Well….contractually….the Argos do own him. So your first sentence is wrong.

Not sure why you’re suggesting people think he should be arrested. I may have missed something but no, that’s never come up and is a slightly aggressive statement on your part. If you’re talking about breach of contract and if that should be addressed in a court of law, then yes that absolutely can happen. See Chris Williams issue a few years back. Lots of breach of contract cases in the sports world if you have a look.

I don’t understand your last statement. Why play for less than $40k when he can make more money back home with his business? I would bet my house that James Wilder Jr likes playing football and that is exactly why. If all he wanted to do was work and make money he wouldn’t have signed. Nobody forced the guy to leave his family behind and play football for $40k in a very expensive city and risk injury and receive no compensation if he got injured. He made that decision on his own accord (probably because he likes playing football) and signed up for it for TWO YEARS. He knew he could get hurt. He knew he would receive no compensation if he did. He knew he would make less money than working in Tampa on his business.

I mean I could be wrong, but I really don’t think I am.

shaquile, congrats. You just set this comments forum back 60 years by trying to suggest “dozens of CFL fans over the past 2 days” are being racist. When in fact, you literally did ZERO research. If you did, you’d know that Wilder said multiple times he works construction to make ends meet. I think the “dozens of CFL fans” you’re referencing are owed an apology.

Please refrain from accusing people of racism when you actually know nothing about what you’re talking about. It’s really rude, and makes you look stupid. And now we’re discussing racism instead of Wilder’s contract. Congrats. Pat yourself on the back.

Ugh. Really…?

The issue isn’t roster size. If the casual fan knows 7-10 players (QB, RB, WRs, and a couple on D) that’s all you really need to know. Which is in and around the same number for other pro sports. But if said players never stick around for longer than a year then they lose their marketability. Can’t sign endorsement deals. People won’t buy jerseys. Etc. NFL doesnt have this problem (note – bigger roster size in NFL) bc these star/marketable players are locked up for like 5 years, generally speaking. Easier to commit to a specific player as a fan.

I don’t understand your thought process on now discussing penalty volume, standing around bc of ads/timeouts, and slowing the game down and how that has anything to do with roster turnover or Wilder’s contract in any capacity. Also don’t understand you trying to compare the speed of the CFL game to the NFL, or you referencing volume of holding/interference calls. Again, absolutely nothing to do with roster turnover or Wilder’s contract. If you feel like debating whether the CFL game is slower than the NFL then this is without a doubt not the spot to do that. That said, I genuinely feel you are in the significant minority if you believe the NFL runs a faster game than the CFL. But, this has nothing to do with roster turnover or Wilder’s contract.

Wilder said he is working construction currently. It’s on this web page in another article.

Wow – this Garney guy is clueless.
We all sign contracts when we take employment and we are all “free to quit” I would put my family first too. The sad thing is that he can’t work in his trade anywhere if he quits, any other worker that quits his job can find employment in his trade somewhere else.
He has no choice but to sit out the season.

The Argos don’t own him and he’s made the choice to put his family first. Do you want him arrested if he doesn’t play this year.
He’s obviously one of the smarter young players, he’s done the math and looked at the risk of injury and the zero compensation if he’s injured.

Why play for less than $40k US when he can sit out football and make more money back in Tampa with his business.
Would you leave your family behind and play for less than $40k in a very expensive city in another country and risk injury and receive no compensation if you get injured?

I’m with Wilder – he doesn’t have to play, the Argos don’t own him.
The guy is going to stay in Tampa and work in his business, maintain just one residence, no workers comp or support from the CFL if he’s injured. He’s made his choice that it’s not worth living in one of the most expensive cities in North America and play for less than $40k us

So why do you say “construction” I have heard that by dozens of CFL fans over the past 2 days?
You think that because he’s black that he can only do construction?? wow
Did you bother to look up Wilder on the internet? he has a clothing line and is a motivational speaker.

He has made his choice and playing football for less than $40k and abusing his body is just not worth it.
He is a smart guy, he’s done his homework and staying in Tampa and maintaining one residence and working at his business is worth sitting out.