In the wake of a statement from Toronto running back James Wilder Jr. that he would sit out next season and a blistering piece from Toronto defensive end Victor Butler over their inability to pursue NFL opportunities, TSN’s Dave Naylor has some thoughts from CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie on the subject.
Spoke recently to CFL commissioner @RandyAmbrosie about some teams making handshake arrangements to allow some players to leave contracts early for NFL tryouts, while other teams did not. He clearly wants consistency across the league. Here is his quote 1/2
— David William Naylor (@TSNDaveNaylor) January 26, 2018
Ambrosie: "I don’t want to be a league of side deals and look amateurish. We’re better than that. This is one of those topics worthy of some real healthy discussion, and I understand the pros and cons but I think we all agree we should follow the same set of rules.” #CFL
— David William Naylor (@TSNDaveNaylor) January 26, 2018
The CFL did have a mechanism designed to address the issue: the so-called “option window.” Starting in 1997, the CFL allowed players a two-month period in the final or option year of their contract to work out for and potentially sign with NFL teams. It continued until 2012 when it was phased out as part of the collective bargaining process.
Given that Ambrosie and the league can’t prevent teams some releasing players as they fit, the most logical solution would be to provide a mechanism that would allow players to pursue the NFL while still under contract in the CFL. Given that’s a function of the collective bargaining the CFLPA would have to be involved.
At any rate, it would seem as though Wilder and Butler have sparked a much-needed discussion that could help players and the league’s credibility in the long run.
