NFL Option Clause

[Blue In BC]

Just curious what everyone thinks from a fan perspective. It's something the players wanted in the CFLPA so it's only a rhetorical kind of question.

I didn't add neither since it seems like a black and white question about our opinions.

You can elaborate if you want but it's not really necessary unless you want to elaborate.

[Jesse]

It just is what it is, imo.

Like I said in another thread, players would be released to pursue NFL options anyway. The contractual option to go simply allows teams to retain their rights.

We complain about one year deals and roster instability. But there are no reasons for players to sign longer than one year deals unless you give them incentives to do so, and this is one of those things.

[Blue In BC]

It just is what it is, imo.

Like I said in another thread, players would be released to pursue NFL options anyway. The contractual option to go simply allows teams to retain their rights.

We complain about one year deals and roster instability. But there are no reasons for players to sign longer than one year deals unless you give them incentives to do so, and this is one of those things.

Some valid points. However if there was no clause then NFL teams couldn't approach players for deals and we wouldn't release them. It might force a player to be suspended but why would a team comply if the option wasn't part of CFLPA. There was a CFL/NFL agreement to not solicit our players under contact before the clause. Even currently it requires permission which is fait de complete ( rubber stamp ).

The lack of guaranteed contracts has been a problem for veterans but recently we see more contracts with guaranteed money. That includes Oliveria and Kramdi so far in recent re-signings and some other teams doing the same thing.

Maybe a corner has been turned.

[Tecno]

NFL "windows" are needed to allow max flexibility for players to go down when teams want them.  Why?  Because the NFL carrot is the reason a ton ever bother coming up here at all.

What I want to see added is the CFL team losing the player gets their rights on that player paused.  When he comes back that team gets that player back.  I'm torn as to whether the old contract price should be forced to continue, or if the player can ask for more.  But in both cases the original team gets dibbs.

[theaardvark]

NFL "windows" are needed to allow max flexibility for players to go down when teams want them.  Why?  Because the NFL carrot is the reason a ton ever bother coming up here at all.

What I want to see added is the CFL team losing the player gets their rights on that player paused.  When he comes back that team gets that player back.  I'm torn as to whether the old contract price should be forced to continue, or if the player can ask for more.  But in both cases the original team gets dibbs.

That is exactly what the "window" does.

[Tecno]

That is exactly what the "window" does.

I'm talking about if they actually "win" the window and leave for 1+ years, after having played a full year in the CFL to get the film.  This happens fairly regularly.  Think Henoc, Biggie, Strev, etc.  By the time they return, the original team owns nothing on them.

It never seemed "fair" to me, from the CFL team standpoint.

[Blue In BC]

NFL "windows" are needed to allow max flexibility for players to go down when teams want them.  Why?  Because the NFL carrot is the reason a ton ever bother coming up here at all.

What I want to see added is the CFL team losing the player gets their rights on that player paused.  When he comes back that team gets that player back.  I'm torn as to whether the old contract price should be forced to continue, or if the player can ask for more.  But in both cases the original team gets dibbs.

It's an advantage to the players potentially but IMO it's not an advantage to the CFL. The sticking point is the thought that is why many ONLY consider the CFL in the 1st place.

As I've pointed out, we had no problem getting imports into the CFL before this option existed.

[Jesse]

I'm talking about if they actually "win" the window and leave for 1+ years, after having played a full year in the CFL to get the film.  This happens fairly regularly.  Think Henoc, Biggie, Strev, etc.  By the time they return, the original team owns nothing on them.

It never seemed "fair" to me, from the CFL team standpoint.

Those are players whose CFL contracts expired before they left. Nothing to do about that.

[Jesse]

It's an advantage to the players potentially but IMO it's not an advantage to the CFL. The sticking point is the thought that is why many ONLY consider the CFL in the 1st place.

As I've pointed out, we had no problem getting imports into the CFL before this option existed.

We've always had players leaving for the NFL, too. And if you're reaching back in time to prior to the 2000s, the salary landscape was not as incredibly different as it is now either. But there's no way you can reasonably expect a player not to be able to take a shot if he has earned an NFL opportunity. I think it's crazy we're having this conversation.

But NFL rosters are much larger than they used to be and they're eligible to stay on PRs for longer. Not to mention the NFL's scouting has expanded exponentially and are digging through Canadian universities, the small schools that we'd usually recruit. The game has expanded to allow undersized players to be utilized in specialized roles.

[theaardvark]

It's an advantage to the players potentially but IMO it's not an advantage to the CFL. The sticking point is the thought that is why many ONLY consider the CFL in the 1st place.

As I've pointed out, we had no problem getting imports into the CFL before this option existed.

We will never have an issue filling out rosters with imports.  Ever.

The question is, do we get the best imports, or the "no other option" imports.

I would suggest that, as many have speculated in these forums, that getting a season of on field reps at game speed is going to give you a better chance of breaking onto an NFL roster, be it an AR spot or even a PR spot than hanging around bouncing from camp to camp on tryouts and futures deals.

Every time a Dee Alford makes a career from a CFL stint. or a Streveler gets an NFL pension after a CFL stint, it confirms that the CFL is a legitimate way for someone who has fallen off the NFL radar to get eyeballs back on them.

