It was a bit of a nail biter, but it looks like the CFL Players Association has voted in favour accepting the latest offer from the Canadian Football League.
As reported on the 620CKRM’s “Sports Cage” with Michael Ball, the Saskatchewan Roughriders were the last team to start casting ballots this (Thursday) afternoon, as the league tabled what it termed to be its final offer.
The deal has been ratified just hours before a deadline from the league, who made it plain they would lock out the players if this last “final offer” was turned down.
This latest roadblock to the start of the CFL season was the result of the players surprisingly turning down the original offer from the league. At that time, just before the start of full training camp for many CFL clubs, the union and its bargaining committee recommended the players accept the deal. It was rejected.
That touched off a few days of bargaining between the union and the league, which led up to today’s deadline from the league.
As reported earlier by CFL insider John Hodge, the deal “includes a ratification bonus worth approximately $1.25 million, up from the $1 million the league offered late Monday evening. It is subject to a player vote from the union membership.”
The report went on to say “The ratio will remain unchanged in 2022 — as was also the case under last week’s tentative agreement — before allowing two veteran American players to rotate with Canadian starters for up to 49 percent of snaps in 2023.”
At this point, how many players voted to accept the agreement isn’t known, and it is not clear if the CFLPA plans to release those numbers.
The final hurdle is the approval of the CFL’s Board of Governors.
The league is planning to start its pre season schedule Friday with Toronto at Ottawa, and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at home to the Edmonton Elks.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders will kick off their pre-season on Tuesday, with a home game against the Blue Bombers. It was re-scheduled from Victoria Day, in the wake of the players rejecting the original CBA.
