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In a wide-ranging interview with The Turf District podcast this week, team president Rick LeLacheur revealed that the organization will no longer be on the hook for any money owed to former coaches or personnel executives beginning in the new year.

“That’s all behind us now. At the end of this month, the Elks are clear of any penalties or carrying forward any salaries,” he said. “We’re absolutely clear.”

The league implemented a football operations cap following the 2018 season designed to limit and equalize spending across all nine franchises. Teams were originally allowed to spend a maximum of $2,588,000 on a total of 11 coaches and 14 other football operations staff, which includes general managers, scouts, equipment staff, and video personnel. That number was reduced amid the COVID-19 pandemic and later raised again, though it’s unclear by what amount.

Money owed to fired coaches and personnel executives continues to count against the cap after the team has severed ties, reducing the amount of cash available to pay replacements. Teams are allowed one “mulligan” — a fired contract that doesn’t count against the cap — every five years and can spread the amount they owe over several seasons, but organizational transitions remain costly under the current system.

Teams that violate the cap are subject to a dollar-for-dollar fine for the first $100,000 they go over. For violations over $100,000, teams forfeit a draft pick(s) and are fined between $25,000 and $250,000.

None have been hit harder by the cap than the Elks, who first fired head coach Jason Maas after the 2019 season and then axed general manager Brock Sunderland and head coach Jaime Elizondo following a disastrous 2021 campaign. Those moves created significant financial challenges for the club, but LeLacheur says he remains a supporter of the football operations cap.

“I believe in the cap,” he insisted. “Let’s face it, football guys will spend any amount of money they’re given. We know that. That’s in their DNA and I understand that because it’s their job that’s on the line all the time. I’ve been through a lot of teams going out of business and teams running out of money, so I was a supporter of the cap and believer in the cap.”

Current Elks’ head coach and general manager Chris Jones has spoken out about the negative impact of the football operations cap in the past and he is not alone. Former Saskatchewan Roughriders’ head coach Craig Dickenson claimed it has been a hurdle to coach recruitment and development, while Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ head coach Mike O’Shea recently ripped the cap for making it difficult for winning teams to retain and properly compensate their staff.

Despite his support, LeLacheur was willing to admit that the system has flaws.

“Experiencing it from the Elks’ point of view, it sort of penalizes those that have made big mistakes beyond the extent that it should.”

That punishment is now over for Edmonton and they will be able to make staffing decisions without being hampered by previous errors in judgement. That could mean some new additions on the sideline or in the front office next season.

“We’re a player in personnel and we’re a player in coaches,” LeLacheur stressed. “That doesn’t mean that we’ll spend all the money, we never spent all the money in B.C. either, but we’re not going to be penalized anymore.”

The Elks will open the 2024 season on Saturday, June 8 when they host the Saskatchewan Roughriders at 7:00 p.m. ET.

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The post Edmonton Elks finally ‘clear’ of football operations cap penalties in 2024: president Rick LeLacheur appeared first on 3DownNation.

This immediately led to online speculation that Mitchell could be dealt ahead of the CFL’s trade deadline on Wednesday, Oct. 5.

While it seems unlikely that Stampeders’ general manager John Hufnagel is considering a trade at this point — Mitchell hasn’t asked for one — that hasn’t stopped fans on social media from discussing how soon the future Hall of Fame quarterback could be wearing another team’s colours.

Here are six reasons why I don’t think Mitchell is going anywhere until the season is over.

1. Experience

Mitchell has won two Grey Cups as a starter with the latter coming as recently as 2018. He knows what it takes to win and will be an invaluable resource to Maier as a support system who can speak from recent experience. Mitchell should also be ready to step in in case Maier falters under the playoff pressure, seamlessly reentering an offense that was designed around his skillset.

2. Leadership

Mitchell is still a captain for this team and he remains committed to helping them win. He gives out the game balls after every victory and leads them through their postgame rituals. He arrives early every day to study film and prepare for his weekly opponent. After a decade in Calgary, Mitchell remains firmly entrenched in the team’s social hierarchy and has shown no signs of becoming a distraction in the locker room.

3. Jam

“Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned” is a good expression but it was written long before Bo Levi Mitchell strapped a truck load of chips on his shoulder. Mitchell has always been at his best when he feels motivated to correct a perceived slight, which is why the Stampeders shouldn’t risk the possibility of playing against Mitchell in the postseason. Remember when Henry Burris played one of the best games in CFL history to upset the Stampeders in the 2016 Grey Cup? Nobody in Calgary wants a repeat of that.

