Conflicting reports regarding Eskimos laying off staff amid COVID-19 pandemic

The Edmonton Eskimos have cut payroll amid the coronavirus pandemic.

According to TSN reporter Farhan Lalji, the Eskimos let staffers know on Friday.

The #Eskimos are the latest team to lay off front office and football operations staff. No coaches were effected, thus far. Staff was informed today. @TSN_Sports @TSN1260 @CFLonTSN

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— Farhan Lalji (@FarhanLaljiTSN) April 3, 2020

Edmonton president Chris Presson is in his first off-season with the Esks and it’s been anything but business as usual. Presson spent five years as president of the Arizona Rattlers in the Indoor Football League.

The Eskimos are the latest team following the CFL’s decision to postpone the start of 2020 training camps to layoff people within the organization. Montreal president Mario Cecchini said his team had no other choice but to take important measures.

Meanwhile, the Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation has let Stampeders employees know they will be taking pay cuts.

The financial impact of COVID-19 is being felt around the CFL. However, contrary to Lalji’s report, Global Edmonton’s Quinn Phillips reports no front office staff or coaches, contractors have been let go.

https://twitter.com/QJPhillips/status/1246563182811938816?s=20

According to the man himself, the Esks parted ways with director of player personnel David Turner. He joined Edmonton after spending the 2017 and 2018 seasons as the BLESTO scout for the NFL’s Carolina Panthers with 10 seasons of NFL experience.

I believe God only throws things at you he feels you can handle. Right now God is asking all of us to handle a lot. #stay_home #be_safe #be_responsible #covid19 #social_distancing pic.twitter.com/nYhkhXuRNo

— David Turner (@D_Turner47) April 5, 2020

Turns out there was truth to the report by Lalji originally and the Eskimos’ front office football operations staff has been impacted by the coronavirus crisis.