NFL Option Clause

[Tecno]

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

No, we're talking about an ELC IMP who just finished their rookie season: season 1 of a 2 year contract.  They are still under contract when they head down the FA between their season 1 and 2.  If they stick for 1+ years, then they return complete FAs, even though when they left they were still under contract.

I want to see that contract continue, like the NFL time never existed.  The CFL could do this.

What happens is a team scouts the supreme top guys, they light up year 1, then leave until year 3 (or more).  Then they return and do the Henoc mercenary tour.  Instead they should still be locked to that original team for another year.  (The money aspect would have to be worked out, though...)

[Tecno]

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?

I don't think it's as random as you think.  Grant had a big glaring "he's a FUMBLER" on his NFL scouting reports.  Vaval does not.  They both look somewhat similar in their rookie year.  The edge of the "not a fumbler" thing gets Vaval a look and Grant a lump of coal.

That said, I still have no idea why Strev stuck so long when Rourke got not much of anything.

[Blue In BC]

I don't think it's as random as you think.  Grant had a big glaring "he's a FUMBLER" on his NFL scouting reports.  Vaval does not.  They both look somewhat similar in their rookie year.  The edge of the "not a fumbler" thing gets Vaval a look and Grant a lump of coal.

That said, I still have no idea why Strev stuck so long when Rourke got not much of anything.

Players have to be in the right place at the right time with a team that needs that skill set. Grant was released by the TiCats. NFL draft choices don't always make the right assessments.

[Jesse]

No, we're talking about an ELC IMP who just finished their rookie season: season 1 of a 2 year contract.  They are still under contract when they head down the FA between their season 1 and 2.  If they stick for 1+ years, then they return complete FAs, even though when they left they were still under contract.

I want to see that contract continue, like the NFL time never existed.  The CFL could do this.

What happens is a team scouts the supreme top guys, they light up year 1, then leave until year 3 (or more).  Then they return and do the Henoc mercenary tour.  Instead they should still be locked to that original team for another year.  (The money aspect would have to be worked out, though...)

You mentioned Henoc, Biggie, and Strev. All had completed their CFL contracts and were FAs whether they went to the NFL or not.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Schoen got workouts based on his success as a rookie in the CFL.  His game, though, seems to be amplified by the waggle.  So he didn't stick.

But to say he didn't get a second shot at the NFL during the NFL window is hogwash.  He got the looks BECAUSE of the CFL.

https://3downnation.com/2023/02/14/nobody-was-willing-to-pull-the-trigger-nfl-teams-pass-on-bombers-rookie-sensation-dalton-schoen/

"Schoen's eye-popping statistics earned him a number of NFL workouts following the season, including with the Minnesota Vikings, Arizona Cardinals, and Cincinnati Bengals. However, the 26-year-old did not receive a contract offer as NFL scouts believe his production was inflated by taking advantage of the waggle motion in the CFL slot."

Point taken, but if you look at the date of the story it was written Feb. 14 2023, so Schoen gave up on the NFL well before Bomber TC opened and was available for the entire season, which was the perfect scenario. Maybe Vaval will do the same, but if he doesn't it causes problems for the Bombers as they have to invest in his temporary or permanent replacement and play the waiting game.

[Blue In BC]

Yeah, I don't know all the ins and outs of what the NFL does or doesn't do in regard to the option deal. I've already discussed the negative impact for the CFL.

What I'd like to see is more protection for the players in the form of some sort of guaranteed payment. Many get an offer to attend TC and are little more than TCF. It seems that many aren't really getting a fair look.

It's one thing for that to happen when a player is a complete free agent and not made a roster elsewhere.

I'll just throw out a number for the sake of discussion, at $20K USD. The NFL has lots of money. Go ahead and take a look at these players but in the interest of fairness, the player has more to lose than the NFL if he's released after TC at the end of August.

[theaardvark]

Point taken, but if you look at the date of the story it was written Feb. 14 2023, so Schoen gave up on the NFL well before Bomber TC opened and was available for the entire season, which was the perfect scenario. Maybe Vaval will do the same, but if he doesn't it causes problems for the Bombers as they have to invest in his temporary or permanent replacement and play the waiting game.

He took the window, got a look, and did not get a deal.

Wilson got a look, got a deal, and stuck for a bit before coming back.

Vaval is yet to be determined.  Unlike the other two, Vaval is getting a look as a pure returner, special teamer.  Schoen and Wilson were getting looks at Rec.

Will that be in Vaval's favour, or against him?  There are a lot fewer dedicated returner jobs in the NFL than Rec.

Pretty sure no one is looking at him as a DB.