4. Injuries

It’s not unprecedented for CFL teams to lose their starting quarterback to injury in the playoffs and go on to lose a Grey Cup they were favoured to win: just ask the 2007 Winnipeg Blue Bombers or 2012 Calgary Stampeders. In fact, a fresh-faced Mitchell came in and threw the Stampeders’ only touchdown pass of that game in 2012. Calgary’s front office has a long memory and are unlikely to put all their faith in Tommy Stevens — who has only two career completions — as “the plan” should Maier get injured.

5. Limited return

No other team will have any interest in making the Stampeders better heading into the playoffs, so it seems reasonable to assume that Mitchell would yield a better return in the offseason. Hufnagel has never been shy of making trades and most recently secured a first-round pick for the expiring contract of Nick Arbuckle. If Arbuckle fetched that price in the offseason, Mitchell’s exclusive negotiating rights should be worth even more.

6. It’s the Stampeders

Calgary has made the playoffs for 17 straight years, which is the longest active streak in all of North American professional sports. For context, the CFL’s second-longest streak belongs to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at just six years. The reason the Stampeders always get invited to the dance is they don’t do dumb things. Getting rid of Bo Levi Mitchell right now, regardless of what comes back the other way, would be dumb.

I’ve been wrong before in this space — and I am positive I will be wrong again in the future — but on this, I remain very confident: Bo Levi Mitchell will be on the Red and White’s roster when the final whistle blows on the 2022 Stampeders.

The post Six reasons why the Calgary Stampeders shouldn’t trade Bo Levi Mitchell until the offseason appeared first on 3DownNation.

We’ve also listed the league’s other five teams and illustrated how they can still find a path to the playoffs. While some are more likely than others to get there, no teams have officially been eliminated from playoff contention — yet.

Photo: Bob Butrym/3DownNation. All rights reserved.

Winnipeg Blue Bombers

The Blue Bombers clinched their postseason berth several weeks ago and are now looking to wrap up the top spot in the West Division for the second consecutive year. The B.C. Lions are currently six points back with a game in hand and, with the teams scheduled to meet twice at the end of the regular season, it’ll take at least two weeks for Winnipeg to punch their ticket to the West Final.

As it currently stands, Winnipeg can only be surpassed by Calgary if they lose their four remaining games and the Stampeders win their four remaining games. This means they will clinch a home playoff game with any combination of a Winnipeg win or a Calgary loss, which could come as early as Friday when the Blue Bombers host the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Photo courtesy: Paul Yates/B.C. Lions

B.C. Lions

The Lions may have lost to Calgary this past weekend but that didn’t stop them from clinching a postseason berth for the first time since 2018. The club can also still finish as high as first place in the West Division, remaining fully in control of their destiny with five regular season games still on the schedule.

B.C. has back-to-back meetings with Winnipeg to close out the regular season and would host the West Final provided they win all of their remaining games. That’s easier said than done, but it’s worth noting that the Lions can finish in first place regardless of what Winnipeg does ahead of their two season-ending games.

Photo: Larry MacDougal/3DownNation. All rights reserved.

Calgary Stampeders

The Stampeders got a big win this past weekend and still have a solid shot at second place in the West Division despite having previously lost the season series to B.C. The team will host Toronto this week before finishing the season against three opponents with losing records. The Lions have a game in hand, but Calgary only needs one more win than their west coast counterparts to host a playoff game in November.

Though it’s tough to envision this scenario playing out, the Stampeders can still technically finish first in the West Division if they win all four of their remaining games and the Blue Bombers lose all four of their remaining games. This scenario would also require B.C. to lose at least one of their upcoming games against Ottawa, Toronto, and Edmonton, but it remains mathematically possible.

Photo: Bob Butrym/3DownNation. All rights reserved.

Toronto Argonauts

The Boatmen have quietly won four straight games, building a four-point lead over the Montreal Alouettes for first place in the East Division. They also won the only meeting between the two teams so far this year, though the season series won’t be decided until they meet again over the final two weeks of the regular season.

