CFL (Non-Bombers) off-season news

[Blue In BC]

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

I'd have no problem with that idea. Although if teams don't exceed the SMS by much it's almost moot. What you might see is less PR players activated to end the season.

Regardless, an equivalent fine as well as a deduction from the next SMS is a worthy suggestion. In effect it doubles the fine impact.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

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.

People seem to constantly equate overspending the salary cap to winning, when has that ever been the case in the CFL?

[Blue In BC]

People seem to constantly equate overspending the salary cap to winning, when has that ever been the case in the CFL?

It might have been before SMS when rich teams could just buy the best players available.

However, spending to the limit should raise the odds if you spend well.

[Tecno]

That is one of your better suggestions.

Thanks?

[Tecno]

People seem to constantly equate overspending the salary cap to winning, when has that ever been the case in the CFL?

Well, money does buy you talent.  Talent, on average, will win you more games.

Money bought us Ceresna instead of Vaughters.  Will we win more because of this?  Probably (assuming both stay healthy).  The stats become skewed in your favor.  All Ceresna has to do is perform to his normal talent level.  Vaughters would have to perform above and beyond to get close to Ceresna.

It's a numbers, money-ball type of thing.

You're right that more SMS spend doesn't magically get you cup, but all things being equal it'll sure help.  I think what's even more important in the CFL is being able to have top-level guys on ELC -- meaning good drafting and scouting.  But then again, the reason that helps so much is it leaves extra SMS for you to spend on the $$$ big-name talent...

[Tecno]

I'd have no problem with that idea. Although if teams don't exceed the SMS by much it's almost moot.

I wouldn't expect that statement out of you!  You of all people know the value of penny pinching on the SMS.  $18k over doesn't sound like much, but that basically is the difference between an ELC guy and an over-$100k guy.  That might be the difference between keeping a middling up'n'comer vs losing him.

I bet a lot of guys feel a lot better in year 3 if they can get the bump over the magic psychological $100k vs stuck in the ELC rut.

[Blue In BC]

I wouldn't expect that statement out of you!  You of all people know the value of penny pinching on the SMS.  $18k over doesn't sound like much, but that basically is the difference between an ELC guy and an over-$100k guy.  That might be the difference between keeping a middling up'n'comer vs losing him.

I bet a lot of guys feel a lot better in year 3 if they can get the bump over the magic psychological $100k vs stuck in the ELC rut.

It's not about penny pinching. It's about spending wisely and getting value for money. Last year we brought in Mitchell and Logan that cost us a lot of money for little in return. We trimmed some expensive other players from the roster for 2026.

I support spending to the limit of the SMS. It's a balancing act.

Regardless the comment was about the idea of reducing an SMS by the amount exceeded. If you exceeded in the previous year, in theory you've reduced the next season by that amount. So if you get a reduced SMS by that amount it's a net zero change.

[markf]

Good news For people that are going to miss slamming Jake...

"HARRISONBURG, Va. – Former James Madison safety Jacob Thomas has signed a contract with the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League."

I realize it won't be the same, but still,better than nothing.

[TBURGESS]

Going over the SMS doesn't mean getting the best talent; just ask Ottawa, who was the only team that went over last year. 

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Going over the SMS doesn't mean getting the best talent; just ask Ottawa, who was the only team that went over last year.

Sometimes desperation drives spending, Bob Dyce was sacked last year and Shawn Burke is within one bad season of losing his GM job.

Correction: Burke got kicked upstairs when Dinwiddie was hired, he is now the vice president of football operations.

[Tecno]

Going over the SMS doesn't mean getting the best talent; just ask Ottawa, who was the only team that went over last year.

And yet many of the seasons we went to the cup we were over.  I think even 1-2 years we were far over, though still under the fine-threshold amount?

Yes, it doesn't guarantee good on-field performance, but all else being equal more money -> more talent -> more wins.

The problem with OTT was all else wasn't equal.

[Tecno]

Regardless the comment was about the idea of reducing an SMS by the amount exceeded. If you exceeded in the previous year, in theory you've reduced the next season by that amount. So if you get a reduced SMS by that amount it's a net zero change.

That is true, but it's still better than what it is now: buying an advantage.

And because of your point, I'll change my idea to: if you go over the SMS cap, you get DOUBLE that overage amount taken off your next-season SMS.  In addition to real-$ fines and draft picks.

It's good the honor system worked again this season, and it's good they b-slapped Doman down after his 2024 shenanigans.  But can we rely on this forever?  All it takes is a desperate or unscrupulous billionaire owner to pull the next Doman...  Putting more teeth into it would dissuade at the margin.