CFL Hands Down Draft Penalties

In the First Year of Full Implementation of the salary Management System, the CFL Has Handed Down Punishments for Montreal and Saskatchewan for Going Over the Cap in 2007.

Toronto, ON - (April 28, 2008)  - Following a comprehensive audit and review process, final results show six of eight teams were under the $4.05 million salary cap for 2007, the first full year of the Canadian Football League's (CFL) new Salary Management System (SMS), the league announced today.

"The cap is real, it's being enforced and it's working," said Commissioner Mark Cohon.

"It's working to ensure our league has a level playing field and a sustainable business model. And it's working in the long term interests of our league, our players and, most importantly, our fans."

The Montreal Alouettes exceeded the salary cap by $108,285, and have been fined $116,570.

Since they exceeded the cap by more than $100,000, they also lose their first round pick (4^th overall) in this Wednesday's 2008 CFL Canadian Draft, which can be seen live on TSN.ca and CFL.ca at Noon ET.

That pick will revert to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats at the end of the first round, the team that is first in the order of waiver priority after recording the fewest number of wins last season.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders exceeded the cap by $76,552 and have been fined $76,552.

The British Columbia Lions, Calgary Stampeders, Edmonton Eskimos, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Toronto Argonauts and Hamilton Tiger-Cats were all under the Salary Expenditure Cap (SEC).

Under the provisions of the SMS, set by the league's Board of Governors, teams are fined one dollar for every dollar they exceed the cap up to 100,000 dollars, and two dollars for every dollar they exceed the cap between 100,000 and 300,000 dollars, plus the loss of the team's first round draft pick. Teams are fined three dollars for every dollar they exceed the SEC beyond $300,000 and they lose their first two draft selections.

Cohon added, "In 2007, the CFL has proven it can operate under a salary management system that ensures competitive balance on the field and greater stability off the field."

"A lot of credit needs to go to our teams for their focus on making this work," said Michael Copeland, the league's Chief Operating Officer. "They realize how important it is to our league and our future."

The salary cap for the upcoming 2008 season has been set at $4.2 million per team.

Updated First Round Selection Order

1)    Hamilton Tiger-Cats

2)    Edmonton Eskimos

3)    Calgary Stampeders

4)    Saskatchewan Roughriders (via Toronto )

5)    B.C. Lions

6)    Winnipeg Blue Bombers

7)    Montreal Alouettes (via Saskatchewan)

8)    Hamilton Tiger-Cats (via Montreal Forfeit)