the money around.

Playoff money should also go up:

$4K for Division semifinals

$6K for Division Finals

$10K for Grey Cup loser

$20K for Grey Cup winner

CFL players are dedicated pros, approachable and do more than their fair share of community work.
Careers are short and they take a beating, hopefully the league and the team owners give them their fair share financially
with this new TV deal.
The league has much greater financial stability than in the recent past, should translate to more talent coming north!!!

[argotom]

I think it's time to go back to a franchise player rule plus of course, the salary cap has to increase to a minimum $5M and also the roster size to 50 players.

[Invader]

<tbody>



</tbody>




<tbody>
First Place Standing (Bye)
$3,400-->$4,000


Semi-Final Participation
$3,400-->$4,000


Division Championship Participation
$3,600-->$4,500



Grey Cup Runner-up
$8,000-->$10,000


Grey Cup Winner
$16,000-->$20,000

</tbody>



<tbody>
Minimum salary
$50,000


Salary Cap - maximum
$5,000,000


Salary Cap - minimum
$4,500,000









</tbody>


Another idea is to exempt a portion of a veteran's salaries which count towards the Cap. For example, an 8-yr vet would have 10% exempt; 9-yr 15%; 10-yr 20%; 11-yr 25%; +12-yr 30% exempt. This is designed to allow teams to keep veteran players and promote more continuity on the roster. Teams could choose to re-sign veteran players and exceed the salary cap (with a portion of veteran's salaries being exempt). Budget-conscious teams could still release older players and go with younger, cheaper players and help control spending. So the Cap could be kept the same at $4.5 million, but with some teams exceeding the Cap by 10%-20% if they keep more veteran players.

[KCargosfan]

<tbody>



</tbody>





<tbody>
First Place Standing (Bye)
$3,400-->$4,000


Semi-Final Participation
$3,400-->$4,000


Division Championship Participation
$3,600-->$4,500


Grey Cup Runner-up
$8,000-->$10,000


Grey Cup Winner
$16,000-->$20,000

</tbody>




<tbody>
Minimum salary
$50,000


Salary Cap - maximum
$5,000,000


Salary Cap - minimum
$4,500,000









</tbody>



Another idea is to exempt a portion of a veteran's salaries which count towards the Cap. For example, an 8-yr vet would have 10% exempt; 9-yr 15%; 10-yr 20%; 11-yr 25%; +12-yr 30% exempt. This is designed to allow teams to keep veteran players and promote more continuity on the roster. Teams could choose to re-sign veteran players and exceed the salary cap (with a portion of veteran's salaries being exempt). Budget-conscious teams could still release older players and go with younger, cheaper players and help control spending. So the Cap could be kept the same at $4.5 million, but with some teams exceeding the Cap by 10%-20% if they keep more veteran players.

Don't really like the veteran idea but it is interesting.

[Midnight Blue]

I think it's time to go back to a franchise player rule plus of course, the salary cap has to increase to a minimum $5M and also the roster size to 50 players.


I also really like the idea of a "franchise player", and also like all of the salary ideas presented on this thread;

they seem to make brilliant sense to me.


I would venture to further propose, two franchise players; one on offense and one on defense ... sure, this would be a way of getting around the cap, but it's only two players. This would leave more money to re-sign more vets, and young stand-outs, and help with the continuity of team rosters, something which should be paramount in a league, and especially in a city, which hope to renew and increase fan interest. By the way, when did the "old" franchise player rule cease to exist, and for what reason (I assume it was negotiated away in some past CBA {collective bargaining agreement} --- or perhaps the owners nixed it for some financial reason --- such as league survival)?

[bluto]

-presuming the amount of TV money per team has doubled (or better) and that the CFLPA will get at or close to %50 of the revenue, that likely means that the SMS threshold raises by a Million or thereabouts... so reckon that it leaps to the 5.4M range

-i like upping the playoff/GC bonuses when the SMS raises too

-the veteran percentage for exempting a portion of salary is a great idea, imo. it keeps veterans on the same team which is great for them (in terms of job security versus a GM shipping them out for a cheaper rookie) and for the fans (who have often heard the knock about excessive CFL player turnover and movement)

-not sure i like the franchise player exemption... it would almost certainly be only used on QBs and it wouldn't be long before we have 8 rich guys earning way more than the rest of the players could hope to. perhaps if they made a franchise player's salary partially exempt...

[argotom]

I think that most of us agree how the pendulum has to swing the other way towards the players who have taken one hit after another during the very lean years.
Now with the big contract, the cap has to be increased by $1m, and I do like the franchise rule and the increase in the roster to 50 players playing.
While we are at it, increase the minimum salary and also the playoff and GC money.

[AngeloV]

Don't like the idea of an exempt salary. In the past, it has meant nothing but trouble for teams in terms of financial stability. I would love the cap to go to 5 or 5.5 million, but they really should also put in an individual player max of say 400k. What the league really needs IMO is to increas the salaries of players at the low end and not the high end. I like KC's suggestion of practice roster players to have their weekly wage go up to $700 from $500.

