Stewart Johnston: New CFL Commissioner

Stats Junkie · April 02, 2025, 03:32:31 PM

As reported by Dan Ralph (CP) yesterday, the new CFL commissioner is Stewart Johnston

https://www.cfl.ca/2025/04/02/stewart-johnston-appointed-15th-commissioner-of-the-canadian-football-league/

Blue In BC · April 02, 2025, 03:38:34 PM

Ok. What would we like to see him address in 2025? Mine is a short list of questions / topics. I think my position has been stated in the past. So this is more about what others are thinking.

1. The new SMS and what to do with the extra money.
2. Global initiative.
3. Quicker resolution on any suspensions.
4. Rule improvement / clarification on the ability for game disqualification decisions.

Throw Long Bannatyne · April 02, 2025, 03:48:39 PM

So much for the debate about a former player getting the job, this guy is a former Bell Media executive. Could be good, could be bad, I guess.

theaardvark · April 02, 2025, 04:02:36 PM

Sounds like he has a good background to negotiate deals, which will be his primary duty other than ribbon cutting and handing out the GC.

Would be nice to see a former player installed as his VP still...

dd · April 02, 2025, 09:19:05 PM

Interesting....good to have someone with his background negotiating the next TV deal for the league- may as well have someone from the inside on your side at the negotiating table, he knows the economics behind it, wonder if the league gets a better deal than they have now...we'll see how this goes...

Throw Long Bannatyne · April 02, 2025, 09:28:29 PM

Quote from: dd on April 02, 2025, 09:19:05 PMInteresting....good to have someone with his background negotiating the next TV deal for the league- may as well have someone from the inside on your side at the negotiating table, he knows the economics behind it, wonder if the league gets a better deal than they have now...we'll see how this goes...

Not sure how hard he'll bargain against his former employer, likely scenario he ends up working for Bell again once his tenure with the CFL is over. Being fairly young I'm guessing he'll stay 4 years or less then move on to a better opportunity.

theaardvark · April 02, 2025, 09:43:26 PM

Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on April 02, 2025, 09:28:29 PMNot sure how hard he'll bargain against his former employer, likely scenario he ends up working for Bell again once his tenure with the CFL is over. Being fairly young I'm guessing he'll stay 4 years or less then move on to a better opportunity.

The other way to look at it.

He has nothing to gain by screwing over his new employer to benefit his old one. And if anyone would know just how much they can pay... well, I can't think anyone who would know better.

If he's looking for a few years and then move on, you may be right. But none of his statements say that to me, rather they signal he wants this to be his last job...

gobombersgo · April 02, 2025, 11:22:00 PM

Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on April 02, 2025, 09:28:29 PMNot sure how hard he'll bargain against his former employer, likely scenario he ends up working for Bell again once his tenure with the CFL is over. Being fairly young I'm guessing he'll stay 4 years or less then move on to a better opportunity.

He has been at TSN since 1997 and been it's President since 2010. That shows he's not one to be jumping from better opportunity to opportunity.

Money might not be the only thing that drives him as he was probably making more at TSN than he will as CFL commissioner.

BLUEBOMBER · April 03, 2025, 09:19:13 AM

Guess he would have been fired by TSN just like so many of his colleagues so he jumped boat before it sank...

TecnoGenius · April 03, 2025, 09:47:53 AM

Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on April 02, 2025, 03:48:39 PMSo much for the debate about a former player getting the job, this guy is a former Bell Media executive, looks like the epitome of a pencil necked geek. Could be good, could be bad, I guess.

Ugh... Being a big Bell guy is probably not a good thing. He could be "being installed" to basically undercut the CFL to the benefit of Bell.

Now you have Bell negotiating with Bell when the TV contract is renewed. Ya, there's so many things wrong with that and the league might get royally screwed. What does Bell(/TSN/Disney) care about the CFL long term?

Hopefully I'm wrong. At least it'll only take the next TV contract to find out.

As for pencil-necked, nothing wrong with that!

Maybe he's like the Moneyball nerd (i.e. a good thing). However, that may be what you want in a GM, not a league commish.

Sir Blue and Gold · April 03, 2025, 02:26:41 PM

Quote from: theaardvark on April 02, 2025, 04:02:36 PMSounds like he has a good background to negotiate deals, which will be his primary duty other than ribbon cutting and handing out the GC.

Would be nice to see a former player installed as his VP still...

Shocked they passed on Adam Bighill.

Blue In BC · April 03, 2025, 04:23:32 PM

Quote from: Sir Blue and Gold on April 03, 2025, 02:26:41 PMShocked they passed on Adam Bighill.

Was he interested in the position and / or was he even mentioned to be in the running? He's a smart guy and could have been an interesting choice.

I never really heard about a specific list of candidates including Johnson for that matter. I think there were a few posters suggested some choices they thought might be on their lists?

Throw Long Bannatyne · April 03, 2025, 04:40:32 PM

Quote from: Blue In BC on April 03, 2025, 04:23:32 PMWas he interested in the position and / or was he even mentioned to be in the running? He's a smart guy and could have been an interesting choice.

I never really heard about a specific list of candidates including Johnson for that matter. I think there were a few posters suggested some choices they thought might be on their lists?

I don't think Bighill has given up on his football career yet, hasn't announced his retirement and probably still rehabbing. Don't be shocked if O'Shea adds him back to the team in some capacity at some point, I'm half expecting it.

Throw Long Bannatyne · April 03, 2025, 05:28:41 PM

Quote from: TecnoGenius on April 03, 2025, 09:47:53 AMUgh... Being a big Bell guy is probably not a good thing. He could be "being installed" to basically undercut the CFL to the benefit of Bell.

Now you have Bell negotiating with Bell when the TV contract is renewed. Ya, there's so many things wrong with that and the league might get royally screwed. What does Bell(/TSN/Disney) care about the CFL long term?

Hopefully I'm wrong. At least it'll only take the next TV contract to find out.

As for pencil-necked, nothing wrong with that! Maybe he's like the Moneyball nerd (i.e. a good thing). However, that may be what you want in a GM, not a league commish.

Yah, not totally comfortable having a Bell plant inside head office, it's like an industry lobbyist joining the ruling government at a wage half of what they earned previously. You know who they're really working for. Bell could radically demand changes to league rules (4 downs, less Canucks) and wave their contract at the CFL, with no other network to play against the CFL may have little option but to acquiesce to the direction they wish to push the league.

Blue In BC · April 03, 2025, 05:37:18 PM

Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on April 03, 2025, 04:40:32 PMI don't think Bighill has given up on his football career yet, hasn't announced his retirement and probably still rehabbing. Don't be shocked if O'Shea adds him back to the team in some capacity at some point, I'm half expecting it.

The salary was reported at $750K earlier and that it should be raised to over $1M. There is no comparison to what his football salary might be if he found a team interested.

He might find a new home later in the season but I would be shocked if it was in Winnipeg. We have Jones, Jones, Wilson and Ayers plus some rookies in TC.

Barring injury we have no room. Several of those we have are younger, have less injury history and are less expensive.

As much as Bighill is a fan favourite, the business decision is to move forward. I'd be happy to see him added to the coaching ranks but that's another role, cost and number allowed to have in that SMS category. I don't think we have space or money for that at the moment.