Toronto’s path to finishing atop the East Division for a second consecutive year is pretty simple: stay ahead of Montreal. That could be easier said than done over the next two weeks as the Argonauts face a pair of playoff-bound opponents in Calgary and B.C. The Argos can finish no lower than second in the East Division by virtue of their 3-1 record against Hamilton this season.

Photo: David Mahussier/3DownNation. All rights reserved.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders and Montreal Alouettes are currently on pace to make the playoffs, though they have yet to officially clinch postseason berths.

The Riders are four points ahead of the Edmonton Elks for fourth place in the West Division and have the added benefit of owning the season series between the two teams. They can still technically finish as high as second place in the West Division, though this would require monumental collapses by Calgary and B.C.

Saskatchewan is four points ahead of Hamilton for the crossover spot, though they will need to finish at least one point ahead of the Ticats in order to maintain that position. It’s rare that interdivisional games have major playoff implications, but there will be plenty at stake when the Riders and Ticats play at Tim Hortons Field in Week 18.

Photo courtesy: Scott Grant/CFLPhotoArchive.com

The Alouettes got a massive win over the Ticats this past week as the victory not only moved them four points ahead of Hamilton but also captured the season series between the two teams. Montreal also has a game in hand on the Ticats, giving them a chance to put even more room between them and the team that eliminated them in last year’s postseason.

As outlined above, Montreal can still finish first in the East Division with two season-ending games against Toronto looming large. They will need to sweep those two contests if they hope to win the season series as the Argos won the first meeting between the two teams this season way back in Week 1.

Photo: Larry MacDougal/3DownNation. All rights reserved.

No team has yet to be eliminated from postseason contention, which means there is still hope for fans of the Edmonton Elks, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, and Ottawa Redblacks. With that said, it’ll take something close to a miracle for any of these teams to make the playoffs.

Edmonton needs to win their remaining four games and hope that Saskatchewan wins no more than one of their four remaining contests. They also need Ottawa and Hamilton to continue to struggle, as the Elks would need to finish at least one point ahead of both teams in order to secure the crossover spot.

Hamilton’s playoff hopes took a huge blow with their loss to Montreal this past weekend. They now have to win at least two of their remaining four games to make the playoffs, though this would require Saskatchewan to lose all of their remaining games. Hamilton’s only realistic path to the postseason is to go 4-0 down the stretch and hope that the Riders or Als stumble along the way.

Ottawa has won a league-worst three games this year and their playoff hopes are bleak at best. The club is 1-1 against Montreal this season with two meetings remaining, so they could still capture the season series. Given the lead they’ve afforded Montreal and Saskatchewan, the Redblacks will have to go 5-0 down the stretch in order to have a serious shot at the playoffs.

The post These four CFL teams have clinched playoff spots (and how five others can do the same) appeared first on 3DownNation.

“The report of my death was an exaggeration,” Twain wrote to the New York Journal who had contacted the author to verify rumours of his demise swirling out of London, England in 1897.

Like Twain in 1897, the Stampeders of 2021 are also proving to be alive and well after back-to-back wins over the Saskatchewan Roughriders, and a destruction of the well-rested B.C. Lions moves the team into third place, a half game behind the Riders for second.

Ante Redemption

Ante Milanovic-Litre has taken some criticism in this space over the course of the season as his rushing offense hasn’t been quite what it has been in the past.

However, he made one of the plays of the night in this game as he got around coverage to block a punt with his chest late in the second quarter.

The ball did end up travelling about 20 yards before it was returned, but Calgary got the ball at midfield and were able to take a 10 point lead into the locker room at halftime with a field goal as time expired.

It was a great play from Milanovic-Litre to keep building the Stamps’ momentum.

Roc the house

All season long, it seemed like it was only a matter of time before the Stampeders would have a return touchdown given the stellar return skills of Malik Henry.

However, it was fresh-off-the-practice-roster running back Roc Thomas who ended up being the beneficiary of the Stampeders’ blocking schemes when he found himself going 101 yards to the house to kick off the second half in style.

Utilizing a spin move to escape the pack, Thomas also deftly used his blockers along the way to get to the end zone.

For his part, Malik Henry also had a long return with potential but was eventually tripped up by the Lions punter as the last man to beat.

Smothering defence

This Calgary defence is really starting to come together in a way that should terrify teams headed down the stretch into the playoffs.

Michael Reilly was only able to complete 13 passes for 145 yards on the day to go with two fourth quarter interceptions that sealed the Lions fate.

