FRIDAY CAT COUNTRY COMMENTARY

(Listen daily for the Rod Pedersen Commentary at 9:50 am and 5:20 pm on Cat Country 98 FM)

AT SOME POINT WE’RE GOING TO NEED TO ADDRESS THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE CFL AND ITS PLAYERS IS STRAINED AGAIN OVER COMMISSIONER RANDY AMBROSIE’S HANDLING OF THE COVID SITUATION.

PLAYERS TEMPERS FLARED THURSDAY AFTER AMBROSIE TOLD TSN RADIO THAT HE’S BEEN IN CONSTANT COMMUNICATION WITH THE PLAYERS ASSOCIATION THROUGHOUT THIS WHOLE PROCESS. HOWEVER P-A EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BRIAN RAMSAY TOOK TO TWITTER SAYING THAT’S SIMPLY NOT TRUE.

THEN CAME AN AVALANCHE OF TWITTER VITRIOL FROM PLAYERS LIKE JAMES WILDER JUNIOR, VERNON ADAMS, RICHIE LEONE AND MORE ABOUT WHY THEY HAVEN’T HEARD ANYTHING AND IF THEY SHOULD GO GET JOBS. THEY GOT BILLS TO PAY AND FAMILIES TO FEED.

IT’S UGLY. AND WHILE I’M NOT PREPARED TO PICK A SIDE – YET – THIS IS A SITUATION THAT CAN’T PERCULATE ANY LONGER.

IT WAS FINE FOR PLAYERS TO GO WITHOUT CHEQUES IN THE SPRING, TRAINING CAMP AND PRESEASON (THEY ALWAYS DO) BUT THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE WEEK 1 OF THE CFL SEASON. THE PLAYERS HAVE BUDGETED TO BE PAID NOW.

BUT THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO INDICATION THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL BE PROVIDING WAGE SUBSIDIES FOR CFL PLAYERS, LET ALONE THE TEAMS THEMSELVES. WHAT A MESS.

HERE’S WHAT I THINK WILL HAPPEN: THE SAME THING THAT ALWAYS HAPPENS.

AMBROSIE AND THE OWNERS WILL COME UP WITH A PLAN TO PLAY AND PRESENT THE PLAYERS WITH A TAKE-IT-OR-LEAVE-IT OFFER. THEN THEY’LL TAKE IT.

BECAUSE IF THEY DON’T, THERE ARE PLENTY OF REPLACEMENT PLAYERS WILLING TO HIT THE FIELD THANKS TO THE ABSENCE OF UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL.

THAT’S TODAY’S ROD PEDERSEN COMMENTARY ON CAT COUNTRY 98.