[paulwoods13]

How they divide up the money makes no difference to me, although I would support increasing the stipend for PR players to about $1,000 a week.

But instead of all these calls to increase the game roster to 46 or (yikes!) 50, I'd like to see them decrease the roster to 38+4 or 40+4. I know it will never happen because the PA will never agree to it, but I believe it would increase the entertainment value, and that dressing more players would decrease the entertainment value. May seem counter-intuitive, but I am convinced that one reason the game is not quite as entertaining as it was 20-30 years ago is the addition of extra bodies, who are mostly defensive specialists, and clock changes that were designed to allow for more situation substitution.

[AngeloV]

But instead of all these calls to increase the game roster to 46 or (yikes!) 50, I'd like to see them decrease the roster to 38+4 or 40+4. I know it will never happen because the PA will never agree to it, but I believe it would increase the entertainment value, and that dressing more players would decrease the entertainment value. May seem counter-intuitive, but I am convinced that one reason the game is not quite as entertaining as it was 20-30 years ago is the addition of extra bodies, who are mostly defensive specialists, and clock changes that were designed to allow for more situation substitution.

Couldn't agree more Paul. Too many specialists and substitutions, which IMO, is the reason that less plays are being run than ever before. While teams are making their substitutions, the clock continues to run.

[Mulder]

Don't like the idea of an exempt salary. In the past, it has meant nothing but trouble for teams in terms of financial stability. I would love the cap to go to 5 or 5.5 million, but they really should also put in an individual player max of say 400k. What the league really needs IMO is to increas the salaries of players at the low end and not the high end. I like KC's suggestion of practice roster players to have their weekly wage go up to $700 from $500.

Jumping the Salary Cap in one big go by 500,000 -> 1 million for the 2014 season would be a mistake. Yearly increases will should continue, and be in the neighborhood of 100K. That's for the 2014 CBA negations though.

[argotom]

How they divide up the money makes no difference to me, although I would support increasing the stipend for PR players to about $1,000 a week.

But instead of all these calls to increase the game roster to 46 or (yikes!) 50, I'd like to see them decrease the roster to 38+4 or 40+4. I know it will never happen because the PA will never agree to it, but I believe it would increase the entertainment value, and that dressing more players would decrease the entertainment value. May seem counter-intuitive, but I am convinced that one reason the game is not quite as entertaining as it was 20-30 years ago is the addition of extra bodies, who are mostly defensive specialists, and clock changes that were designed to allow for more situation substitution.


In this day and age of bigger, faster and stronger, you want to go backwards to reducing the roster?
That is not practical and frankly to me looks bush league.
Now with the 42 man playing roster you watch the games and see how the roster can be quickly depleted from game injuries and players in other positions have to move in.
When you consder how there are 3 QB's, usually 2 kickers and basically 1-2 subs for the entire O and D line on a game roster, that to me is razor thin.
On top of which I would like to increase the roster to 50 so that we can possibly carry and develop good Canadain talent, like a QB for instance.

[paulwoods13]

Now with the 42 man playing roster you watch the games and see how the roster can be quickly depleted from game injuries and players in other positions have to move in.
When you consder how there are 3 QB's, usually 2 kickers and basically 1-2 subs for the entire O and D line on a game roster, that to me is razor thin.
On top of which I would like to increase the roster to 50 so that we can possibly carry and develop good Canadain talent, like a QB for instance.

Your argument seems to be based primarily on the fact that injuries happen. Mine is on entertainment value. Injuries happened in the old days as well, and IMO it was more entertaining when starting offensive linemen also ran down punts, the same four guys pass-rushed all game, there was only one extra DB, etc. All these extra guys (a) slow the game down because the clock keeps running while they are shuffling in and out (and before the 20-second clock starts) and (b) mostly are used on defence and on special teams, where their primary function is to prevent big gains. So yes, I want to go backwards.

[paulwoods13]

basically 1-2 subs for the entire O and D line on a game roster

The Argos dressed eight d-linemen and six or seven linebackers most games last season. Not exactly "razor thin" at those positions.

[ArgoRavi]

I agree with Paul and AngeloV about the issues regarding roster size and the clock. Adding more players to the roster will only benefit the defence and special teams coverage IMO and result in less scoring and less excitement.

[argolio]

Nice to see everyone spend the CFL's money for them!

There might be a big jump in the cap in 2014, but I think they'll continue with gradual increases, though maybe with larger increases than the current agreement. I just hope both sides negotiate in good faith next year and come to an agreement quickly.

Pretty much agree with Paul on roster size, though I doubt they'll ever reduce it from 42. And with the exception of increases to minimum salaries, the established players deserve to share ALL cap increases.