That marked the lowest number of completions and second lowest yardage total on the season.

Nathan Rourke was able to get 115 garbage time yards but eventually ended up also turning the ball over on downs near the goal line in what was essentially an exercise in getting reps with the game well out of reach.

This defence is starting to shut everyone down, as cohesion is beginning to become evident.

With all the offseason changes and the cancelled season making for a significant overhaul in personnel, some growing pains were to be expected, but defensive coordinator Brent Monson has this unit finely tuned at the most essential point of the season.

The defensive line also had Reilly frequently on the run, coming up with three sacks and chasing the veteran QB from the pocket on several occasions.

The combination of pressure up front, a smothering defensive backfield, and a tackle collector like Darnell Sankey in the middle of it all has Stamps fans very happy indeed.

Very special teams coverage

As good as the defence has been during this stretch, the special teams cover unit may be even better.

Calgary’s punt team is nearly two full yards better than the second place team in the league this season on punt coverage and were tied coming into this weekend for lowest kick return average against as well.

It is only a matter of time before Mark Kilam has “head coach” on his business card, but for now, Calgary can continue to have the best in the game sprinting up and down the sidelines, with his curly mop of hair bouncing wildly as he celebrates yet another successful play.

Through 10 games so far, the Stamps have given up just one return of more than 30 yards on punts and kickoffs combined, while generating five of their own, including tonight’s TD to open the second half.

Bo covers the field

Bo Levi Mitchell utilized his whole offensive team tonight through the air with nine different players catching a pass from the Texas gunslinger.

More interestingly, none of those players amassed more than 60 total yards on the day, when Bo finished with 270 yards through the air.

“I think we are just starting to lock in to who guys are, and who is good at what routes. The thing is, they are all so versatile. Some guys are really stepping up and playing above their age,” Mitchell remarked after the game.

Mitchell also had his first game without an interception on the season.

“Didn’t throw a pick, let’s (expletive) go!” the QB smiled as he threw his hands in the air, visibly relieved to be sitting down and discussing what might have been his finest game of the season.

Chock full of Moxey

Jonathan Moxey reeled in his second interception of the season before bobbing and weaving his way 53 yards to the end zone.

It was an experience he hadn’t felt in a while. Moxey had to think about how long it had been when asked by Postmedia’s Danny Austin.

“It was probably my senior year in high school. I didn’t get into the end zone in college. Had a few picks but never got into the end zone. I’m sure my Mom will be ecstatic, and I’m waiting to call her as soon as I get off this Zoom.”

Moxey had the second pick of the night and drove home the final nail in this game taking the score completely out of reach.

Hakunavanhu gets his first

When Luther Hakunavanhu went up for the ball and came down with it for his very first CFL touchdown in the first quarter, it really spoke to how he continues to surprise in this rookie season.

Drafted in the fifth round, the six-foot-four, 204-pound receiver was supposed to go back for a final year of college.

Instead, he has now gotten into three games at the pro level catching seven of eight total targets for 144 yards and a score.

Hakunavanhu has more games, catches, yards, and scores than the rest of his draft class combined to this point.

Bo Levi Mitchell is not at all surprised by the play of the rookie so far.

“(Luther) did a hell of a job tonight. He didn’t seem frazzled at all. We had one mess up on the formation, but he still caught the checkdown, turned it up and got five or six yards, which was big,” he said.

Hakunavanhu is the tallest of the Stampeders receiving crew, and showed it going over the Lions DB’s to make the TD grab.

The Edmonton product gave credit to former CFL journeyman Kamau Peterson as a big part of his success. “(Kamau) is always in my ear, someone I can talk to as the season goes on.” Hakunavanhu went on to praise Peterson for supplying him with the mindset to allow him to be ready when called upon.

Who needs rest?

One of football’s old adages talks of the difficulty of beating a team coming off a bye week, but that doesn’t hold any water in Calgary as of late.

The Stampeders are now 15-1 since 2014 when facing a team with the extra rest.

Meanwhile, when flipping the conversation, the Stampeders are 15-2 in the last decade when getting some time off themselves.

So the lesson here is if either Calgary or the other team had a bye week ahead of a game, head to Bodog.ca and bet the Stamps (or bet against them, either way just don’t blame me!)

