Lionbackers.com

From Arash Madani:
BREAKING: Have learned the #CFL and CFLPA are at an impasse on bargaining negotiations. Meetings scheduled for March 20, 21 are cancelled.

Breakdown in #CFL and PA talks centers on distribution of league revenues. Players want 56% share of the overall pot. League not budging.

#CFL player: Until we negotiate revenue sharing, there is no sense in meeting. League is not willing to negotiate a model of revenue sharing.

“We get the feeling the league and owners believe we’re weak. They’re sorely mistaken,” said a #CFL player close to the negotiations.

Have learned the #CFL proposed an 8-year CBA – longer than the TV deal (league's main revenue source). CFLPA response: "That's ridiculous."

From NEWS 1130 Sports:

#BCLions gm Wally Buono talked with the agent for rb Andrew Harris yesterday. The 2 sides trying to get on the same page.

Bouno doesn't know the salary cap # for next season - it's causing problems in re-signing Harris.

Ottawa wants a 1st round draft pick and 2 players for qb Kevin Glenn. Too rich today for Bouno who may be looking at plan B and C.

The next CFL C-B-A meeting will be in 3 weeks. The 2 sides will try and close a rather large gap.

Arash Madani ‏@ArashMadani 2m

The CFLPA has kept membership aware of the process via conference calls. One player said union and #CFL are “at polar opposites right now.”

The players gave up their guaranteed share of revenues in the last CBA. Now that the league has more money from the new TV contract, the players want their guaranteed share. That's only fair but it's hard to get back something that's been given up. And without a new CBA, there can't be a new salary cap, which makes it hard for GMs and agents to negotiate contracts.

Shi Zi Mi wrote:From Arash Madani:

From NEWS 1130 Sports:

#BCLions gm Wally Buono talked with the agent for rb Andrew Harris yesterday. The 2 sides trying to get on the same page.

Bouno doesn't know the salary cap # for next season - it's causing problems in re-signing Harris.

Ottawa wants a 1st round draft pick and 2 players for qb Kevin Glenn. Too rich today for Bouno who may be looking at plan B and C.

Get Andrew Harris signed and happy. Not buying the salary cap excuse, as I expect Andrew won't buy it either.

Yes, too much for Kevin Glenn. Good luck with that, Ottawa. All they can expect is one player, or one draft pick, it seems to me.

As it happens, between Burris and Glenn, I prefer Glenn.

Arash Madani's Sportsnet article

http://www.sportsnet.ca/football/cfl/cf ... ion-talks/

Players asking for 56% is too much.

Blue In BC wrote:Players asking for 56% is too much.

Every negotiation has a starting point that is far different from what a party is willing to accept.......IMHO, the players see just the re-instatement of revenue sharing as far more important than the actual number they receive......it lays the foundation for future negotiations.

Matthew Scianitti ‏@TSNScianitti 23m

1/2 The player did stress: "All we're looking for is a fair share,nothing more. That means a revenue sharing agreement of some sort... #CFL

2/2 The player continued: "So far the #CFL has said they will not put anything like that on the table, but it's still EARLY in the process"

Blue In BC wrote:Players asking for 56% is too much.

Well, it's certainly out-of-line in comparison with other major leagues and sports. In the NFL, the players' share is about 48%. In the NBA, it's about 51%. In the NHL, it's 50%, and in MLB, it has slipped steadily over the past few years to somewhere in the 40-50% range.

Players have been getting about 30% of average team revenues ($4.4M SMS + 9-game Injured), not including the Riders. So the 56% proposal is ridiculous, especially with the increased revenues due to the TV contract. There's just is no money for that, the league would go bankrupt.

The player percentage of revenue idea just doesn't work in the CFL, that's why they got rid of it. The players should be satisfied with 30% of the TV contract increase, which amounts to about $650,000 per team. So the SMS could go up to $5.05 million over a 5-year term.

The league could give up the 8-year CBA if the players gave up their percentage demand.

A better tact might be to reward the current players who've been instrumental in increasing the TV revenues. For example, pay all roster players a signing bonus which would be paid out on top of their existing contracts. Many of the current players might not be around for another contract at the higher Cap, or at best might collect only 2-3 years of increased salary. Reward the players now and let's get this season started!

WestCoastJoe wrote:.....As it happens, between Burris and Glenn, I prefer Glenn.

Me too! Glenn was willing to go into Burris' old stomping (stampeding?) ground to play backup, something Burris was NOT willing to do. Due to injuries to the starter, Glenn played a lot of starter instead. I totally get why Glenn feels he deserves a shot at starting. And yes, given a choice between the two, I'd prefer Glenn. Guess thats why I'm a fan (and not a GM)......

Shi Zi Mi wrote:Ottawa wants a 1st round draft pick and 2 players for qb Kevin Glenn. Too rich today for Bouno who may be looking at plan B and C.

Hefty asking price for a 38 year old quarterback.

TheLionKing wrote:

Shi Zi Mi wrote:Ottawa wants a 1st round draft pick and 2 players for qb Kevin Glenn. Too rich today for Bouno who may be looking at plan B and C.

Hefty asking price for a 38 year old quarterback.

Ya sorry, I want nothing to do with Glenn if we have to give up ANYTHING close to that

TheLionKing wrote:

Shi Zi Mi wrote:Ottawa wants a 1st round draft pick and 2 players for qb Kevin Glenn. Too rich today for Bouno who may be looking at plan B and C.

Hefty asking price for a 38 year old quarterback.

Must be metric conversion. He won't be 38 until June 12, 2017.

That's still a hefty price to be paying for a 35 year old quarterback.