We have no idea how many NCAA stars that miss their chance to land an NFL spot decide to flip burgers, or bounce at a bar, or pursue the "after football" career they prepared for in college early.

We do know, however, that many players come to the CFL with one purpose in mind. 

To get another shot at the NFL.

There is no way that the number of those fringe players is not increased by the "NFL window" option being a direct part of their CFL contract.

Is it 2% more top prospects?  Or 5%?  Or even 10%? I don't know.  But I do know, it is more than 0%.

[Blue In BC]

We will never have an issue filling out rosters with imports.  Ever.

The question is, do we get the best imports, or the "no other option" imports.

I would suggest that, as many have speculated in these forums, that getting a season of on field reps at game speed is going to give you a better chance of breaking onto an NFL roster, be it an AR spot or even a PR spot than hanging around bouncing from camp to camp on tryouts and futures deals.

Every time a Dee Alford makes a career from a CFL stint. or a Streveler gets an NFL pension after a CFL stint, it confirms that the CFL is a legitimate way for someone who has fallen off the NFL radar to get eyeballs back on them.

We have no idea how many NCAA stars that miss their chance to land an NFL spot decide to flip burgers, or bounce at a bar, or pursue the "after football" career they prepared for in college early.

We do know, however, that many players come to the CFL with one purpose in mind. 

To get another shot at the NFL.

There is no way that the number of those fringe players is not increased by the "NFL window" option being a direct part of their CFL contract.

Is it 2% more top prospects?  Or 5%?  Or even 10%? I don't know.  But I do know, it is more than 0%.

Players can get that same shot after filling a 2 year ELC contract as easily as an early option. AS I've pointed out, if they don't sign in the CFL chances are they sit out a season and have no NFL option. Sure, they may get an UFL deal but even those are iffy getting a new chance in the NFL. Many of the UFL players are already been through NFL TC's etc.

The CFL has always had stars play in Canada.

J. Grant didn't get a  new opportunity in the NFL IIRC. Vaval is currently exploring one. The process is random. Did Vaval show more than Grant early in his career?

Lawler spent two years on NFL PR's. Then he came to the CFL and got cut by the Lions before being picked up by the Bombers and having success. We'd have to ask him whether the NFL option had any influence in coming to the CFL.

Anyway, we could list hundreds of star CFL players than came and had long CFL careers before this clause which is my point.

The salary landscape has only changed in the sense that the NFL has insane money and every young player will be drawn to that.

Reality is that more players come from the NFL than leave to go back to the NFL.

[theaardvark]

Players can get that same shot after filling a 2 year ELC contract as easily as an early option. AS I've pointed out, if they don't sign in the CFL chances are they sit out a season and have no NFL option. Sure, they may get an UFL deal but even those are iffy getting a new chance in the NFL. Many of the UFL players are already been through NFL TC's etc.

The CFL has always had stars play in Canada.

But without the window, they are stuck in a second year of an ELC, regretting every day.

Give them the window, they get to take their shot, and ONLY if they get a deal does year two get suspended.  No regrets, no whining.

And the window does not include a USFL (I use that term for all iterations of the spring league)  opportunity.  If they want to make minimum wage for 8 games a year for a tiny shot at an NFL look, the USFL is a dream.  At least in the CFL, they get a legit wage and shot at improving over a full season.

Not sure if more USFL players end up with NFL shots, or in the CFL...

[Blue In BC]

But without the window, they are stuck in a second year of an ELC, regretting every day.

Give them the window, they get to take their shot, and ONLY if they get a deal does year two get suspended.  No regrets, no whining.

And the window does not include a USFL (I use that term for all iterations of the spring league)  opportunity.  If they want to make minimum wage for 8 games a year for a tiny shot at an NFL look, the USFL is a dream.  At least in the CFL, they get a legit wage and shot at improving over a full season.

Not sure if more USFL players end up with NFL shots, or in the CFL...

IIRC the minimum in the UFL is about the same as in the CFL but it's a much shorter season and they are playing in the USA. The other issue is they can immediately go from the end of their season to an NFL team.

I think they are more visible to the NFL and a few more get new TC chances. That said I don't think too many stick in their 2nd go around.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

But without the window, they are stuck in a second year of an ELC, regretting every day.

Give them the window, they get to take their shot, and ONLY if they get a deal does year two get suspended.  No regrets, no whining.

And the window does not include a USFL (I use that term for all iterations of the spring league)  opportunity.  If they want to make minimum wage for 8 games a year for a tiny shot at an NFL look, the USFL is a dream.  At least in the CFL, they get a legit wage and shot at improving over a full season.

Not sure if more USFL players end up with NFL shots, or in the CFL...

Dalton Schoen led the CFL in receiving yards his first season, he did not receive a second shot at the NFL as a reward, that is the reality. 

Most of the players being recruited know nothing about the CFL until a scout or an agent whispers it's a viable hack they can use to getting another crack at the NFL, after the majority have already been evaluated and rejected.

The CFL is a viable professional football league, they need to promote their stability and the opportunity they provide players to continue their careers and make a decent living playing football. For the exceptional few that excel and receive "real offers" from the NFL they should assist in anyway they can, but they should not accomodate teams like the NY Jets who grab a dozen CFL players every year just to fill their quota of rookies to use as TC fodder.