CFL free agency needs a new set of rules.
The league’s free agency window officially opens Tuesday afternoon, when about 200 player contracts expire.
In reality the teams have been working on free agency since the end of last season – they’ve re-signed some of their own potential free agents, plus they somehow let other teams’ free agents know they’re interested.
Think about this: Within 24 hours of the free agency window opening, virtually all of the best free agents will sign contracts with other teams.
How can that open in such a short period of time? It’s because the rules are being flaunted.
CFL teams have told a player’s agent, or a friend, or a current teammate – or maybe even contacted the player directly – to express their interest.
Everyone knows it happens. Some professional leagues allow – before free agency – a courting period, when teams can freely talk to players who are about to become free agents. Since it’s already happening in the CFL, the league should just write that into the rules.