CFL action coming up fast

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 04/05/2023 (945 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Can you believe CFL training camps are fewer than two weeks away?

I’m not sure where exactly the time went, but, man, am I happy the three-down game is right around the corner. In fact, rookie camps get underway on May 10, with full training camp for all clubs opening on May 14.

Every new season brings a new sense of optimism across all nine CFL cities. With how wild free agency was this year, I suggest you take a moment to familiarize yourself with the league’s rosters, as there was plenty of movement over the winter.

This column, CFL Rundown, will also be ramping up as the season inches closer, coming to you weekly once the schedule kicks off in earnest, with the first weekend of games running June 8-11. It’s not as if the action just stopped over the last few months; anyone who keeps up with the CFL knows it can be a full-year circus of fun and wacky developments.

These last few weeks were no exception, so without further ado, let’s get into it in the latest edition of CFL Rundown.

1 The CFL Draft went down Tuesday night, with the nine teams selecting 72 players over eight rounds. Timing wasn’t exactly ideal, as the annual event had to compete with a busy NHL schedule, including the first game of Round 2 of the Stanley Cup playoffs between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers. TSN broadcasted the first two rounds, with the remaining selections available for viewing online.

Every year there’s an argument that the draft needs to be elevated, by both the CFL and TSN, with some even suggesting a similar grandiose presentation to that of the NFL. It’s hard to get on board with the idea, for obvious reasons, including the players being picked aren’t exactly household names and, unlike the NFL, are unlikely to make an impact on their respective team until years down the road.

That’s not to suggest there wasn’t some solid talent to choose from, particularly in the first round, with Fresno State offensive lineman, Dontae Ball, being plucked with the first-overall pick. Interestingly, Ball was just one of two O-lineman selected in the first round, with just a total of three picked through the first three rounds.

2 On the topic of the NFL Draft, it was a record year for Canada, with five Canadians being selected. That’s the highest number of Canadian draftees in a single year, up from four, which has been done three times in history, most recently in 2021.

Syracuse offensive tackle Matthew Bergeron (Victoriaville, Que.) and Illinois safety Sydney Brown (London, Ont.) were selected in the second round, to the Atlanta Falcons (38th overall) and Philadelphia Eagles (66th), respectively. Rounding out the group are Eastern Michigan guard Sidy Sow (Bromont, Que.) was picked in the fourth round (117th) by the New England Patriots; Ole Miss defensive end Tavius Robinson (Guelph, Ont.) was also picked in the fourth round (124th); and Illinois running back Chase Brown, Sydney’s identical twin brother, was selected in the fifth round (163rd overall).

3 John Murphy has slithered his way back to the CFL, reuniting with the same club that was forced to fire him after he was caught on video uttering a homophobic slur and engaging physically with fans after his Toronto Argonauts were eliminated by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the 2021 East Final. Murphy, who was the Argos vice-president of player personnel, was suspended indefinitely by the CFL and, days later, relieved of his duties.

On Sunday, Postmedia reported that Murphy was back, though it didn’t state what his official title will be, nor is there any information available on the club’s website. There had been rumblings during Grey Cup that Murphy was trying desperately to be reinstated, but few cared enough to follow the development. Here’s hoping he’s learned from his mistakes.

4 With Murphy back, it appears special adviser Jim Barker will be leaving the Argos and returning to the CFL on TSN panel. Barker isn’t a bad panellist — he’s got a fountain of knowledge and is always gracious with his time — but could the CFL not get someone with a bit more youthful energy? In an era where the league is clearly trying to draw a younger audience, the 66-year-old Barker doesn’t exactly hit the mark, and you have to think there are several other options, including recent retired players, that would.

5 TSN has opted to trim the number of pre-season games broadcast this season, snipping its schedule from four to two. The two games to be aired on TV both fall on a Friday night, beginning with the Montreal Alouettes and Ottawa Redblacks on May 26, followed by the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Winnipeg Blue Bombers on June 2. Can’t see this as anything other than a cost-cutting measure, although pre-season in the CFL, with dozens of new names going in and out of the game, aren’t exactly seamless games to call. Still, it will be a shame that those unable to attend won’t be able to witness a majority of the action.

6 Speaking of witnessing the action, with Postmedia (including the Winnipeg Sun) making the decision to halt all travel, it appears the Free Press will be the lone print publication covering regular-season road games in the CFL this season. That’s a major hit to the number of reporters covering the three-down game in person. I feel fortunate to work for a newsroom that continues to see the value of being on the scene to provide readers with the kind of in-depth coverage they deserve.

7 The CFL has struck a new deal with CBS Sports Network on a multi-year deal that will begin with 34 CFL games being shown on the U.S. network in 2023. According to TSN’s Farhan Lalji, CBS will pay the CFL $1 million for the rights, resulting in around $100,000 being paid out to each of the nine CFL clubs. CBS has already committed to airing the regular-season opener, Canada Day and Thanksgiving Day matchups, as well as the full slate over Labour Day weekend. The rest of the schedule is expected to be released in the coming weeks.

8 Four CFL teams were slapped with fines for exceeding the salary cap in 2022. The guilty parties, in order from largest to smallest overages, were Winnipeg ($64,499), Toronto ($49,735), Ottawa ($11,994) and Montreal ($794). The punishment for exceeding the cap by a sum below $100,000 is simply a dollar-for-dollar fine, with that fine doubling, along with forfeiting a first-round draft pick, for any amount that exceeds $100,000. Given the puny fine, I’m not sure why more teams don’t go over. That said, it’s got to hurt a bit extra for the Alouettes, who, even though they were just hundreds over the cap, lose out on the fine money, which is evenly distributed among the teams who spent within the outlined budget.

Jeff.Hamilton@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @jeffkhamilton