Rene the robot

Rene Paredes is back on top of the field goal percentage chart for the league after a six-for-six night. Paredes is one of the leagues best kickers ever, and at this point of the season has completed more kicks than any other team has attempted.

Paredes is 35/39 on the season and should he make his next kick, that will raise him to a 90% success rate. He has also been perfect on converts this year as well, making all 15 of his attempts.

“He’s been money, he’s been great,” said Dickenson following the game. “Not necessarily looking for six field goals a game, but I do think as a team we are going to start getting some touchdowns. There were plays to be made. Some of it was B.C. forcing the issue, their D line got home a few times.

“We got a time count that hurt us one time, so we can look in the mirror on that one. When you are in the green zone, a lot of times it’s about who is better one versus one and I want to find ways for our guys to step it up and get six points instead of three.”

The next chance for the Stampeders to get six instead of three comes at home for the Pink Power game against Saskatchewan, who are coming off a bye, on Oct. 23.

The post Stamps climb standings with win over B.C. and other thoughts appeared first on 3DownNation.

Every year, prognosticators league-wide begin to predict the downfall of the Calgary Stampeders. Even our favourite betting site, Bodog, only has the Stampeders over-under for the season set at seven wins in this shortened 14-game season.

Then, as the season progresses, you start to see stories emerge about Calgary’s new players taking the CFL by storm and the Stamps go on to another double-digit win season.

It’s as predictable as watermelon sales at the grocery store nearest to a Riders away game.

With all that in mind, here are the things I learned from a trip to the press box at McMahon Stadium to watch practice.

Out of the backfield

Trey Williams could be a lot of trouble for opposing defences. Williams made several defenders look silly in the passing session during the Saturday afternoon practice. Crisp routes, mean jukes, and lightning speed made me think Williams could play a substantial role in the offence as a change-of-pace or outlet back.

The Texas A&M product was on the Argos’ practice roster back in 2017 then played for teams in the NFL, AAF, and XFL before landing in Calgary. Ka’Deem Carey should be the starter at running back, but I’d love to see Williams get some reps.

Backup battle

The gap between QB1 and QB2 is substantial. Whomever wins the backup job — and from what I’ve seen, it’s looking like it’ll be Dakota Prukop — there is still a wide gap between him and Bo Levi Mitchell.

If Mitchell has any lingering issues or is forced to miss time, the transition might be a little rougher than it was to Nick Arbuckle in 2019. Both Michael O’Conner and Jake Maier had a rougher session on Saturday and were off-target on the deeper throws.

Owens shines

Coach Mace may have a few gems along the defensive line. The D-line was running against the O-line at the same time as the one-on-one route-running on the other side of the field, so attention was split at best, but when I looked over, it seemed like Jarrell Owens was routinely beating blocks with more than just one move.

The former Oklahoma State Cowboy is coming north from the XFL where he collected two sacks in three games for the New York Guardians.

Punt

The position of punter is definitely not decided. The Stampeders have Cody Grace listed as the only punter, but Ronnie Pfeffer was signed in 2020 free agency to replace Rob Maver following his retirement. Maver was one of, if not the best, directional kicker in the league and replacing his ability to hit the coffin corner won’t be easy.

Over-Power’d

Charlie Power may be seriously injured. Power went down late in the session and the next day the Stampeders coaxed Calvin McCarty out of retirement to join the squad. This is pure speculation on my part, and have no confirmation internally, but the two events seem like more than a coincidence.

Grabbing attention

Stamps receiving corps should be just fine. A lot of players were making contested catches in traffic as Bo Levi Mitchell continues to rest a groin injury. Dan Williams III was the target for a few TD strikes, but on the session, multiple receivers were able to shake their respective defensive counterpoints to get open.

Wanting more

Sometimes a scrimmage is just a practice. The Stamps were going to be holding an up-tempo scrimmage and had refs onsite, but again ran a more positions-separated session. Live action is not until Aug. 7, so there is no rush to have it but it sure would be nice to see what the entire team’s on offense and defense can do when operating as a unit.

Finish him!

Injured Bo Levi Mitchell looks like an extra from a Mortal Kombat reboot. I know this isn’t the analysis you came here for, but QB1 was wearing full-length white compression pants, black shorts, white hoodie, black jersey, white headband and a black facemask at practice. I kept waiting for a voice to announce “Finish Him!” anytime a QB threw the ball in the wrong direction from the receiver’s cut.

