Noeller

As expected, they're taking a fair bit of heat online....

I'm disappointed that Wade is heading up that committee, if all that info is accurate. Especially the stuff about entirely eliminating the ratio...

The Canadian Football League Players’ Association has refused a ten-year collective bargaining agreement proposed by the CFL that would completely eliminate the Canadian ratio and see no salary cap increases over that span. The league’s negotiation committee has been led by Hamilton Tiger-Cats’ chief operating officer and minority owner Scott Mitchell and Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ president Wade Miller. Retired linebacker Solomon Elimimian serves as president of the CFLPA, with Brian Ramsay as executive director. In a memo to all CFLPA members distributed on Thursday night and procured by 3DownNation, the union revealed it had walked away from the bargaining table after the league issued an ultimatum demanding that players travel to training camp even if a strike becomes imminent. We are writing to you today to update the membership on the current state of our collective bargaining with the CFL. You will receive an email invitation tomorrow morning for a membership wide townhall scheduled at 2PM Eastern Standard Time. Although we have been able to find common ground on a number of issues to date, our earlier timing concerns are now coming to surface. On Monday the 2nd of May, we requested the CFL commit not to require that players arrive the day before the start of Training Camp if a strike is imminent. They refused our request. Presently, the League insists that even if a strike is imminent, players must travel from their homes for a single day before Training Camp begins. The League refuses to provide players’ costs to return to their homes. The League has threatened our Association with a lawsuit if we were to tell you that a strike is imminent and not travel to Training Camp. Furthermore, the League has put an ultimatum to accept their position on players reporting to camp, or they would refuse to continue negotiations with us. Today’s session stopped before mid day as we refused their offer. We are nine days away from the expiry of our agreement, and the League has slowed the pace of bargaining and has refused to schedule additional dates for discussion. We have told them repeatedly that we are available and prepared to bargain every day until the contract expires. In the CFL’s proposal to date, a number of key issues still concern your bargaining committee: • A ten-year agreement with zero increases in the cap. • A revenue sharing program which will not likely show any significant growth by the CFL’s own accord, until the TSN contract is renewed in five years • Although earlier discussions around guaranteed contracts were held, the CFL has now removed the PA’s proposal to allow players to negotiate guaranteed contracts. • The CFL demands our members go back to padded practices, even with a decrease of 35% of on-field injuries, yet refuses to support our proposal for coverage for those same on field injuries. • Various proposals on the table aimed at what appears to be an effort to try to lock as many players as they can into contracts. • Full elimination of the Canadian ratio and Veteran American Ratio. As well as a reduction of Canadians on the Roster. • The league wants full discretion on practice time that varies during the week (increasing and decreasing hours). Which will create lack of certainty for members. Your bargaining committee remains devoted to achieving a fair and comprehensive agreement, and we will keep you informed of our deliberations. The existing collective agreement between the CFL and players’ association was ratified in 2019 and amended prior to the 2021 season to help facilitate a safe return under pandemic restrictions. The deal is set to expire on May 14, with the two sides not expected to reconvene until next Wednesday. On Monday, CFLPA membership voted 95 percent in favour of giving the union permission to strike should an agreement not be reached before training camp. The vote is part of the standard process of collective bargaining, but provides considerable pressure as the deadline looms. Players took a massive financial hit over the course of the pandemic but appear to be on more trusting footing with the league than in years past, in part due to increased financial transparency. However, the league’s desire to reduce the Canadian ratio and unwillingness to provide financial guarantees has halted negotiations entirely.

I swear I read something recently that it'll be on the field next to the stadium. Not sure why.... Soccer?

Society is full of morons? Tell me more....

People started to ignore the science because it disagreed with their opinion. Yes there was lots of info, but the science is constantly changing and public health was/is trying to keep on top of all the latest. I'm not the smartest guy out there, but I appreciate having the latest info always. I trust our public health officers and completely understand the difficult job they've had.

Wonder how long he'll keep chasing the NFL dream for....Walters did say he'd be bringing in one more kicker to camp. That'd settle things pretty darn quickly....

As we get prepped for mini-camp opening next Wednesday, here's Our Man Tait with his annual "Positional Preview" series, starting with "The Specialists": https://www.bluebombers.com/2022/05/05/positional-preview-specialists-5/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Leadership is knowing when guys need a kick in the ass and when they need a hug. None of us has any clue how any pro coach actually handles it, but we can assume based on the feedback that MOS rides the line as well as anyone...

“You have a head coach that the general manager inherited. You have a head coach that needed to be the bad cop at times last season and was not too often,” Zurkowsky explained. “Khari Jones is on the hot seat, there’s no doubt about it. He’s going into the last year of his contract as well, but he’s not alone.”

"the media"........ 🙄

one of my all time favourite things... something that my buddies and I reference regularly.

So here's the important add on to my statement... All those radio stations are programmed largely based on Spotify streams and TikTok followers. So there's actually a direct connection to what the next generation is viewing and listening to.

I am so pumped for this....

I'm not saying it has to be Pop Country (lord knows that's the bane of my existence) but there have to be some young rockers that dine suck...?? Like the Sheepdogs but younger? That screams Canada and the CFL to me...

The demo they want... Those young 20somethings who drink Twisted Tea and listen to Pop Country is MASSIVE..... it's the number one FM radio station in every market outside of Toronto/Van/Mtl.... They've done their research (all antivaxxer jokes aside) and they know where the money is.

I laughed right out loud at such an incredibly dumb tweet. And Derek Dennis says "no Canadians unless it's Drake".... Get lost. Non Canadian and Hip Hop?? Sorry, but you're in Canada.... No part of that flies.

Ya honestly I just thought all we do is take OL and DL. Got some DL talent but was shocked no OL but as mentioned it speaks to the weak class this year. Interesting if they flip the Bison...

Two picks and no OL from the Bombers... I'm honestly stunned. Based on the trades and what not I wonder if all the OL are just ****.

Bombers TiCats Argos Stamps Riders Ottawa Lions Edmonton Until proven otherwise.....

I know it's just betting lines, but I really think the Stamps haven't earned the "second best odds of winning the GC" distinction...