Roughriders, three other teams exceed CFL salary cap in 2024

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The Canadian Football League has handed down discipline to four teams who went over the salary cap during the 2024 season.

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The Saskatchewan Roughriders, Toronto Argonauts and Ottawa Redblacks have all been fined for going over the cap last season while the B.C. Lions are forfeiting draft picks due to their excessive spending along with being fined.

Last season, as the team was forced to juggle the lineup to due injuries, the Roughriders went over the $5.525-million cap by $40,121, while the Argonauts went over by $87,103 and the Redblacks by $22,914.

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The Lions, who signed quarterback Nathan Rourke and defensive lineman Mathieu Betts during the season, went over the cap by $347,889.

B.C. will forfeit their first- and second-round draft picks — No. 3 and No. 9 overall — in the 2025 CFL Draft.

As per the CFL constitution, the team with the highest waiver priority — the Calgary Stampeders who finished in last place in 2024 — will be awarded B.C.’s picks as the final selections in the first two rounds (No. 8 and No. 17 overall).

Due to their placement in the standings, the Stampeders also hold the first overall pick followed by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats at No. 2 and Redblacks at No. 3.

The Roughriders hold the fourth overall pick followed by the Montreal Alouettes at No. 5, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at No. 6 and the Argonauts at No. 7.

The Edmonton Elks previously forfeited their first-round pick after selecting receiver Zach Mathis in the 2024 supplemental draft.

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The Blue Bombers and Lions have also gained picks later in the draft — No. 18 and No. 19 overall respectively — as a result of the “National Snaps Reward System” which rewards teams who use the most National players during the season.

In February, the league announced the salary cap will be increasing by more than $400,000 for 2025, bringing the cap up to $6.062 million due to the revenue growth sharing model in the collective bargaining agreement. Last season, the CFL made $18 million above the initial baseline revenue, which triggered the cap increase.

CFLPA introduces Mackie

At the CFL Players’ Association annual general meeting this week in Niagara Falls, Ont., David Mackie was introduced as the new executive director, taking over for Brian Ramsay.

Mackie, a 30-year-old Ontario native who was a fullback for the B.C. Lions for seven years, hung up his cleats to take this new role, which is one he’s excited about.

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“Shortly after Brian announced that he was leaving, I had a number of conversations with (CFLPA President Solomon Eliminian) and Brian and some of our advisors on whether or not I should throw my name in the hat and if it’s something that I would like to do, but most importantly, be good at, and be a voice and a face for this association,” said Mackie. “Some thought was that if I were to get this job, I would step away (from playing).

“So if I didn’t receive this job, I was going to continue playing. And I know I had a lot of football left, but this is an opportunity that allows me to stay in the game for a long time. I get to impact the game on a greater scale than what I would as a football player. And as much as I love this game, I love it enough to step away and know I can make an impact.”

“We went through extensive, thorough hiring process,” said Elimimian. “It took months and months. We interviewed up to 75 candidates, and that process led us to hiring David Mackie.

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“He knows the issues. Obviously, he’s relatable to membership. He’s very intelligent. And he always puts the membership first.”

Mackie, who was B.C.’s player CFLPA rep for several seasons, said his top priorities include health and safety of the CFLPA membership along with finding more common ground with the league, which will have a new commissioner this season after Randy Ambrosie announced his retirement last year.

“A top priority is ultimately growing a true relationship and a partnership with the CFL,” said Mackie. “There’s new leadership on both sides; I’m stepping into this role (and) there’s a new commissioner.

“I understand this is a labour relationship, and it’s not always going to be sunshine and rainbows, but at the same time, on a daily basis, there’s ways that we can grow this league together, and our players should be involved.”

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tshire@postmedia.com

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