Stampeder players had an off day on Sunday and will resume camp on Monday.

The post Stamps still need to decide on Bo’s backup (& seven other thoughts from training camp) appeared first on 3DownNation.

I am an unapologetic Stampeders fan, so nothing the Edmonton Football Club chose to do would have made me do anything beyond hating a new word in the dictionary.

That said, let me tell you why the Elks name and logo are misses for me.

The S

Why, oh why, is this plural? Adding the S makes it a bit of a joke to Canadians who never say, “Look at those elks over there!”

Multiple elk are still elk. I am aware the dictionary recognizes elks as an acceptable plural of the word ‘elk,’ but anyone that uses it that way gets looked at like a rube by their more learned friends.

Elk are hunted for sport

Are they majestic creatures of the forest? No question. They are also regularly killed, mounted and stuffed as trophies. Elk don’t win trophies, they become them, once defeated.

Head position

The logo appears to be an elk with its head turned as if spooked by a noise in the forest. It isn’t looking forward to the things ahead. It’s alert to the possibility of its impending doom.

Limited vision

Elk are easily fooled by just a little bit of subterfuge or camouflage in the wild. Not a great omen for the defence when it comes to trick plays!

Antlers suck

There is zero doubt in my mind that stores in Edmonton will be selling antlers to wear at games. This sounds like a great idea until you are seated behind a tall fan showing his pride by blocking your view of the play. At least a watermelon, while stupid, is flat.

No ring to it

The play-by-play won’t be as sharp. “Touchdown Elks!” sounds way worse to my broadcasting ear than “Touchdown Elk!”

‘Elks’ is offensive to my ear with the ‘K’ plosive made plural. I recognize that the Ottawa Redblacks already do it — and it’s clunky there too — but the extra syllable goes a long way to fixing that.

Elk fight each other for dominance

They are not a pack animal, they are led by a leader who constantly has to defend that position from internal challenges. Locker room disharmony can kill a team, and the idea of challenging for alpha status in a sport full of alpha men could become more attractive by emulating the animal on your chest.

Soft to the touch

Until around Labour Day, elk antlers are covered in velvet. Is there anything softer than velvet? Soft isn’t exactly the word fans want to associate with their team.

Hesitancy

If you get too close to an elk in the wild, it will retreat and grind its teeth as a warning before it charges you. Football is based on close contact and an unwillingness to retreat.

I secretly love the helmets

Those helmets look great. I have to admit it, and that’s why I hate it.

At least with ‘Energy’ or ‘Evergolds’ or any of the other proposed names, the helmets would have also looked terrible. These don’t at all.

All this isn’t to say the name shouldn’t have been changed. It needed to be, and the club made the right move renaming itself to align with the values the world at large is embracing.

Given Canada’s shameful treatment of Indigenous people, including the recent finding of a mass grave in Kamloops, I applaud Edmonton’s decision to change its name.

The post 10 reasons why I hate the name ‘Edmonton Elks’ appeared first on 3DownNation.

“The draft was unpredictable,” Hufnagel said, “but I can’t speak to what the other teams were doing.”

Hufnagel liked the results of the draft with a mix of players to bolster some positions immediately, and a look towards the future.

3DownNation had extensive coverage of the draft from our experts Justin Dunk, John Hodge and JC Abbott, including a livestream as it happened and draft grades for every pick.

Looking at Calgary’s picks, it seems clear that the Stampeders are longing for the halcyon days when ratio-breaker Alex Singleton was patrolling the middle while looking at the date on Cory Greenwood’s birth certificate as three of the first four picks are listed at linebacker.

The focus on the future was sharpened due to the cancellation of the 2020 season meaning all the draft picks from last year will also be coming into camp as rookies.

With both classes combined, the Stampeders are looking at bringing ten players — four receivers, three linebackers, two linemen on either side of the ball, a kicker and a defensive back. Both a linebacker and a running back are not expected at camp this year (and maybe never) should their NFL aspirations pan out.

For those who are looking for the why’s regarding this draft class and their selections, Hufnagel had answers.

LB Amen Ogbongbemiga, Oklahoma State

Currently signed as an undrafted free agent in San Diego, Ogbongbemiga will compete for the middle linebacker spot as soon as he gets to Calgary. The question remains if he ever will. He earned a $30,000 signing bonus from the Chargers, which means he may be considered more than just a camp body.