[Rids]

Truthfully the easiest way to work in the increase thanks to the TV money is to make the PR not count towards it. That would free up between $350,000 to $500,000 immediately.

Personally I'd love to see one of the exemption rules that the NBA uses. The so-called Larry Bird Exemption has been key in the NBA for teams to re-sign "Face of the Franchise" type players. The player that re-signs with a contract has to be a long term rostered member and if you want to really be picky with it you just make the rule so QBs don't factor in.

Looking at this year's Free Agents a guy like Geroy Simon would still be a Lion with a SMS rule like that instead of getting traded. Otherwise the only contract extension that I see that fits the NBA rules would be Anthony Calvillo and if you drop QBs from being eligible then it's a rule that only draws in on occasion.

[Ron]

I'd like to see the new TV money go to reducing ticket price increases.

[AngeloV]

Truthfully the easiest way to work in the increase thanks to the TV money is to make the PR not count towards it. That would free up between $350,000 to $500,000 immediately.

Personally I'd love to see one of the exemption rules that the NBA uses. The so-called Larry Bird Exemption has been key in the NBA for teams to re-sign "Face of the Franchise" type players. The player that re-signs with a contract has to be a long term rostered member and if you want to really be picky with it you just make the rule so QBs don't factor in.

Looking at this year's Free Agents a guy like Geroy Simon would still be a Lion with a SMS rule like that instead of getting traded. Otherwise the only contract extension that I see that fits the NBA rules would be Anthony Calvillo and if you drop QBs from being eligible then it's a rule that only draws in on occasion.

Great points. The only one I disagree with is the Geroy Simon would still be a Lion. I believe salary cap had nothing to do that move. Buono has always been good at getting rid of players when he feels they are on the down swing of their careers. Allen Pitts and Kelvin Anderson being the 2 best examples.

[ArgoRavi]

Here is a fine column by Lowell Ullrich about how the league will be responsible with their new found wealth: http://blogs.theprovince.com/2013/03/29/uproar-cfl-taking-prudent-course-with-tsn-cash/

Although it hasn't been mentioned on here yet, this new TV deal has to make the Argos more attractive to potential owners.

[D-Gap-Willie]

Some very interesting suggestions/comments here about where this 'new' money should be spent.
My thoughts :
Salary Cap - increase to $4.8 million in 2014, and scaled increases thereafter - no need for an immdediate spending binge;
Playoff and Grey Cup bonus - generous increase with immediate effect, at least to the numbers mentioned in earlier posts;
Practice Roster - increase to at least $700, with increase in number to 9 ( no more than 5 imports) and put it outside of the cap

I do not like and have never liked the Franchise Player concept - I just can't get past the 'elitist' elements - I guess I am just too much of a team guy.


I love the idea of a Veteran Exemption, to promote continuity, both for the team and for fans. It should be simple, such as 5% of salary can be exempt in years 4 & 5, 10% in years 6 & 7, and 15 % years 8 and over - that is years with the same team !


It won't be part of the discussion with the CFLPA, but it would also appear to be time for the CFL to take an interest in non-player expenditures by the member teams. I start to worry a little when I see huge disparities like the size of coaching staffs - e.g. 12 in Montreal and 7 in Winnipeg ( and yes, I know that there are some other factors causing this in Winnipeg). There seems to be an ongoing growth in disparities around the league. In the interests of a 'level playing field', I am wondering what the CFL should be doing about teams having an operating budget guideline/cap ?

[Argocister]

Interesting read ..... I have no idea what number of increase will be allotted to player salaries but I'm thinking the CFLPA will want at least 50% of any TSN contract increase ( whatever the real number is ) ... So maybe players will get a larger increase the first year and the following 4 years smaller increases.

The CFLPA contract should follow the same number of years as the TSN one.

Increasing the base salary to be relatively competitive to the NFL practice roster salary may help in keeping some Canadians in the CFL especially right off the draft. It doesn't have to be equal, but at least close enough so the headache of leaving the country etc. will have some players do a double take.

Increasing the number of practice roster spots and the practice roster weekly pay is important. First, the number of roster spots should increase but only to increase the number of non-import players. This way the team develops more Canadians, and has a back up source of non-imports as the season progresses. The pay has to be better, as those out of school are too tempted to leave football for a much more financial stable situation.

I like the veteran bonus to the cap that some have suggested..... Of course for those with multiple years with the same team.

My 2 cents worth as fakeCohon.

[Midnight Blue]

The last time I used a fakeCohon, it almost resulted in a pregnancy.

(Sorry, couldn't resist.)


But I agree, that if there is money to spread around (a novel concept in the CFL), then it would be nice if the lower-paid players and prospects on the team, could get a little more. They need to survive too. Mind you, I am not a Socialist. Just a Football fan.

[doubleblue]

I'd like to see the new TV money go to reducing ticket price increases.

Well Ron we know that is one suggestion that won't be used. But it was the best one.