CFLPA executive responds to 3Down report on ratio changes

Photo courtesy: LinkedIn

CFLPA executive director Brian Ramsay has issued a response to 3Down’s report that the league and the union are considering a reduction in the number of Canadian starters.

Currently, seven of the 24 starters on offence and defence must be nationals but Justin Dunk reported Saturday morning that both the CFL and CFLPA are in favour of reducing the number of national starters to five after the issue was raised during recent labour negotiations in Toronto.

Ramsay says nothing has been agreed to between the union and the league on the issue.

Our bargaining team has been very clear and maintains that negotiations to date have consisted of process and exchange of proposals only. 2/4

— Brian Ramsay (@RamsayPHPA) March 16, 2019

The CFLPA and its bargaining committee continue to work hard to find solutions to address the many needs and concerns of all CFL players. We will continue to be as transparent and available as possible. 4/4

— Brian Ramsay (@RamsayPHPA) March 16, 2019

Of course, Dunk didn’t report that the league and the union had agreed to anything. The headline of the article says “could” and the piece says that a final decision hasn’t been made. What Ramsay doesn’t refute – and the focus of Dunk’s piece – is that the CFL and the CFLPA are both in favour of reducing the number of Canadian starters.

A couple of players chimed in as well.

Don’t believe everything you read

— Andrew Harris (@andrewharris33) March 16, 2019

This helps with America’s TV dollars that the league got to re-up as well…. pic.twitter.com/SNZWzskIOa

— Derek Dennis (@6BONECRUSHER3) March 16, 2019

https://twitter.com/7Bowman/status/1106993591954620416

Knucklehead reporter! Of course, if Bowman really thinks that Dunk – a guy with a reputation for breaking news and knowing stuff – is motivated by mentions and reTweets, he really hasn’t been paying attention.

The piece has generated plenty of response on Twitter and we’re sure to have a few pieces on 3Down on the issue. Things are finally starting to get interesting.