TiCat Player Contracts

Interesting deal. Forces a player to put his money (albeit a small amount of money) where his mouth is, if he truly believes he has an NFL shot.

I think we will find out, as we do every year, that the number of CFL players offered meaningful NFL opportunities is much smaller than the CFLPA rhetoric would imply. Especially so this year, since training camps have already begun.

But I think the CFLPA did its job in securing this opt-out option for its players.

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CFL players opting out of their contracts so far (on the first day they are eligible to do so):

  • SSK OL Dakoda Shepley
  • SSK LB Deon Lacey
  • SSK kicker Brett Lauther
  • BC kicker Sergio Castillo
  • CAL LB Wynton McManis
  • EDM REC Ricky Collins Jr
  • OTT punter Richie Leone
  • TOR QB McLeod Bethel-Thompson

I read in the Spec a writer (Milton?) suggested that kickers and long snappers would be most likely to opt out as they would be in demand as taxi squad players to fill in if the active player gets the virus. It makes sense as most teams would want a backup plan for those specialists. It would be hard to replace them in case of need otherwise.

From Transactions - Football Player Trades and Signings - CFL.ca

2020-08-25 HAM WHITE, Matthew K N Monmouth Delete From Active / Free Agent

An American K/P signed by the Cats on Feb. 20th. They either worked him out and weren't impressed or, I expect more likely, he's opted-out. (I believe the "N" in the transaction is an error, by the league, and should be an "A."

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Two more likely opt-outs, from the TiCats, have appeared on Transactions - Football Player Trades and Signings - CFL.ca

2020-08-26 HAM ELLIS, Jordan RB N Virginia Delete From Active Free Agent
2020-08-25 HAM WILSON, Kyle LB A Arkansas State Delete From Active Free Agent

Ellis was signed in February. He'd spent the month of September, last year, on the Bengals' P.R. Wilson, who played 3 regular season, and 2 playoff, games with the Chargers in'18 was the second last signee of the Cats this spring.

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So far just rookies with the Cats opting out. This makes sense as the veterans have a lot invested with the team. I think some veterans will opt out but only if they have a promise of an NFL look in their back pockets.

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I’m guessing rookies aren’t eligible to collect the federal government subsidies since they haven’t worked in Canada before. Same for the health benefits, whatever those are. So they have less at stake then the veterans. (But also even longer odds to suddenly make the NFL, which they presumably tried to do before signing here.)

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10 more TiCats have likely opted-out of their contracts, although it's possible that the club made the decision to release any, or all, of them. 9 are players signed since the '19 Grey Cup and the other is DB Maurice Carnell, who spent last season on the club's practice roster, played 1 game, and was contracted through 2021. This list from Transactions - Football Player Trades and Signings - CFL.ca

2020-08-31 HAM WINT, Anthony LB N Florida International Delete From Active Free Agent
2020-08-31 HAM CARNELL, Maurice DB A North Alabama Delete From Active Free Agen
2020-08-31 HAM DUNBAR, Steven WR N Houston Delete From Active Free Agent
2020-08-31 HAM BYRD, Dontez WR A Tennessee Tech Delete From Active Free Agent
2020-08-31 HAM ALLISON, Jeff LB N Fresno State Delete From Active Free Agent
2020-08-31 HAM OLIVER, Branden RB A Buffalo Delete From Active Free Agent
2020-08-31 HAM BINGHAM, Ronheen DL A Arkansas State Delete From Active Free Agent
2020-08-31 HAM ZAMORT, Ronald DB N Western Michigan Delete From Active Free Agent
2020-08-31 HAM PATTERSON, Damoun WR N Youngstown State Delete From Active Free Agent
2020-08-31 HAM DOTSON, Jomon DB N Nevada Delete From Active Free Agent
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And, the Cats' 14th opt-out is:

2020-09-01 HAM STRIBLING, Channing DB A Michigan Delete From Active Free Agent

One more, on this final half day of the extended period for opting-out:

2020-09-03 HAM ROBINSON, Tyree DB A Oregon Delete From Active Free Agent

So, it's 15 TiCats, in all, among the somewhere just over a hundred (looks like 106) players, across league, who've opted-out.

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It’s got to say something about the players’ respect for Bob Young et al, for there are no “veteran” players who have opted out.
I actually expected the opposite. I thought that veteran players (that have actual Pro-Football game film) would be the ones to opt out for a NFL attempt. Instead, it’s mostly first-year signees.

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Surprise!
I see the TiCats today released one of their starting defensive ends, American Ja'Gared Davis. If his contract was not renewed, he was due to become a free agent come February. ????

Source: Transactions - Football Player Trades and Signings - CFL.ca

Maybe asked for his release if he could get an NFL tryout?? I thought he only signed for one year again.

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Somebody asked me recently if the teams are still paying the players their contract wages even though the season was cancelled. I'm not sure of the particulars. Would they be subsidized in any way or have the players found other means of employment in order to pay their bills and feed their families. :thinking:

Jagared Davis signed a 1 year contract @ $230K in Feb.

The union told players in an email Wednesday those under contract would be eligible for wage subsidy from July through December. The CFLPA added the benefits could go beyond that if the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) is extended.

A CFL source said league teams will make applications to the subsidy program on their players’ behalf. The union added it is hoping to finalize matters in the next day or so.

The CFLPA also says CFL players will have their medical coverage extended through to the start of training camp in 2021.

https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/subsidy/emergency-wage-subsidy.html

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Thanks for the info Mikefrmthhammer. :+1:

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I don't think the team would release him unless he had some pretty good interest from the NFL. This way though, the team and Davis are hopefully on good terms if it doesn't pan out down south.

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I think any player that is on a contract that expires Feb 21 would get released if they ask. Team has no reason to hold them and it adds goodwill for next year. You could have prospects in the professional YO-YO league and they would wish you luck and send you on your way.

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