CFL players don’t yet know if there will be a season in Canada, however, the league won’t allow any athletes under contract to seek NFL employment.
South of the border training camps have started and players are preparing for the season which is currently scheduled to kick-off Thursday, September 10.
TSN’s Dave Naylor reports: Hearing there is unhappiness that CFL players cannot pursue NFL training camp opportunities because they remain under contract to their CFL teams. The argument is that a league which isn’t paying players shouldn’t be able to enforce contract exclusivity upon them.
Calgary Stampeders linebacker Nate Holley would certainly be one of those players. The CFL Players’ Association filed a grievance on his behalf in February. Holley played in all 18 games last year where he notched 78 tackles, 22 special team tackles, one sack and one interception and for his efforts named the three-down league’s Most Outstanding Rookie.
Calgary released defensive back Tre Roberson and Winnipeg did the same for defensive lineman Jonathan Kongbo while both had remaining years on their contracts. If those players were set free it seems only fair the others who have pending chances to join NFL teams should be allowed to do so, especially amid the uncertainty in the CFL.
