Toronto Argonauts

Argos release Canadian OL Chris Van Zeyl, avoid $40K report and pass bonus

by
Justin Dunk
May 18, 2019

Photo courtesy: Scott Grant/CFLPhotoArchive.com

The Toronto Argonauts have released Canadian offensive tackle Chris Zeyl just before he was set to receive a $40,000 report and pass bonus.

The 35-year-old, who played 10 seasons with the Argos, was one of the highest paid offensive linemen in the league. Van Zeyl was earning in the neighbourhood of $230,000 a season on the three-year contract extension he signed in January of 2017.

Veteran CFL players often have bonuses due when they report to training camp and pass their physicals. That’s set to happen today (Saturday) with main camp opening on Sunday. In 2019, off-season bonuses were delayed until a new CBA was ratified but that could happen as soon as next week.

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With the new collective bargaining agreement set to see the salary cap jump by just $50,000 this season, a number of CFL teams are potentially going to find themselves in a salary cap squeeze. If a team wants to save cap money now, releasing veterans who are due a bonus is one way to do it.

Justin Dunk

Football insider, reporter and analyst.