My prediction: CFL training camps will start on time.
The league and players’ association begin three days of meetings on Sunday in the hopes of hammering out a new collective bargaining agreement. The league has stayed quiet while, without getting into specifics, association executive director Brian Ramsay says there has been progress, but the sides aren’t where they need to be to find a settlement.
Improved health and safety along with association input into the future of the league appear to be priorities, but we all know that this is about what makes the world go around and that’s money.
I’m hoping the association digs in. The minimum salary in the CFL should definitely be higher than the reported $54,000. If reports are true that the highest-paid quarterback in the league is earning close to $200,000 more than quarterbacks were a couple of years ago, it’s time for teams to take that money and bolster the floor of their salary-capped payrolls.
However, going back to my first point, we’ve seen 11th-hour deals in sports before. I believe we’ll see one again.