Salaries, Caps and the Direction of the CFL
Inspired by some of the posts I've been reading I did some reflecting on free agents, salaries and so forth.
New owners eager for success, teams with deep pockets and no enforceable salary cap has led to free spending on players. The situation is escalating to the point where the desire to lure players is causing an unrealistic inflation of salaries.
And this is indeed the biggest danger.
Because while I'm the first one to run around saying 'you aren't cheating if you don't get caught' and 'you have to do whatever you can to make your team as good as possible' with respect to the cap, I'll also be the first one to say that if something isn't done about the escalating salary expenditures it's going to hurt us all. We remember how the Argos brought about their own problems through over-spending... their short term gain turned to long term pain and sent ripples through the whole league.
So here is a summary of TurfToe's early morning thoughts on salaries, caps, and the direction of the league...
Frist let's remember that by comparisson to other pro sports these free agent signings still really aren't that huge from a $$ standpoint. Granted, this is the CFL where there just isn't as much $$, but this is important to remember.
Second, the CFL is enjoying a renaissance and in a strange way, these big signings are actually adding to the perceived 'legitimacy' of the league.
Third, we know everyone is breaking the so called salary cap. We have seen the inability of the league to enforce a cap. We have seen teams demonstrate that their pockets are a bit deeper than many have surmised.
Fourth, We have to accept that people like Forzani, Sokolowski/Cynamon, Wetenhall, Braley, Young, etc. aren't dumbies. I mean some of these people have built extremely successful businesses, there is no denying that. And I think we can accept that despite his relative inaction on the cap issue, Tom Wright is also no slouch. His previous successes (with Adidas) speak for themselves.
Fifth, for years, as the cap breaking problem escalated, there was no clout behind the league's desire to enforce the cap. But the league overall has gotten stronger. And Wright knows full well that an enforeceable cap must be put into place other wise the league will suffer. He also knows that the owners want to build the most competitive team possible and to increase league/team perception.
So... Let me put this to you...
What we are seeing is Wright allowing the teams to push the envelope; to increase salaries - in some cases smartly, in others foolishly. By doing this the league enables teams to pay players more (which means the ability to attract a better calibre player) as well as increasing the perception of the league to a growing fan base.
What Wright is also doing in this is seeing where the line can be drawn between between realistic and damaging spending levels. He's seeing what the various markets can bear so that he can make decsions that are truly fair league wide.
It's like by allowing some free spending by owners now, he's 'buying' their capitulation for building an enforceable salary cap. At some point the owners themselves will say, 'I can't afford to spend that much'. But they would be willing to say, in unison, raise the cap to X dollars and we will comply with league enforcement because that's the only way we can both be competitive and viable into the future.
I'll admit this is all based on a lot of assumptions. However, the result should be a much higher, but far more enforceable cap. Teams win. Palyers win. The league gains just that much more momentum.
And if this ISN'T happening, then by god you guys better help me get into that commissioners chair!
New owners eager for success, teams with deep pockets and no enforceable salary cap has led to free spending on players. The situation is escalating to the point where the desire to lure players is causing an unrealistic inflation of salaries.
And this is indeed the biggest danger.
Because while I'm the first one to run around saying 'you aren't cheating if you don't get caught' and 'you have to do whatever you can to make your team as good as possible' with respect to the cap, I'll also be the first one to say that if something isn't done about the escalating salary expenditures it's going to hurt us all. We remember how the Argos brought about their own problems through over-spending... their short term gain turned to long term pain and sent ripples through the whole league.
So here is a summary of TurfToe's early morning thoughts on salaries, caps, and the direction of the league...
Frist let's remember that by comparisson to other pro sports these free agent signings still really aren't that huge from a $$ standpoint. Granted, this is the CFL where there just isn't as much $$, but this is important to remember.
Second, the CFL is enjoying a renaissance and in a strange way, these big signings are actually adding to the perceived 'legitimacy' of the league.
Third, we know everyone is breaking the so called salary cap. We have seen the inability of the league to enforce a cap. We have seen teams demonstrate that their pockets are a bit deeper than many have surmised.
Fourth, We have to accept that people like Forzani, Sokolowski/Cynamon, Wetenhall, Braley, Young, etc. aren't dumbies. I mean some of these people have built extremely successful businesses, there is no denying that. And I think we can accept that despite his relative inaction on the cap issue, Tom Wright is also no slouch. His previous successes (with Adidas) speak for themselves.
Fifth, for years, as the cap breaking problem escalated, there was no clout behind the league's desire to enforce the cap. But the league overall has gotten stronger. And Wright knows full well that an enforeceable cap must be put into place other wise the league will suffer. He also knows that the owners want to build the most competitive team possible and to increase league/team perception.
So... Let me put this to you...
What we are seeing is Wright allowing the teams to push the envelope; to increase salaries - in some cases smartly, in others foolishly. By doing this the league enables teams to pay players more (which means the ability to attract a better calibre player) as well as increasing the perception of the league to a growing fan base.
What Wright is also doing in this is seeing where the line can be drawn between between realistic and damaging spending levels. He's seeing what the various markets can bear so that he can make decsions that are truly fair league wide.
It's like by allowing some free spending by owners now, he's 'buying' their capitulation for building an enforceable salary cap. At some point the owners themselves will say, 'I can't afford to spend that much'. But they would be willing to say, in unison, raise the cap to X dollars and we will comply with league enforcement because that's the only way we can both be competitive and viable into the future.
I'll admit this is all based on a lot of assumptions. However, the result should be a much higher, but far more enforceable cap. Teams win. Palyers win. The league gains just that much more momentum.
And if this ISN'T happening, then by god you guys better help me get into that commissioners chair!
ty! I could've expanded my thoughts but I needed to get another cuppa joe.
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