RIDERS PLANNED FOR SALARY CAP STATUS QUO

Riders planned for salary cap status quo


By Murray McCormick, Saskatchewan News Network; Regina Leader-PostJanuary 15, 2009 5:28 AM


REGINA -- It's business as usual for the CFL and the Saskatchewan Roughriders in regards to the salary cap for 2009.

On Wednesday, the CFL announced that the salary expenditure cap would remain at $4.2 million for a second consecutive year. Eric Tillman, the Riders' general manager, has been operating under the assumption that CFL salary cap would remain the same. In 2008, the cap was increased by 3.75 per cent, from $4.05 million to $4.2 million.

"Because we've been operating under the premise that the cap would remain the same, the announcement will not impact us," Tillman said Wednesday. "Given the current state of the economy, all of us with jobs should be very thankful. Just getting a paycheque is a blessing."

CFL commissioner Mark Cohon said in a media release that the current cap reflects the CFL's responsible approach to the current economy. The league recorded an average attendance of 29,000 in 2009, with the Riders averaging 29,996 after selling out each home game. The CFL also garnered strong ratings on TSN.

"Our league is well positioned for challenging times, because it is affordable for Canadian families, accessible to our fans and prudent in how it conducts its business," Cohon said. "The Board of Governors has strived to maintain that affordability, accessibility and prudence in holding the cap number steady for 2009."

The Riders exceeded the salary cap in 2007 by $76,752 and were fined that amount by the league. That was the first season of the league-enforced salary cap and Tillman inherited a team that was salary heavy.

Tillman declined to answer when asked if the Riders would be over the salary cap for 2008, adding the CFL has asked teams to let it speak in regards to that issue. In 2008, the Riders endured numerous injuries. The Riders were forced to place some players on the nine-game injured list, even though they might have been able to return earlier.

"By sitting players out longer than they were actually injured (placing them on the nine-game injured list), we drove our bottom line up, hurt our product on the field but helped ourselves with the cap," Tillman said. "In truth, we had no other choice because without doing so we were going to be an absolute salary cap disaster."

The Riders also made serious salary-cap decisions leading up to the 2008 season. Quarterback Kerry Joseph, the league's most outstanding player in 2007. was traded to the Argonauts and defensive end Fred Perry was dealt to the Edmonton Eskimos. Veteran linebacker Reggie Hunt and returner-running back Corey Holmes were allowed to leave via free agency to help ease the salary cap crunch.

"We're totally supportive of the cap in the big-picture concept," Tillman said. "Without our brutal injury situation, we would have been in great shape cap wise. I think many people will be surprised when it's official, given the magnitude of what the final number might have been."