2027 SMS increase

[Tecno]

And we're not competing with NFL ELC. No one ever said that. We're competing with NFL pr and tryout money! And now we can finally top that.

A qb might not do the pr and tryout circuit as long anymore if they have an expectation they can be a star qb here in a couple of years.

Yes, making it down south is the top goal and the huge money, but settling for making it in the CFL, where it's arguably way easier, is no longer a joke few hundred thousand. If you're the best here, you'll be making the magic million.

[Blue In BC]

Depends on the person. But if your mindset is you're going to be the ceo in 9 to 18 months you probably don't care what your starting salary is.

That's what these qbs are thinking. That's the Kelly scenario. And it is possible!

Not really. A new employee has to have the capability, experience and education to progress to a higher position. In that case the initial salary is not as critical. However, a contract can be signed with scheduled increases to salary at intervals. 90 days for example. I've had those in my contracts often. An expanded role / title can also be negotiated along with things like golden parachute exits.

A rookie QB that has no pro experience and maybe not even great college success is not in that kind of position. It doesn't matter what they are thinking.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

We're all discussing more money. Yes, the million dollar salary creates awareness that a higher ELC does not. No, we cant raise ELC's in this moment, but if the cap goes way up then the ELC will also get bumped in the new CBA. We just don't have that info yet.

Obviously more money will bring in more people. It feels crazy that you're arguing the point.

The CFL already benefits from attracting the most motivated college players who wish to continue their professional football careers after being rejected by the NFL, they've got nowhere else to go.

Bringing in another hundred players to compete wouldn't necessarily improve the quality of player other than by random chance. A vast majority of college players balk at moving to a foreign country unless led by the hand of their agent. 

Singer didn't even know the CFL existed and he grew up in Minnesota.  Raising the profile of the CFL as a whole would attract more attention, the quality of import players is not the issue.

[Blue In BC]

And we're not competing with NFL ELC. No one ever said that. We're competing with NFL pr and tryout money! And now we can finally top that.

A qb might not do the pr and tryout circuit as long anymore if they have an expectation they can be a star qb here in a couple of years.

Yes, making it down south is the top goal and the huge money, but settling for making it in the CFL, where it's arguably way easier, is no longer a joke few hundred thousand. If you're the best here, you'll be making the magic million.

I think that's a stretch IMO. Players looking at PR money will compare directly to CFL ELC as the current question. 

The USFL QB's are often getting more than CFL ELC's, in a shorter season, at home with greater NFL visibility.  They also have a greater chance to start quickly. New league and rapidly changing rosters makes that easier.

Even with that, the  Argos signed Luis Perez who was relatively successful in the USFL but released him quickly. We signed Perkins who was the USFL MVP in 2025 and he's our # 3 QB.

[Jesse]

The CFL already benefits from attracting the most motivated college players who wish to continue their professional football careers after being rejected by the NFL, they've got nowhere else to go.

Bringing in another hundred players to compete wouldn't necessarily improve the quality of player other than by random chance. A vast majority of college players balk at moving to a foreign country unless led by the hand of their agent. 

Singer didn't even know the CFL existed and he grew up in Minnesota.  Raising the profile of the CFL as a whole would attract more attention, the quality of import players is not the issue.

It's still up to scouts and GMs to recruit the right players and coaches to do their job once they got the guys.

But the idea isn't that we're just bringing in more players, but that were convincing guys on our neg list to come up who have previously refused.

[Tecno]

My main gist is that these things aren't about the now, they are about the near future. The promising qbs don't care about the low pay now. They've been working their whole life on the promise of a big payday later. Another 2 seasons on a CFL elc won't dissuade them.

Don't forget these are mostly young guys with no families and no expenses that are used to living 2 to an apartment.

The now money is meaningless. It's just something to sustain them. The dream is all that matters. And now a new dream of being a star CFL qb doesn't look too shabby! Especially once it's clear you're too short of small or undesirable or whatever for the NFL.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

My main gist is that these things aren't about the now, they are about the near future. The promising qbs don't care about the low pay now. They've been working their whole life on the promise of a big payday later. Another 2 seasons on a CFL elc won't dissuade them.

Don't forget these are mostly young guys with no families and no expenses that are used to living 2 to an apartment.

The now money is meaningless. It's just something to sustain them. The dream is all that matters. And now a new dream of being a star CFL qb doesn't look too shabby! Especially once it's clear you're too short of small or undesirable or whatever for the NFL.

There's also the problem of few teams and fewer QB opportunities, with only 9 teams I'd guess not even 9 new QB's got their foot in the door this season at entry level wages.

For every over-confident rookie QB that tries, there are 9 others that know they won't make it and will be wasting their time competing against more experienced QB's, and the historical record shows they're right.

[bomb squad]

A 700,000 US$ salary (that's what we're really talking about here) for 5 years+ is enough money (if he's smart) to make a young American man financially set for the rest of his life. To have a job where you a play a game you love and dedicated your whole childhood to. That's pretty attractive.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

A 700,000 US$ salary (that's what we're really talking about here) for 5 years+ is enough money (if he's smart) to make a young American man financially set for the rest of his life. To have a job where you a play a game you love and dedicated your whole childhood to. That's pretty attractive.

A whole heckuva lot of them have nothing else to fall back on, they went to University to play football and that's all they come away with.

The NCAA rules that allow them to transfer schools repeatedly until they find a starting spot has badly decimated their learning process and most now finish without degrees.

[Tecno]

The NCAA rules that allow them to transfer schools repeatedly until they find a starting spot has badly decimated their learning process and most now finish without degrees.

They allow that?  I thought the football programs all required them keeping a decent GPA and normal course load.  Or am I thinking 1980's?

You know, rocks for jocks, and basket weaving 101.

[Tecno]

For every over-confident rookie QB that tries, there are 9 others that know they won't make it and will be wasting their time competing against more experienced QB's, and the historical record shows they're right.

I don't think experience counts for squat.  Look at Alexander.  He had no real experience after college before becoming a CFL top-1 QB.  Same with Rourke.  I don't think any young guy is sitting there ruing his lack of experience.

As for "know they won't make it"... that requires being in the CFL for a year or two.  Only then will they maybe accept they aren't the next Mahomes.  Their agents (and family) might let them know; but it takes a lot before a guy believes it!

[TBURGESS]

If I was in charge, I'd give half of all SMS upgrades to the minimum salaries. The QB's still get paid, but the rest get their share too. Without that, all the new money goes to the stars.

[Tecno]

If I was in charge, I'd give half of all SMS upgrades to the minimum salaries. The QB's still get paid, but the rest get their share too. Without that, all the new money goes to the stars.

I think many of us are for a more even split of the windfall.  Yes to the ELC increase.  Giving it all to Kelly & Brady & Kenny doesn't engender warm fuzzies among all players.

BUT, it'll take a CBA to do it.

[Jesse]

If I was in charge, I'd give half of all SMS upgrades to the minimum salaries. The QB's still get paid, but the rest get their share too. Without that, all the new money goes to the stars.

Players union is pretty against this, iirc. They would rather money is given to current players rather than newbies coming in.

[Blue In BC]

Players union is pretty against this, iirc. They would rather money is given to current players rather than newbies coming in.

Of course that is the case. How does that work to the advantage of the team recruiting better talent? We will pay you squat now but you might become a star in 3 or 4 years and earn $1M later.