2025 SMS increase

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Sure it is.  We made an offer in good faith based on the knowledge at the time regarding SMS cap.  Now we have new knowledge that we have an extra $400k to spend across the roster as we see fit.

Half the guys are already locked in stone, so all that remaining money is gravy to go chase those who bailed or new FA talent.

We literally have to spend it, and the choices on how to do so are dwindling fast.

So if we undershot HAM on Kenny by $75k before, we can take $50k of the newfound $400k and get Kenny back.  What we won't do is play bidding war if HAM then says they'll pay him an extra $50k too!  But I have a sneaking suspicion that a couple of teams (like HAM) got wind of the extra $400k ahead of time and have already taken that into account.

Walters certainly isn't required to spend to the limit at this time, he could always save any unused funds as a buffer for the IR and to re-up players heading towards FA near the end of the season, like he did in his early years. 

As for Lawler, I think Walters determined he's worth upto $250k and not beyond, no matter the extra cash available.  Good to see fiscal management return to the ledger.

As for Suhk Chungh, he's the King of Surrey, the Lions would be dumb not to promote his connection to the East Indian community to buildup their fanbase. 

[Blue In BC]

Walters certainly isn't required to spend to the limit at this time, he could always save any unused funds as a buffer for the IR and to re-up players heading towards FA near the end of the season, like he did in his early years. 

As for Lawler, I think Walters determined he's worth upto $250k and not beyond, no matter the extra cash available.  Good to see fiscal management return to the ledger.

As for Suhk Chungh, he's the King of Surrey, the Lions would be dumb not to promote his connection to the East Indian community to buildup their fanbase. 

It's not that easy. The SMS will also have that $400K increase in 2026. Yes we could use any 2025 SMS leftover but that's just doubling down in the extra 2026 money issue.

The motivation to sign late in 2025 will be less and the potential list could be even longer than this year.

I don't really expect Collaros to be back in 2026. It's not that we have an alternative at the moment. However does that mean he asks for $700K or $750K but we're flush with cash?

IMO fans want to see more money for going to the bottom half of the roster. The intent of the shared revenue increase wasn't to create upward space for the top 12 players ( as an example ).

What the CFLPA expected when an increase happened is only a question. I don't think anyone expected this large an increase in 1 off season.

Some sort of fair formula is needed. While I'm open to suggestion I still think raising the ELC is an immediate action that would be a fair start.

It would have been somewhat easier if this happened at the end of November. Teams would have adjusted accordingly. The problem with that is we clearly would have seen some egregious increases for TOP players in bidding wars.

Whether we agree with those results or not, the marketplace makes those the new reality.

Using Lawler as the example without knowing what we offered: Do we offer him $300K to surpass the TiCat offer because we have money to burn?

I'd be against that concept for any potential free agent, but what is there to stop any team from doing that now?

This could get ugly and the 11th is just a few days away. It shouldn't take long to see if any of that happens.

[Jesse]

The CFLPA appears to be trying to use the increase to disperse equally amongst all players and/or used as training camp salary or bumps to the play-off bonuses.

I think that's why you won't see teams suddenly jump their offers to players. The money might get accounted for before teams can use it.

[Blue In BC]

The CFLPA appears to be trying to use the increase to disperse equally amongst all players and/or used as training camp salary or bumps to the play-off bonuses.

I think that's why you won't see teams suddenly jump their offers to players. The money might get accounted for before teams can use it.

I don't know about the equally idea. The roster is 45 players. $1K per player is $45K of the the new money. $1K to an ELC is more significant than another $1K to Collaros. What's the actual definition they consider as equally? The increase is about $7%. That means about $5K to an ELC but about $42K to Collaros. Like I said a formula is needed but this is going to a a tough one.

Giving a bunch of rookies extra money I would disagree with that idea.

Playoff money comes from the league not the teams or SMS doesn't it?

The tampering period offers can't be revoked. If a players current team increases their offer, I'm not sure if you don't get a counter counter offer after the 11th. A player could re-neg and go to free agency and see what happens.

I do think we'll see a few teams that might bump an offer to a player they didn't want to lose. That may be a small number, but I think we'll see a few.

[peg_city]

So, I guess the average CFL salary is over 120K?

It would be nice if they paid refs a living wage.

[theaardvark]

I really don't think we have a need to bust the bank for Lawler or Dobson.  Our roster has been filled in nicely without them.  Upping the offers to them sets a bad precedent.

Guys that wanted to be here are going to be better for the team than mercenaries.  Mitchell and Jon Jones both said the precise right things about signing here that this team wants to hear.  Lawler said it when he came back.

We've had to make some tough decisions this off season,  Biggie, Woli, Lawler, Dobson... this is a business, and whether is a decision based on price (Lawler, Dobson), or a decision based on having the roster spots covered by someone younger, cheaper, healthier (Biggie, Woli),  you have to make those tough calls.

