FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NFL-28
6/27/01
The National Football League and the Canadian Football
League today announced two changes in its signing procedures of Canadian
Football League players who have an option year remaining on their CFL
contracts.
After review by the NFL’s Competition Committee, the
following changes will apply to all CFL players with an option year remaining on
their CFL contracts who have signed a contract with an NFL team:
1)
These CFL players will not be allocated to NFL Europe League teams;
2)
If the CFL player is subsequently waived by his NFL team, he has a 10-day
window after termination to sign a contract with any NFL team, including its
practice squad if he is eligible, before his rights automatically revert to his
CFL club.
“Commissioner Michael Lysko
approached us several months ago with concerns about some of the conditions
surrounding the signing of CFL players by NFL teams,” said DOUG QUINN, senior
vice president of NFL International. “Through the NFL-CFL Alliance, we were
able to work through the issues to come to today’s resolution. We support the
CFL and share its goal of strengthening the interest and support of football
among Canadians.”
In 1997 the NFL and CFL formed a
financial and marketing support partnership called the NFL/CFL Alliance.
Originally a five-year agreement, the agreement was extended through the 2003
season in 1999. Under the agreement, CFL players entering the option years of
their contracts are permitted to sign with NFL clubs.
The National Football League and
Canadian Football League also work together through the Alliance to support
football at the grassroots level in Canada. NFL/CFL
Flag Football Canada (www.flagfootball.ca)
is an elementary in-school phys-ed program currently active in more than 1,100
schools. Other initiatives include the NFL/CFL High School Coach Recognition
Program, Practice with the Pros and “Test the Best,” a series of national
skill evaluations for Canadian high school players.
For more information, contact:
Bob Stellick/Brian Findlay,
NFL Canada
(416) 603-9452
Pete Abitante
NFL
(212) 450-2065
Sean Lackie
CFL
(416) 322-9650, ext. 234