Poker, CFL style

Posted: 1:00 AM CDT Wednesday, Jun. 4, 2014

POKER, CFL STYLE

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 04/06/2014 (4154 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

POKER, CFL STYLE

THE CFLPA pushed another offer in the direction of the league on Monday night but it was turned down with no counter-offer from the league. Commissioner Mark Cohon made an offer to the players last week calling it his best and final offer. Here’s a look at where the players are now, where the league remains and the major financial differences in the deals.

Winnipeg Blue Bombers coach Mike O'Shea talks to the team after the first half of today's practicee at the Investers Group Field. BORIS MINKEVICH / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS June 3, 2014

CFLPA’s LATEST OFFER

The key elements in the CFLPA proposal tabled Monday include a salary cap that starts at $5.2 million and rises to $6 million by the end of a four-year term. The first year’s cap would not include one-time ratification bonuses of $8,500 per veteran and $1,500 per rookie, which would add close to $400,000 in Year 1, making the actual cost per team in the neighbourhood of $5.6 million.

Offers exchanged last week by the players and league included a revenue-protection clause, which would kick in if league revenues hit a certain threshold. Once this number is achieved, the CBA must be reopened and the salary cap renegotiated. The players’ first offer was for a threshold of $12 million and the latest offer from the players moves the threshold to $18 million of increased revenue after three seasons of the new CBA.

THE CFL OFFER

The league’s offer calls for a cap of $5 million with ratification bonuses of $5,000 per veteran and $1,500 per rookie, which averages out to around $250,000 per team. The cap would rise at a rate of $50,000 per season over a term of five years plus an option and would have a similar revenue-growth protection clause that would kick in at $27 million as early as 2016 in the third year of the agreement. Last year’s cap was set at $4.4 million.

WHAT’S DIFFERENT

Year 1: CFLPA proposal calls for cap of $5.2 million and salary costs including bonuses in the $5.6 million range. The CFL offer sets cap at $5 million and salary costs including bonuses around $5.25 million.

Bomber practice action shot. RB Paris Cotton runs the ball. BORIS MINKEVICH / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS June 3, 2014

Year 2: CFLPA proposal raises cap by $400,000 to $5.6 million. CFL deal raises cap by $50,000 to $5.05 million.

Year 3: CFLPA proposal raises cap by $200,000 to $5.8 million and revenue protection kicks in at $18 million. CFL deal raises cap by $50,000 to $5.1 million and revenue protection kicks in at $27 million

Year 4: CFLPA proposal raises cap by $200,000 to $6 million. CFL deal raises cap by $50,000 to $5.15 million.

UP TO THE MINUTE

CFL players will be in position to strike in all nine cities as of Saturday. On Tuesday, the league extended a deadline to sign its latest offer until Friday.