Murray Wood: Who's hot... and who's not
Every Friday, Murray Wood takes a look at the week's news and decides who's hot... and who's not. This week's list inclu...
This is supposed to be the final week of the CFL off-season.
Judging by the status of negotiations between the league and its players’ association, it looks like the off-season is going to last a bit longer. Maybe a week or two, maybe a month. Although more negotiations are scheduled, it simply doesn’t appear as if the two sides will have a new collective bargaining agreement in place before training camps are scheduled to open Sunday.
The players have been eager to explain their side of the discussions, that they’re looking for a safer working environment, better health and disability insurance, plus the regular issue of raising salaries. They also — for the first time ever — have laid out their plans for a potential strike.
The owners have been silent. Except for the odd bleat coming from team officials expressing optimism that a new deal will be worked out, the CFL is doing what it has done basically since the CFLPA was formed in 1965 — methodically pressuring the players into playing. But this year seems different as the first serious walkout in CFL history looks imminent.
