CFL (Non-Bombers) off-season news

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

One thing I don't want to do when discussing these things is to minimize one offence. Harassment should come with consequences and I am glad the league has taking these steps. Full stop.

It does shine a light on some other transgressions which maybe do not have consequences that reflect the severity of the crimes. Gambling on games is treated with a lifetime ban, harassment of women comes with a half season along with therapy and re-education training, but all others are a game or two at best.

To answer your questions, both Kelly and Ajou were suspended for 9 games and, in addition to the suspension, must successfully complete certain training sessions in order to be re-instated by the league. There is no opportunity to complete training or apologize to minimize the suspension. It's all part of it.

These events occur in a weird semi-judicial space were the employer judges the crime and hands out the sentence and rehabilitation requirements, when most employers would simply terminate the transgressor and leave them to the legal system.  Of course the CFL wants to do all they can to handle these issues in house so no fingers can be pointed and no stigma attached to their business practices. Secondary would be helping young men avoid criminal charges on their records.

If Ajou does not accept the accusations he could refuse to take the re-programming sessions and sign with a UFL team and go onto play in the NFL with no repercussions if no charges are ever laid. His only real penalty would be not signing with a CFL team, which may happen even if he takes the training sessions.

[Tecno]

His only real penalty would be not signing with a CFL team, which may happen even if he takes the training sessions.

I'm not sure he's good enough a player to even warrant anyone even thinking about him again 9 games down the road.  Now, if he was Kelly (or Kenny), that's a different story.  If you're gonna be "bad", best to be a league-top-5 at your position!

I do get a slight sense of shadenfreude though, at the greenie fans' expense!  I think it would be hilarious if they drop below EDM this season.  Of course, that won't be because Ajou was kicked out... <eyes towards LDC and BB...>

[Tecno]

It does shine a light on some other transgressions which maybe do not have consequences that reflect the severity of the crimes. Gambling on games is treated with a lifetime ban

Uh, Lemon = 1.5 year ban?  Strange definition of lifetime.  (It *should* be lifetime, BTW.  No love for Lemon after he destroyed Nichols' career, BTW#2.)

[Tecno]

This is important) any worse than what Kenny Lawler was CONVICTED OF when he was here?

What about Duron Carter smuggling weed in *airports*.  Ya, weed was legal, but it's 100% not legal in federal buildings and transportation hubs!  Not only did the league look the other way but apparently the criminal justice system (and both Canada & USA border services!) did too!

It's a weird world, and the contradictions rarely make sense.

[Ridermania]

CFL Trade

To Ottawa:

Playing rights to National defensive lineman Luiji Vilain
Toronto's 2026 fourth-round pick (31st overall)

To Toronto:

Ottawa's 2026 third-round pick (23rd overall)
Ottawa's 2027 conditional third-round pick (can be upgraded to a second round pick)

Vilain, 28, played five games over two seasons in the National Football League with the Minnesota Vikings (2022-23) and Carolina Panthers (2023), registering four total tackles. In addition to his time with the Vikings and Panthers, Vilain also spent the past two seasons with the Cleveland Browns (2024) and Dallas Cowboys (2024-25). The six-foot-four, 250-pound Ottawa, Ontario native was originally selected by the Toronto Argonauts in the third round, 25th overall in the 2021 CFL Canadian Draft.

[Blue In BC]

It appears that only the Redblacks went over the SMS. That leaves me to believe many teams had some SMS left to spend before the end of the year with re-signing bonus money.

The Redblacks will be forced to pay $18,002 for their violation, a dollar-for-dollar amount equal to the team's overage of the limit. The violation does not impact the selection order for the 2026 CFL Canadian Draft on April 28.

The 2025 CFL salary cap was set at $6,062,365 — an amount that was more than $400,000 more than teams originally anticipated due to the league's revenue-sharing agreement with the Players' Association. Teams also received a $50,000 salary cap exemption after a grievance was filed by the CFLPA. As a result, no other team exceeded the maximum limit.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

It appears that only the Redblacks went over the SMS. That leaves me to believe many teams had some SMS left to spend before the end of the year with re-signing bonus money.

The Redblacks will be forced to pay $18,002 for their violation, a dollar-for-dollar amount equal to the team's overage of the limit. The violation does not impact the selection order for the 2026 CFL Canadian Draft on April 28.

The 2025 CFL salary cap was set at $6,062,365 — an amount that was more than $400,000 more than teams originally anticipated due to the league's revenue-sharing agreement with the Players' Association. Teams also received a $50,000 salary cap exemption after a grievance was filed by the CFLPA. As a result, no other team exceeded the maximum limit.

Ottawa???  That would have been my last guess, what did they spend the money on? Dru Brown was their highest paid player, and his cost was $200k less than Zach.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

Hahaha Ottawa. They really managed to go $68,000 over... Terrible.

[Blue In BC]

Ottawa???  That would have been my last guess, what did they spend the money on? Dru Brown was their highest paid player, and his cost was $200k less than Zach.

Not sure. They did re-sign some veterans in December. They have also loaded up the roster with PR games to end the same.  Going from PR to AR adds about $3K per player which would be about the overage.

[Pete]

just a thought, why wouldnt we spend up to 70k over the cap by giving players bonus money in 2025 towards 2026 contracts. We can afford to given the revenue . As long as we were under the line for losing a draft pick it would make sense

[Blue In BC]

just a thought, why wouldnt we spend up to 70k over the cap by giving players bonus money in 2025 towards 2026 contracts. We can afford to given the revenue . As long as we were under the line for losing a draft pick it would make sense

It's been discussed at length most every year. Just because any team can " do it " doesn't mean it should do it. The SMS is intended to create an even fair playing field. In the spirit of that thought, teams don't generally plan to exceed the limit.

Now if the Bomber lost $2M each of the last 5 years would you have the same view? Flip the switch and have the Lions making $10M a year and deciding to spend an extra $99K because they have that financial resource.

It's been reported that most teams don't earn a profit. That's debatable since we don't have transparency.

In the past the rich team / owners spent whatever they wanted because they could afford it. That was before the SMS.

That's WHY we now have an SMS and teams trying to play within the fair limit.

One other thought is that teams that spend the most don't always spend well or get the best bang for the buck.

[Tecno]

It's been discussed at length most every year. Just because any team can " do it " doesn't mean it should do it. The SMS is intended to create an even fair playing field. In the spirit of that thought, teams don't generally plan to exceed the limit.

It looks like this year the "spirit" won.  Unlike last year... Maybe Johnston gave them all a stern talking to and laid down the law.  The "honor system" only works if everyone honors it.

[Tecno]

just a thought, why wouldnt we spend up to 70k over the cap by giving players bonus money in 2025 towards 2026 contracts. We can afford to given the revenue . As long as we were under the line for losing a draft pick it would make sense

If your team isn't at least 1c over the cap then you're doing something wrong.  Every dime needs to go to increasing talent level.  And like has been pointed out, if you were frugal all season you can still blow to the limit right at Dec 31 with early re-signs.

[Tecno]

The Redblacks will be forced to pay $18,002 for their violation, a dollar-for-dollar amount equal to the team's overage of the limit.

This should come off the next season SMS.  That would put some teeth into these impotent fines.

[Pete]

This should come off the next season SMS.  That would put some teeth into these impotent fines.

That is one of your better suggestions.