Argofans

gilthethrill wrote: ↑Sat Mar 28, 2026 6:02 am In the season opener last evening, the Birmingham Stallions defeated the Louisville Kings 15-13, in Louisville Kentucky. Canadian QB Taylor Elgersma was inactive for Birmingham due to a predictable work visa issue. Kings QB Jason Bean, who is on the Argos exclusive Negotiation List went the distance for the Kentucky based squad.
Attendance was 14,000 or so, but after the halftime entertainment, most of the people went home.

gilthethrill wrote: ↑Sat Mar 28, 2026 6:02 am In the season opener last evening, the Birmingham Stallions defeated the Louisville Kings 15-13, in Louisville Kentucky. Canadian QB Taylor Elgersma was inactive for Birmingham due to a predictable work visa issue. Kings QB Jason Bean, who is on the Argos exclusive Negotiation List went the distance for the Kentucky based squad.
Attendance was 14,000 or so, but after the halftime entertainment, most of the people went home.

ArgoRavi wrote: ↑Sat Mar 28, 2026 10:13 pm

gilthethrill wrote: ↑Sat Mar 28, 2026 6:02 am In the season opener last evening, the Birmingham Stallions defeated the Louisville Kings 15-13, in Louisville Kentucky. Canadian QB Taylor Elgersma was inactive for Birmingham due to a predictable work visa issue. Kings QB Jason Bean, who is on the Argos exclusive Negotiation List went the distance for the Kentucky based squad.
Attendance was 14,000 or so, but after the halftime entertainment, most of the people went home.

I can think of only one Canadian who has been able to get a work visa for a spring football league and that's Sage Doxtater. Given that he is Indigenous, it's possible that the rules are different for him; I don't know. I am pretty sure that Paris Shand was released two days after signing in the UFL due to the same issue. Elgersma is now inactive, earning $0, and 4th on the depth chart. I believe he got some bad advice here.

gilthethrill wrote: ↑Mon Mar 30, 2026 5:47 pm

ArgoRavi wrote: ↑Sat Mar 28, 2026 10:13 pm

gilthethrill wrote: ↑Sat Mar 28, 2026 6:02 am In the season opener last evening, the Birmingham Stallions defeated the Louisville Kings 15-13, in Louisville Kentucky. Canadian QB Taylor Elgersma was inactive for Birmingham due to a predictable work visa issue. Kings QB Jason Bean, who is on the Argos exclusive Negotiation List went the distance for the Kentucky based squad.
Attendance was 14,000 or so, but after the halftime entertainment, most of the people went home.

I can think of only one Canadian who has been able to get a work visa for a spring football league and that's Sage Doxtater. Given that he is Indigenous, it's possible that the rules are different for him; I don't know. I am pretty sure that Paris Shand was released two days after signing in the UFL due to the same issue. Elgersma is now inactive, earning $0, and 4th on the depth chart. I believe he got some bad advice here.

Actually Ravi, JJ Molson, a PK from Quebec who was drafted by Hamilton, participated in 10 games for the then Houston Roughnecks in 2024. He hasn't been heard from since & prior to returning to the Argos, PK Lirum H played 3 games with Philadelphia as a Punter under HC Bart Andrus in 2023.

ArgoRavi wrote: ↑Mon Mar 30, 2026 6:54 pm Thanks for that. I wonder how they got work permits and others have not. Perhaps it takes a while to get these and the timing worked out better for some of these guys than others?

gilthethrill wrote: ↑Mon Mar 30, 2026 7:08 pm

ArgoRavi wrote: ↑Mon Mar 30, 2026 6:54 pm Thanks for that. I wonder how they got work permits and others have not. Perhaps it takes a while to get these and the timing worked out better for some of these guys than others?

Honestly I have no clue. Could this be why no Canadian players signed with CFL US expansion teams in the 90's?

OV Argo wrote: ↑Sun Apr 12, 2026 5:07 pm

gilthethrill wrote: ↑Mon Mar 30, 2026 7:08 pm

ArgoRavi wrote: ↑Mon Mar 30, 2026 6:54 pm Thanks for that. I wonder how they got work permits and others have not. Perhaps it takes a while to get these and the timing worked out better for some of these guys than others?

Honestly I have no clue. Could this be why no Canadian players signed with CFL US expansion teams in the 90's?

Umm, no. That was because none /zero/zip/nadda were even invited to try out for those US teams and cause the Americans in charge of those teams either never heard of Canadian talent or else were CFL old boys who loved a chance to ignore them = gee what a shocker. Unless it was a big work permit issue and unreported or swept under the rug at the time.

Kinda interesting how the CFL welcomes American players with open arms - to the tune of a majority of CFL rosters; but Canadians wanting to play down there can have problems; pretty sure Canadian receivers Hergy Mayala & Rich Sindani both had trouble getting work cleared to play in the X or U or whatever the FL it was a couple of years ago ?