Comments on: Wilder Jr. gives props to Lions, Riders for allowing players pursue NFL

By: Terry

Terry — Thu, 01 Feb 2018 23:01:37 +0000

I suggest that if any player wants out of his contract then he should pay the fine that the league will send the clubs way as reported by the Commisioner today

By: Edward Leslie

Edward Leslie — Thu, 01 Feb 2018 22:36:41 +0000

I’m suspicious of Wilder’s claim that NFL teams have contacted his agent. The NFL is fully aware of tampering. Why not name those teams, JW?
Maybe because they are a figment of yours or your agent’s imagination.

By: David

David — Thu, 01 Feb 2018 19:48:34 +0000

Well I guess this means Wilder will be suiting up for the Riders when he comes slinking back to the CFL in 2019 after failing to make the NFL and toiling hard at 10 hour a day construction work. It obviously won’t be the Lions as Vancouver has even higher housing costs than Toronto. Regina is looking pretty good as long as Chris Jones wants a ‘me first’ type of player… oh, I guess he already does.

By: Quint

Quint — Thu, 01 Feb 2018 19:40:59 +0000

In reply to grnrider.

You’re so naive. If this was any other pro sport where contracts are guaranteed, I’d agree with you. I have no sympathy for players who hold out.

However, pro football contracts are not guaranteed and carry little guaranteed money. Teams can bail on a contract that they have second thoughts about on a whim. This is not a situation of equal parties negotiating a mutually agreeable contract, rather, this is a stacked deck in favour of the owners.

Both the CFLPA and the NFLPA have done a poor job for their members on this front. I do recognize that the oversupply of highly talented players gives the leagues more leverage than owners in the NHL/NBA/MLB or pro soccer have … but the unions have also done a disservice for their members by not properly making the unbalanced power in contractual relationships a collective bargaining priority.

By: 3rd and 1

3rd and 1 — Thu, 01 Feb 2018 19:27:54 +0000

In reply to Tiger man. The only members of the dishoner clubs are teams that hold back players. At the same time they release other players the day before they are to be paid up front money. Same teams don’t hesitate tto let coaches go to pursue their dreams. Hamilton and Toronto are the top members of your club Tiger Man

By: 3rd and 1

3rd and 1 — Thu, 01 Feb 2018 19:23:13 +0000

In reply to Ivan Diablo.

I see Ivan… it’s OK for a team to hold a player back from bettering himself. But those same teams can just up a release a guy the day before he’s due his up front money for the year. Or those same teams let coaches out of contracts to pursue jobs down south. A good example is the Riders 1 year coach wins a Grey Cup in 2007. Still under contract SK let’s him go south to coach a college team.
It’s a bush league policy and the good GMs never hold back a player that can move forward.

By: weslee

weslee — Thu, 01 Feb 2018 19:08:43 +0000

Why not make a rule to , that the NFL pays somekind of compensation to teams that have invested in players ?69

By: grnrider

grnrider — Thu, 01 Feb 2018 18:01:55 +0000

I really hope that the Argos do NOT release either player & that they then sit out the entire season. That is what they, imo, deserve. They signed a contract & don’t want to live up to it.
They say they had verbal agreements w/prior management but nobody from that management has stepped forward & said that they did agree to let them go. SO it is a he said, she didn’t! And a verbal agreement is not legally binding. Nor is binding on the new management.
The agent shld have explained to the players all about the exchange rate, living expenses, etc. And if he didn’t, shame on him. But the players are old enuf to have looked into the rules, the costs etc. I’m sure they both have a pc or tablet & know how to use it. Mind you since neither of them appear to not know a darn thing about finances, maybe they can’t operate a pc!
I’m tired of their whining. They s/h known what they were getting into. Either play or sit. Mind you, do the Argos really want them back? Can’t imagine that they would be good team mates in the locker room.
This is should NOT an issue about how much they can make in the NFL as neither of them had any opportunities last year or they wouldn’t have come to the CFL. Nor should it be an issue about letting them out of a legally binding contract. I don’t care that BC let Awe out – imo, they shouldn’t have. And the CFL shld come down on the teams that do let them out until such time as they again have a window.

By: Tom calder

Tom calder — Thu, 01 Feb 2018 17:55:18 +0000

Is the percentage of CFL’ers who actually stick with NFL teams so low, that it is a prudent decision to let’s them out of their cfl contracts, give the players their shot at nfl glory, With the likelihood that 99 percent of them Will be returning north? The Lions create good will and loyalty. The Argos create alienation and resentment.

By: Quint

Quint — Thu, 01 Feb 2018 17:26:44 +0000

In reply to Conan the Librarian.

I’m not dead wrong and I am not arguing a legal point. The Argos made a commitment. They should honour it. I’ve moved on from employers who have failed to do so with me and I fully endorse anyone else who thinks that someone’s word should count for something.

Ed Hervey handled the same issue with class and integrity with respect to Micah Awe. Jim Popp may be on solid technical grounds, but it’s not honourable.