He’s gearing up for the timely start of training camp, but the tumultuous state of contract talks between the CFL and the CFL Players’ Association doesn’t give veteran offensive lineman Derek Dennis a warm, fuzzy feeling for the season ahead.
The two sides remain far apart on an agreement heading towards the restart of negotiations on Wednesday. And time is of the essence as the current contract expires on Saturday, the day before the camps are scheduled to open.
“Even though it doesn’t feel like things are moving forward, you have to take it upon yourself to be a pro and be prepared (for camp),” Dennis said in a phone interview. “It doesn’t matter what happens, it’s my livelihood, so I put clothes on my kids’ backs and food on the table, so I have to approach it with the same attitude no matter what happens.
“It’s amazing what can be accomplished in 24 hours, so I just hope they spend the time before we’re supposed to leave our homes and families doing what’s right.”
Talks ended Thursday with the CFLPA rejecting the league’s proposal for a 10-year contract with no salary cap increase of $5.35 million and the removal of Canada’s quota. It also ruled out a union proposal that would allow players to negotiate guaranteed contracts and included a return to cushioned practices.
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The CFL issued two statements via social media on Friday, the second outlining a commitment to partnering with the players. The league previously tweeted, “Canadian players are the lifeblood of the CFL game, along with the veteran American players making careers here. That will not change.”
But the six-foot-tall, 345-pound Calgary Stampeder doesn’t feel that love.
“I don’t feel like we’re valued from a league standpoint,” he said. “The league recently issued a statement saying the players are the lifeblood, but you’re not trying to look after the lifeblood of our league. It’s hypocritical.
“I understand negotiation tactics and the business and logistical side of things, but I feel like I think the league is run by people who don’t want to innovate, who don’t want to move forward and are afraid of change. These are the same people who consider the CFL a big league. What major league hasn’t had to deal with some kind of change, some kind of evolution, to get to where it is today? At some point we have to get frustrated with just being good enough.”
And for Dennis, it’s time for the CFL to cement their partnership talk at the negotiating table.
“At the end of the day, actions speak louder than words,” he said. “If I tell my kids I’m going to take them for ice cream, they’ll be like, ‘Hey Dad, you told us you were going to take us for ice cream, right?’
“My thing is if they (CFL) keep saying those words and making statements and seeming like they care about us, then why is it so hard for them to show?”
Dennis, 33, has never been afraid to say it like it is or stick to his principles. The CFL’s top lineman in 2016 sat out all of last season after asking to be released or traded by the Edmonton Elks. After his release, Dennis re-signed with Calgary in January, where he played in 2015-16 and 2018-19.
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“A lot of people think I’m negative because of what I do and say, but no, I’m not,” Dennis said. “I love this league and I just want to see it develop and get better.
“I want my time in the league, what I’ve done on the field and any impact I’ve made, to generations beyond me. I don’t want to be just another body that came through and didn’t evolve. Yes, the CFL survived 100 years, but how long can it survive the way it’s moving? Staying with the status quo and just surviving makes no sense to me. This is a business, and what business do you think is okay if it takes loss after loss after loss? But the reason they (CFL) are okay with the losses is because they just recoup them from us.”
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What also frustrates Dennis is his belief that the CFL doesn’t hold itself to the same standard that its players hold for themselves.
“As athletes, we always strive for excellence,” he said. “Then why don’t the people responsible for making us be like this act in the same way? That’s my biggest concern.
“At the end of the day, coaches, teams, owners, sponsors all benefit from what we do. Why are we the last on people’s minds when it comes to reaping some benefit? Not on a grand scale either, just benefit a little from it. We are professional athletes and can’t even benefit from what we do and how hard we work? Where’s the fairness in that?”
Last week, CFL players gave their union a 95 percent strike vote. League players went on strike once in 1974, but the situation was settled before the start of the regular season.
Dennis said he will follow any direction members choose to go.
“I pride myself on being a great teammate and whatever my brothers decide is the best course of action, I’m willing to do it,” said Dennis. “I know a lot of people were stunned by what I did last year, but at the end of the day, while I’m a footballer, I’m a person first.
“If I feel I’m being treated unfairly, I don’t have to accept that unfair treatment. Long gone are the days of ‘shut up and play ball’.”
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