There are still FA's left that we haven't heard mentioned as having agree elsewhere who might still end up on our roster, but I think for the most part, the roster is set...  Walters made decisions and stuck to his guns, and I think has made the best off season decisions.  Not the biggest or flashiest, but the ones that make what was one of the best teams a little bit better, and a lot deeper going into camp.

Waiting for Jarious Jackson to step up for the QB room, it will be interesting to see if we add a known QB, re-sign Streveler, or bring in some new faces for mini camp and TC.  He may have the toughest coaching job on the team, tougher than OC, in concentrating on prepping for the post Zach era.

[Jesse]

I don't know about the equally idea. The roster is 45 players. $1K per player is $5K of the the new money. $1K to an ELC is more significant than another $1K to Collaros. What's the actual definition they consider as equally? The increase is about $7%. That means about $5K to an ELC but about $42K to Collaros. Like I said a formula is needed but this is going to a a tough one.

Giving a bunch of rookies extra money I would disagree with that idea.

Playoff money comes from the league not the teams or SMS doesn't it?

The tampering period offers can't be revoked. If a players current team increases their offer, I'm not sure if you don't get a counter counter offer after the 11th. A player could re-neg and go to free agency and see what happens.

I do think we'll see a few teams that might bump an offer to a player they didn't want to lose. That may be a small number, but I think we'll see a few.

I don't think they have a formula for it, because there's nothing agreed on. Could be equally, could be related to the size of their contracts.

Rookies would not be included though. This money is from previous years so they wouldn't be entitled to it.

[theaardvark]

It would be nice if the league tossed some of that extra money into playoff bonuses... make it a little more lucrative to make the playoffs, and win.  I know it sounds like a lot of free money on top of the contract, but when you calculate it:

A Grey Cup appearance cheque is $8k, winner is $16k.  The equivalent of a game cheque for a player making $144k or $288k.

$3,400/ $3,600 for the DSF and DF is actually less than any rostered player makes for a regular season game (equivalent to a salary of under $70k for the year)

Get it up to at least $6k for a DSF and DF game, and $12k/$20k for the cup.

Or more.

[Jesse]

It would be nice if the league tossed some of that extra money into playoff bonuses... make it a little more lucrative to make the playoffs, and win.  I know it sounds like a lot of free money on top of the contract, but when you calculate it:

A Grey Cup appearance cheque is $8k, winner is $16k.  The equivalent of a game cheque for a player making $144k or $288k.

$3,400/ $3,600 for the DSF and DF is actually less than any rostered player makes for a regular season game (equivalent to a salary of under $70k for the year)

Get it up to at least $6k for a DSF and DF game, and $12k/$20k for the cup.

Or more.

They absolutely need to do this - but it can't come from the salary cap, right?

This is after the season is played. So it technically has nothing to do with these discussions as far as I know, but Dunk did bring it up when I heard him speaking about the subject.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

I don't think they have a formula for it, because there's nothing agreed on. Could be equally, could be related to the size of their contracts.

Rookies would not be included though. This money is from previous years so they wouldn't be entitled to it.

Agreed, every team is free to spend the bonus how they see fit, which is maybe the only statement they could get the BOG to agree upon. 

[Jesse]

Agreed, every team is free to spend the bonus how they see fit, which is maybe the only statement they could get the BOG to agree upon. 

I don't know if that's true right now.

I think the CFLPA is arguing for something uniform across the league. Whether it happens or not of course...

[theaardvark]

They absolutely need to do this - but it can't come from the salary cap, right?

This is after the season is played. So it technically has nothing to do with these discussions as far as I know, but Dunk did bring it up when I heard him speaking about the subject.

Playoff money is always paid out by the league, non $SMS.  Not sure exactly how much they get from the teams for the finals or the cup, but the league does make money off those games.

[peg_city]

So, I guess the average CFL salary is over 120K?

It would be nice if they paid refs a living wage.

Back to this. It feels like a nice recruitment pitch to say that the average CFL player makes 100K USD (which the CFL will get there in the next couple of years). That's not chump-change.

[Blue In BC]

Back to this. It feels like a nice recruitment pitch to say that the average CFL player makes 100K USD (which the CFL will get there in the next couple of years). That's not chump-change.

Average is deceptive. The ELC is still just over $70K CAD?  That's not chump change either for a 22 - 25 year old player. Then there is the issue of 12 players per team on the PR for rent money.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

I don't know if that's true right now.

I think the CFLPA is arguing for something uniform across the league. Whether it happens or not of course...

The time for arguing is over, they released the money and with it should have released a clear concise statement explaining it's purpose, can't decide how it should be used after the fact.  But again, this is the CFL so almost anything is possible I suppose.