WAR ERUPTS OVER CFL CANADIAN RATIO DECREASE IDEA
A war has erupted among CFL players following the weekend news that both the CFL and CFLPA are discussing lowering the number of starting Canadian players from the current seven down to five.
Future Roughrider Hall of Famer Chris Getzlaf got the party started on Saturday afternoon, calling this move a “terrible” idea. That prompted a response from CFLPA Executive Director Brian Ramsay calling the report “completely and utterly false”.
Not many of us believe that to be the case.
The war spilled over into Monday, between Canadian and American players, both past and present.
BC Lions receiver Duron Carter and former Lions, Roughriders and Argonauts defensive end Ricky Foley went at it pretty good on Twitter.
“You American CFL guys kill me,” Foley Tweeted from his account @Foley4Real. “Talkin’ bout they so much better than Canadians. Shouldn’t be a ratio. LMFAO. Y’all REALLY think Canadian citizens (are) gonna come out to watch a league full of NFL rejects without any local Canadian boys? (The) League would fold in 3 years ya big dummies.”
That prompted this response from Carter.
“And how good were you?” Carted Tweeted from @DC_CHILLIN_8. “I been on the same field as you. They wasn’t coming to see you either!!! Like, come on guy.”
Never mind the fact Foley is bound for the Canadian Football Hall of Fame as a rare Canadian rush end, and the owner of three Grey Cup rings.
It’s doubtful Foley would’ve gotten that opportunity if the ratio had only mandated five starting Canadians. That’s the same thing Getzlaf is saying about his own career.
Roughriders defensive end Charleston Hughes was clearly watching the discussion between Carter and Foley with interest, posting a Meme depicting a scene of George Clooney ducking out of the way.
If you haven’t figured out yet, Twitter is a helluva a lot of fun, particularly in times like this.
Regardless, despite his lack of fact-checking on Foley, Duron still had plenty of thoughts on Canadian players.
“Come on y’all,” Carter continued. “We all know the real (story). Yes, there are very good Canadian players and always will be … but until Canadians grow up in a competitive environment like American players do, they are at a disadvantage. And who the hell (is going to) play QB for every team Bridge.”
The last comment somehow seemed directed at Carter’s former teammate Brandon Bridge, but I can’t totally decipher what Carter meant by it.
Meanwhile free agent Canadian offensive lineman Josiah St. John – who spent the past 3 seasons with the Saskatchewan Roughriders – had a lengthy back-and-forth with journeyman CFL defensive lineman Shawn Lemon (an American).
“Don’t be mad god blessed me with a Canadian passport,” St. John Tweeted from his account @BigStJo.
That didn’t impress Lemon, who responded via Twitter: “This Tweet right here is the reason why the ratio should be changed. I rest my case.”
You don’t have to search very far on social media to find comments far and wide regarding what’s become a very sensitive subject.
In the meantime other CFL’ers are just sitting back and watching the shrapnel fly.
“SMH (Shake My Head),” Tweeted free agent defensive lineman Eddie Steele. “It’s getting ugly.”
If the goal of whomever leaked this info was to divide the CFL Players Association, they’ve been successful.
The CFL and CFLPA are in the middle of talks on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement with the first round of discussions being held last week in Toronto.
RP
@rodpedersen