“I wish him luck,” Hufnagel said.

OL Bryce Bell, Wilfrid Laurier

Hufnagel said that if Bryce Bell wasn’t available at the eleven spot, the Stampeders may have considered going to another position, but they couldn’t pass on the six-foot-three, 295-pound tackle.

Hodge expects to Bell to move inside after playing tackle in college, but Hufnagel said Bell has excellent fundamentals and that “he will compete” while only referring to Bell as a tackle.

Hufnagel also said they only took one offensive lineman in this draft despite the off-season retirements of Shane Bergman and Brad Erdos because they feel comfortable with the players that were already in the system.

LB Charlie Moore, Calgary

“He’s a very physical player — he’s a missile,” remarked the Stamps GM when discussing 2019 Vanier Cup champion Moore. With the addition of Moore and 2018 draft choice Fraser Sopik, the Stampeders are auditioning for the future middle linebacker starting spot.

Despite leading the league in tackles when he was injured in 2019, Cory Greenwood will be turning 36 just before the season is scheduled to start. Injuries have kept the tread on the tires fresh over his career, but Father Time waits for no one.

LB Elliot Graham, UBC

Graham will earn his stripes on special teams if he is to find a home in Calgary. Assistant head coach and special teams Coordinator Mark Kilam loves guys with this body type firing down the field to make plays.

Graham played defensive end his last year in college, but Hufnagel suggested he preferred his tape as a linebacker.

RB Chuba Hubbard, Oklahoma State

A fourth-round selection of the Carolina Panthers in the 2021 NFL Draft, Hubbard is another player who may never come back to Canada for professional football.

“I took a flier,” Hufnagel said, know Hubbard will be in the NFL for the foreseeable future. Hubbard is an elite running back and if he does come north, the Stampeders would be thrilled.

REC Luther Hakunavanhu, York

Hakunavanhu is six-foot-four and runs a 4.60 forty-yard dash. He run solid routes, though he is also guilty of committing too many drops, which both he and Hufnagel agree needs to be fixed.

Likely returning for a final year at York, Hakunavanhu will come to camp before going back with that as a primary focus of his senior season.

When asked about the process of getting ready for the draft without being able to meet players in person, Hufnagel was grateful for having video conferencing and agreed how much tougher it is to get the measure of a player when you aren’t in the same room.

“It’s better than a phone call, anyway,” he remarked before speaking to the normal process of getting everyone in a room with the coaches.

Every organization faced the same challenges and with a double crop of rookies incoming, all organizations are likely to see significant changes to their rosters.

The post John Hufnagel didn’t feel Stampeders had to draft OL despite retirements of Bergman, Erdos appeared first on 3DownNation.

Free Parking didn’t have extra money on it, and when there were no houses left, you couldn’t buy a house. The rules were agreed upon in advance, printed on paper, and they were sacrosanct.

Little did I know that my family would set a standard that a professional sports league would fail to live up to. The CFL has printed their rules on paper, but they have apparently decided to slip that extra $500 in the Free Parking kitty anyway.

3DownNation insider Justin Dunk broke the news that the Toronto Argonauts went over the salary cap in 2019. Astute readers of this space will remember that we here at 3DownNation told you in February that commissioner Randy Ambrosie confirmed at least one club had gone over the cap, but the league would not confirm it at that time.

Dunk’s report also stated that the Argos wouldn’t be fined for the transgression because of the financial hardships that exist due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

To put it plainly, I call bullsh*t.

The current CFL salary management system calls for a dollar-for-dollar fine up to $99,999 and, once you go over $100,000, a draft pick is also forfeited. As the news did not include a draft pick, this means the transgression and resulting fine would be less than a total of $100,000.

MLSE is worth billions of dollars; so why are they off the hook?

COVID-19 isn’t responsible for the overspending that occurred last season.

Jim Popp is.

Isn’t it enough that the league has already awarded them two extra territorial picks over the last two years for being bad? At what point do we stop allowing the Argos a competitive advantage?

I imagine the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ management team has to be pretty choked with the idea of how many extra Grey Cup hats they had to sell when they went over in both 2009 and 2013.

How many extra Rum Hut pours were needed in Winnipeg in 2010 to cover their fines?

Those are two community-owned clubs that turn a profit year after year, providing for the health of the league while billionaires escape penalties.

