The Greater Good

It won't ease the pain of Ottawa football fans who are mourning the loss of their CFL team.

But let it be said the Renegades did not die in vain.

The CFL is a better league today, partly because the 'Gades would have only dragged the rest of the league down this season without proper ownership and management, and partly because the weakest teams in the league benefitted the most from Wednesday's intriguing dispersal draft.

There will be controversy surrounding the proceedings because of the way in which the contracts of some veteran CFLers were essentially erased through the suspension of the Renegades and the decision of the other eight teams not to draft them. Screwing classy, talented veterans isn't good for business.

But when the dispersal draft was done yesterday, it was abundantly clear that Hamilton, Saskatchewan and Winnipeg, the three clubs most in need of assistance, enhanced their rosters.

Hamilton, having added quarterback Jason Maas after the most obvious insider trading in the history of the league, traded the first pick in the draft to Saskatchewan so the Green Riders could select quarterback Kerry Joseph.

That means seven of the eight CFL clubs now have a bona fide starter, a pre-condition to any kind of success. Only Winnipeg lacks a proven No. 1 signal caller, and the Bombers still have high hopes for Kevin Glenn.

In exchange for allowing Saskatchewan to get Joseph, the Tabbies profitted handsomely by getting running back/returner Corey Holmes and Canadian safety Scott Gordon. Hamilton's awful return game was a one of the major reasons the club struggled so badly last season, and Holmes will certainly address that problem in a meaningful way.

As well as Gordon, meanwhile, the Cats added other Canadian talent in the draft in punter Pat Fleming, fullback Gilles Lezi and linebacker Greg Bearman. Add in receiver Brock Ralph, acquired in a pre-deal for Maas last fall, and it's clear the Cats have bolstered their Can-con over the winter.

The Riders, meanwhile, also added Jason Armstead in the dispersal process, and as well as being a talented receiver Armstead will help replace Holmes in the return department.

So the Cats and Riders were able to combine forces to make each other better.

Winnipeg, finally, added offensive linemen Ibrahim Khan and Val St. Germain. The Bombers had a terrible time protecting the quarterback last season, and these are therefore not small additions.

So the weakest got stronger through the death of the Renegades. It won't sooth the simmering pigskin anger in the nation's capital, but it'll make the upcoming CFL season even more interesting and entertaining.

Comments

[w clare]

My understanding is that all CFL teams, except for Edmonton, lose money. The only arguement for keeping Ottawa on life support is that it takes the focus off the next team in crisis. It will come soon enough and other than for the Grey Cup, I like most other Canadians will ignore the CFL.

['Gades fan]

Baloney.

The CFL has gone from increasing gate revenues, attendance, television ratings, sponsorships and a 9-team league considering expansion, to retraction to an 8-team league, skeptical support from the networks and sponsors, the loss of its showcase "Touchdown Atlantic" game, and lost its 4th largest market to boot. It will also soon be without a commissioner. In any estimation, this does not make for a stronger league. I appreciate the desire to put a positive spin on things, but let's not sugar-coat this. This has been a complete disaster for the CFL.

[paul smith]

Hi Damien:

As a long-time booster and season-ticket holder in the CFL, I agree completely with your take on the 'Gades windup.

It's unfortunate for fans in Ottawa to miss out on this fabulous product, but they really have been 'snakebit' by ownership issues over the past couple of decades. That doesn't endear long time loyalty from the paying customers.

The CFL and its owners/governors better figure out 'the winning template' from B.C./Hamilton/Toronto/Saskatchewan etc. and cast that in stone for future franchise prospects, be it Quebec City, Halifax or Ottawa.

Meet those tough criteria and you're in - if you don't, we pass.

This year will be a barnburner across the league, and watch attendance and ratings soar again.