[Tecno]

You mentioned Henoc, Biggie, and Strev. All had completed their CFL contracts and were FAs whether they went to the NFL or not.

Man, you guys are tough customers.  I knew someone was going to call me on this.

So they weren't still on their rookie contracts (obvious for Biggie, lol), but maybe some were still under a (multiyear) contract.  Dudes don't just wait until a FA year to take NFL looks.  They go look when called.  Are you positive Biggie & Henoc both left with 0 time left on their CFL contracts?  That info won't be immediately available -- you'll have to do some digging.  Unless you claim to have it all memorized!

I'm sure some of my other examples fit my scenario, and/or make up your own examples.  Zylstra, D.Walker, Singleton, D.Alford ... I'm sure there are tons from other teams which I don't memorize as much as guys from our team.  (Yes, even most of those are bad examples because 3 of 4 haven't returned (yet) -- come up with better examples for me!)

Even if it only affected 1 dude in the last decade, my point still stands: if there's time left on the contract, it should carry over when they return to the CFL.

[Jesse]

Man, you guys are tough customers.  I knew someone was going to call me on this.

So they weren't still on their rookie contracts (obvious for Biggie, lol), but maybe some were still under a (multiyear) contract.  Dudes don't just wait until a FA year to take NFL looks.  They go look when called.  Are you positive Biggie & Henoc both left with 0 time left on their CFL contracts?  That info won't be immediately available -- you'll have to do some digging.  Unless you claim to have it all memorized!

I'm sure some of my other examples fit my scenario, and/or make up your own examples.  Zylstra, D.Walker, Singleton, D.Alford ... I'm sure there are tons from other teams which I don't memorize as much as guys from our team.  (Yes, even most of those are bad examples because 3 of 4 haven't returned (yet) -- come up with better examples for me!)

Even if it only affected 1 dude in the last decade, my point still stands: if there's time left on the contract, it should carry over when they return to the CFL.

Well, I very clearly remember Henoc. He did his 3 years with us then he left.

I guess my opinion is that, given it happens so rarely, it's not worth trying to negotiate it out of the next CBA. What you give up is probably worth more than what you get back. Same with the Blue in BC option clause he's trying to get rid of.

[theaardvark]

Any remaining term on an uncompleted contract should be retained by the original team.

Term for sure, but value should be negotiable, with arbitration.  If the team and player can't come to a mutual agreement, it can be arbitrated.

We've seen issues with players overplaying their contract values and either sitting out of playing under protest, and leaving the moment their contract is up.  Smart team re-negotiate, and retain a happy, productive player.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Man, you guys are tough customers.  I knew someone was going to call me on this.

So they weren't still on their rookie contracts (obvious for Biggie, lol), but maybe some were still under a (multiyear) contract.  Dudes don't just wait until a FA year to take NFL looks.  They go look when called.  Are you positive Biggie & Henoc both left with 0 time left on their CFL contracts?  That info won't be immediately available -- you'll have to do some digging.  Unless you claim to have it all memorized!

I'm sure some of my other examples fit my scenario, and/or make up your own examples.  Zylstra, D.Walker, Singleton, D.Alford ... I'm sure there are tons from other teams which I don't memorize as much as guys from our team.  (Yes, even most of those are bad examples because 3 of 4 haven't returned (yet) -- come up with better examples for me!)

Even if it only affected 1 dude in the last decade, my point still stands: if there's time left on the contract, it should carry over when they return to the CFL.

Maybe Corey Mace, drafted by the Bombers in 2007 but also signed with the Buffalo Bills where he hung around for 2 seasons played in 3 games and recorded a single tackle. Don't know if he forced the Bombers hand but the Hamilton Tiger-Cats acquired Mace's CFL rights along with a 2009 CFL draft first round pick in exchange for linebacker Zeke Moreno in the 2008 CFL season. Who here remembers Zeke Moreno?

The hate still burns.

[Blue In BC]

Maybe Corey Mace, drafted by the Bombers in 2007 but also signed with the Buffalo Bills where he hung around for 2 seasons played in 3 games and recorded a single tackle. Don't know if he forced the Bombers hand but the Hamilton Tiger-Cats acquired Mace's CFL rights along with a 2009 CFL draft first round pick in exchange for linebacker Zeke Moreno in the 2008 CFL season. Who here remembers Zeke Moreno?

The hate still burns.

Option year versus draft retention situation. Yes I remember Moreno.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Option year versus draft retention situation. Yes I remember Moreno.

I sure don't, from Wiki the Bombers traded the rights to Mace plus their first round draft pick in 2009 for Moreno.  Brendan Taman was the GM at the time.