Questions remain around CFL player contracts after cancelled season

While there certainly isn’t going to be a 2020 CFL season, there still is uncertainty around the futures of players in the league.

Saskatchewan Roughriders linebacker Solomon Elimimian, the president of the CFL Players’ Association, said there are ongoing talks with the league about the status of players’ contracts with a cancelled season.

“Our position is any player that wants out of their contract should be given the option to be released. If a player wants to seek employment elsewhere in the same industry, he should not be denied that,” Elimimian told The Green Zone on Wednesday.

“A player should not be denied an opportunity to make income elsewhere.”

There are reports from Postmedia’s Dan Barnes that the CFLPA issued a memo to its members saying they will be eligible for the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy for July through December. The memo added that players in the last year of their deals could choose to be released.

#CFLPA and #CFL making massive progress. The #CFLPA just issued a memo to members saying that 441 players under contract will receive CEWS for July through December and beyond if the program is extended. Also, their medical coverage will be extended through to 2021 training camp.

— Dan Barnes (@sportsdanbarnes) August 19, 2020

The Calgary Stampeders have already released linebacker Nate Holley — who was named the CFL’s most outstanding rookie in 2019 — so he can attempt to make an NFL team.

Elimimian admits some players have a tough decision to make if they want to return to the CFL in 2021.

“Players will be one year older and in football, age does play a factor. Some guys just couldn’t wait, even if we had a season. I’ve spoken to guys that were going to opt out because they were older or they were going through injuries or, quite frankly, they had other opportunities elsewhere that provided certainty for them,” Elimimian said.

Elimimian, who would have been entering his 11th CFL season, said Monday was one of the toughest days he has had all year.

“My heart goes out to so many of our players and so many people that are affected within the industry and sometimes we lose sight of that. Our players are left jobless but also the good hard-working men and women who work in the industry,” Elimimian said.

Elimimian said the relationship between the players’ association and the league was mended over the past few months.

The relationship appeared to be on the rocks after commissioner Randy Ambrosie pleaded to the federal government for a $150-million loan without contacting the association first.

“It was very frustrating in the beginning not being included in talks with the government. As players, we have as much on the line to have a successful CFL and have a successful 2020 season as anybody. That’s why it was disheartening to not have a good working relationship with the league early on,” Elimimian said.

That request from the CFL dwindled down to about $30 million before getting denied by Ottawa last week.

After months of repairing their relationship, both the players’ union and the league were getting close to a deal for the 2020 season.

“It was going to be something very, very fair to our players and it was a shame it couldn’t get carried out,” Elimimian said.

And that gives him hope for the future.

“All (the players) want to do is help. When we wanted to go to government, it was to help. It was to help get our players back to work and get answers,” Elimimian said. “(It will succeed) if we can work together, if the players are included in a true partnership not by words but by actions.”