jerrym
05-23-2019, 03:48 AM
Redblack's Canadian DB is concerned that the CFL may be trying to reduce the number of Canadians in the league, although he feels the effects will be primarily on the next generation of players. However, some think it was just a negotiation tactic.
Antoine Pruneau is fired up, angered at what he feels is an attempt by the Canadian Football League to become a little less Canadian in its identity. The Ottawa Redblacks defensive back is about as loyal to his teamand to the CFL as it gets, but the talks that led to a collective bargaining agreement — a three-year deal between the league and its players which was ratified on Wednesday — left a bitter taste in his mouth. By league rules, teams must have seven Canadian starters combined on offence and defence, with a minimum of 21 Canadians on the roster. At least early in talks between the CFL and CFLPA, it was floated out there that the league may settle for less Canadians on each team, maybe dropping the minimum number of national starters to five.
“I see pressure from the league to take Canadians out of this league; it makes no sense to me,” said Pruneau. “It was brought up (in the CBA talks). I think it’s the league, I don’t think it’s the owners. I was pissed off (when I heard that), but I trusted the people that were there to protect it. I don’t know why anybody would try to take Canadians out of the game. Was it a negotiation tactic or was it really something the league wants? I’m sick of hearing it, I don’t think it’s right. I have a lot of American friends on this team and they help make this league great, they make our product better, but we still need Canadians in this game. We need rules in place to protect the Canadian product. Every fan I talk to wants to see local product. Their stadiums are going to be empty if they don’t put Canadians on the field. The reality is any changes probably won’t affect me, but it’ll affect the next generation of players. The fact there is a next level gives motivation to kids to keep grinding when they have to go to school and manage football at the same time. Twenty-one (Canadian players on each roster), not even half the team, is a good number. They shouldn’t change it unless they want to increase it.” ...
Nicolas Boulay, a player rep for the Montreal Alouettes, signed with the Redblacks as a free agent in the off-season. He said he was caught off guard when it leaked out that the CFL would even consider rosters with less Canadians. “I was completely shocked,” he said. “If anything, I thought we would move up — maybe to eight Canadian starters. There was also a proposal to make an American that goes through the (U Sports) program considered a Canadian — so it was actually (potentially) less than five (Canadian) starters. We wanted to take a stand on the Canadian ratio thing, this is the Canadian Football League. The talent in Canada is getting better and better. It’s important we keep that ratio – if not make it even larger.” ...
Of course, it’s possible the CFL never really intended to push through anything that includes less Canadians. Sometimes that’s just the way negotiations work. “From what we’ve heard, it was never really an issue that was tabled,” said Redblacks running back Brendan Gillanders. “We don’t know really how that got out into the media. It’s been a long-time issue — American players vs. Canadian players. There are Canadians on the negotiating committee, there are Americans on the negotiating committee and this worked out the way it should.” ...
Asked if the CBA is a good deal for the players, Pruneau said: “I’m confused. I don’t know. I don’t think it’s the right deal, I don’t think it’s a fair deal. Is it the only deal we can get? Possibly. But I’m not positive about it.”
Gillanders said: “It lets us all concentrate on football. All that background stuff is done.”
https://ottawasun.com/sports/football/cfl/ottawa-redblacks/redblacks-db-antoine-pruneau-worried-cfl-trying-to-push-canadians-out
Antoine Pruneau is fired up, angered at what he feels is an attempt by the Canadian Football League to become a little less Canadian in its identity. The Ottawa Redblacks defensive back is about as loyal to his teamand to the CFL as it gets, but the talks that led to a collective bargaining agreement — a three-year deal between the league and its players which was ratified on Wednesday — left a bitter taste in his mouth. By league rules, teams must have seven Canadian starters combined on offence and defence, with a minimum of 21 Canadians on the roster. At least early in talks between the CFL and CFLPA, it was floated out there that the league may settle for less Canadians on each team, maybe dropping the minimum number of national starters to five.
“I see pressure from the league to take Canadians out of this league; it makes no sense to me,” said Pruneau. “It was brought up (in the CBA talks). I think it’s the league, I don’t think it’s the owners. I was pissed off (when I heard that), but I trusted the people that were there to protect it. I don’t know why anybody would try to take Canadians out of the game. Was it a negotiation tactic or was it really something the league wants? I’m sick of hearing it, I don’t think it’s right. I have a lot of American friends on this team and they help make this league great, they make our product better, but we still need Canadians in this game. We need rules in place to protect the Canadian product. Every fan I talk to wants to see local product. Their stadiums are going to be empty if they don’t put Canadians on the field. The reality is any changes probably won’t affect me, but it’ll affect the next generation of players. The fact there is a next level gives motivation to kids to keep grinding when they have to go to school and manage football at the same time. Twenty-one (Canadian players on each roster), not even half the team, is a good number. They shouldn’t change it unless they want to increase it.” ...
Nicolas Boulay, a player rep for the Montreal Alouettes, signed with the Redblacks as a free agent in the off-season. He said he was caught off guard when it leaked out that the CFL would even consider rosters with less Canadians. “I was completely shocked,” he said. “If anything, I thought we would move up — maybe to eight Canadian starters. There was also a proposal to make an American that goes through the (U Sports) program considered a Canadian — so it was actually (potentially) less than five (Canadian) starters. We wanted to take a stand on the Canadian ratio thing, this is the Canadian Football League. The talent in Canada is getting better and better. It’s important we keep that ratio – if not make it even larger.” ...
Of course, it’s possible the CFL never really intended to push through anything that includes less Canadians. Sometimes that’s just the way negotiations work. “From what we’ve heard, it was never really an issue that was tabled,” said Redblacks running back Brendan Gillanders. “We don’t know really how that got out into the media. It’s been a long-time issue — American players vs. Canadian players. There are Canadians on the negotiating committee, there are Americans on the negotiating committee and this worked out the way it should.” ...
Asked if the CBA is a good deal for the players, Pruneau said: “I’m confused. I don’t know. I don’t think it’s the right deal, I don’t think it’s a fair deal. Is it the only deal we can get? Possibly. But I’m not positive about it.”
Gillanders said: “It lets us all concentrate on football. All that background stuff is done.”
https://ottawasun.com/sports/football/cfl/ottawa-redblacks/redblacks-db-antoine-pruneau-worried-cfl-trying-to-push-canadians-out