At the very least, the CFL could have announced the fine and said that the payment be deferred a year due to the coronavirus. If they said that, I don’t even start writing. I recognize that in troubled times, extraordinary measures need to be taken and I agree with that common sense position.

However, instead they chose to do what it seems like they always do when the topic of the Argos come up: capitulate and allow special treatment to a franchise that doesn’t need it and hasn’t earned it.

The Argos aren’t some sad sack club whose owner empties out his wallet every week to make payroll and it is high time the CFL acts like it.

They were hoping to pass Go, but landed on Luxury Tax instead. Circumstance shouldn’t dictate that the $75 isn’t due.

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Mack was the fifth overall pick in the 2014 NFL draft and already has earned a number of accolades in the pros, most notably the Defensive Player of the Year award in 2016. Jack-Kurdyla had the opportunity for up-close looks at how Mack trains and prepares to be among the elite defenders in the NFL.

“I loved it. I took every moment in. I saw how he worked, saw how he came in as a professional, how he talks to everybody, how he looks everybody in the eye. That dude is just a beast and really a great role model,” Jack-Kurdyla on the 3DownNation Podcast.

(Khalil Mack, photo courtesy UB Athletics)

“I have met him a couple times. His younger brother went to UB, Ladarius Mack — he’s monster defensive end. Khalil Mack would definitely come around campus, definitely show love. He’d work out with us, compete, he’s an insane beast, he’s a monster. I remember a couple times where I was a practice dummy for him and it was insane.”

Just like Mack, Jack-Kurdyla is trying to impress and be selected as high as possible in the NFL and CFL drafts. His workmanlike approach has impressed personnel men on both sides of the border, a mentality he developed at a young age. He still has the original PlayStation 3 he purchased with his own money growing up in Montreal.

“I had to work for everything, I had nothing handed to me as a child. My parents provided everything that I needed, but anything that I wanted, they told me that I had to go out and get it myself,” Jack-Kurdyla said.

“I had to shovel snow for a couple winters to save up money to buy my first PS3. That was mine, I still have it to this day and I cherish it to this day because I worked hard for it.”

Jack-Kurdyla was a jack of all trades in the workforce. He earned paycheques from Provigo grocery store, AMC movie theatre, Vanier Sports Complex, as a mover and lawnmower. Versatility was a trait the six-foot-three, 300-pounder carried over onto the football field. He has the ability to line up at any position if needed, which has drawn increased attention of pro scouts.

“I’ve been asked to do it my whole career to play different spots. I just want to make sure I get in the door,” Jack-Kurdyla said.

“As long as I get on foot in the door, I feel like I can press on and press through and make something of it. You dream about it for so long.”

Jack-Kurdyla performed for nine NFL and five CFL teams at his University of Buffalo pro day. He made the six-hour drive to his hometown of Montreal as the world was in the process of responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Facilities closed and the border was essentially shutdown the day following his showing on March 12 in front of talent evaluators.

“That kid is a smooth mover for an offensive lineman and should get an NFL look, but if he doesn’t he could be a starter quickly in the CFL,” one scout said.

“I was fortunate and blessed to sneak it in right on the last day,” Jack-Kurdyla said.

Even if Jack-Kurdyla doesn’t make it back to Buffalo for awhile, he left the program in a better place. He earned a starting role on the offensive line during his true freshman year in 2016. Through four seasons with the Bulls, Jack-Kurdyla started in 40 games at guard, including being a key part of Buffalo’s first-ever twn-win season in 2018 and the team’s first bowl victory in the 2019 Bahamas Bowl.

“I just saw the potential with UB. I’ve seen it grow, the commitment level of the city, they love sports in Buffalo. I remember when I first went to UB, we didn’t have what we have now, when I left,” Jack-Kurdyla said.

“We didn’t have indoor facilities, we didn’t have dining tables or sufficient meeting rooms. Our locker room didn’t look the same, our turf was different, the carpet on the floors in the locker room was different, our lockers were different.”

Jack-Kurdyla was part of the winningest class in Bulls program history and was able to complete his masters program in education studies. His ability to focus and zero-in prioritize tasks will serve him well at the professional level.

“Time management, time management, time management — having to balance what I want to do and what I have to do,” Jack-Kurdyla said. “If I don’t have time to do anything else, then I don’t.”

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