CFL coming close to having no 2020 season; how can they get financial aid to keep the league alive?

As people world-wide remain in quarantine due to the coronavirus outbreak that we’ve seen early in 2020 the CFL has found themselves in the same position as many other businesses, in need of financial aid. In all consideration and with time ticking the CFL is edging in on having no 2020 season and no season means no income for the CFL. Having no income for the league in a full year gives a lot of uncertainty whether the league will ever see another season and that is why its so hard to make the call for commissioner Randy Ambrosie to shut down the 2020 season, “Our best-case scenario for this year is a drastically truncated season. And our most likely scenario is no season at all.”

Many would question why the league is in that bad of trouble with shutting down a season but behind all the flashy uniforms and big stadiums there isn’t a lot of money to be seen. In an interview that longtime CFL player and now commissioner Randy Ambrosie comments, “Ours is a big brand but not a wealthy business. Collectively, our teams lose between $10 million and $20 million a season.“

With the big numbers seen there, the league just last week requested the Canadian Government for $150 million if the season doesn’t happen. “Unlike large U.S.-based leagues, our biggest source of revenue is not TV —it’s ticket sales,” Ambrosie said. “Governments coping with COVID 19 — for reasons of public health that we totally support — have made it impossible for us to do what we do.” In Ambrosie’s quote he mentions that ticket sales is the main source of revenue in the CFL and if there can’t be games due to the coronavirus there won’t be any tickets being sold and the league could be in trouble. That trouble going as far as the suspension of the league. “A ban on large gatherings means no revenue, no business, for us. We want to ensure it also does not mean no CFL for the future.” (Said by Randy Ambrosie)

Many would never have seen it come this far when the outbreak first started but if the league doesn’t get financial aid from the government they could get to that point. With that said, there are more people in the world with money around the world and given previous events there is a chance the CFL gets help elsewhere.

In the past, the CFL has came across a couple close calls to having the league shutdown and coming to help was the NFL. Going back to 1997 the two leagues came together to form a collaboration in which the CFL had been given a $3 million loan to help keep the league survive. Although their working agreement had ended in 2008 the two leagues have a lot to have a partnership with and if the CFL has trouble surviving once again I have a strong feeling the NFL can help pitch in for the league’s future.

Also a big help in the CFL’s past was given by Tim Hortons. Yes, the donut shop. In 1996 the sponsor of the CFL was able to help pay the Edmonton Eskimos and Toronto Argonauts’ players their Grey Cup contracts as the CFL weren’t able to do so. Now that we see the league in a tough position once again, the league has a lot of sponsors that could give small amounts if it is needed.

All in all, even-tough there are negatives that could come out of these unfortunate times CFL fans shouldn’t be in a panic about not having a league for future years as they have a lot of different partners able to help out and hey going back to the NFL’s possibility to help, Dallas Cowboys owner/GM Jerry Jones just recently bought a $250 million dollar yacht. If the league comes in contact with the NFL Jones wouldn’t even realize his money was gone. On a final note, Ambrosie commented, “Whenever it comes, we want our next Grey Cup — Canada’s 108th — to be the place where we can all celebrate that we did get through this. And that Canada is back.”

Ottawa Redblacks’ draft pick, Adam Auclair follows big brother’s footsteps to professional football

In last week’s CFL draft the Ottawa Redblacks improved heavily on the defensive side of the ball and one of their biggest pickups came from the first round where they drafted a stud linebacker in Adam Auclair. There is a lot of uncertainty of where Auclair will play on Ottawa’s defense because of just how athletically gifted he is. Coming from Laval, Auclair played all over the place on defense and showed just how good of a player he is and being picked 6th overall by the Ottawa Redblacks’ he’s proven to be a big name player in the CFL’s future but he wouldn’t be where he is without the upbringing he has in the game of football.

Getting drafted by the CFL’s Ottawa Redblacks, there were a lot of emotions in Adam Auclair’s household although it wasn’t their first draft experience. In 2017, Adam’s brother Anthony was selected by the Saskatchewan Rough-Riders. He has made a name for himself with the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the last couple of seasons and even-though Adam isn’t in the NFL he is very appreciative of his brother and being able to go and do similar things as him. Auclair comments, “When I saw him go through it, I was so proud of him because of the work he had put in to get there and to go through the same process this year he taught me a lot on how to work, get prepared and all that.”

With that said, Auclair’s brother Anthony has suited up 32 times since leaving Laval to the NFL and has caught 10 passes for 84 yards. Adam on the other side will be suiting up for the first time when the 2020 CFL season kicks off. Stay tuned for more on Adam Auclair!

Ottawa Redblacks take trio of Laval players in 2020 CFL Draft

As the Ottawa Redblacks and the rest of the world look to flatten the curve and help stop the spread of the coronavirus there has been a lot going on in the CFL. Out of all that’s happened, Thursday night’s CFL Draft is one of the biggest moments of the Redblacks’ off-season. Coming off a 3-15 season in 2019 it will be tough to bounce back and make it top a Grey Cup anytime soon but after bringing in Nick Arbuckle and Cleyon Laing it looks like the Ottawa Redblacks have really come together and most recently they’ve been able to get even better in the draft.

On Thursday’s 2020 CFL Draft the Ottawa Redblacks made 8 selections, mostly improving on the defensive side of the ball. Drafting Adam Auclair and Daniel Basambombo from the Laval Rouge et Or’s defense the team really got better and Mike Benevides will enjoy having the young Canadians on the defense.

Also being improved is the Ottawa Redblacks offensive line. They’ve already established a good group of Canadian linemen from past drafts but when they saw Laval’s Ketel Asse fall to the eighth round the Ottawa Redblacks could have seriously found their next big offensive lineman. Standing tall at 6 foot 7, 300 pounds Asse was looked at by multiple NFL teams and even played in the NFLPA Bowl last year so him being with the Redblacks now could be a big move for the future as they continue to build their legacy.

For more on Ketel Asse, Adam Auclair, Daniel Basambombo and the rest of the Ottawa Redblacks 2020 CFL Draft Class checkout https://lilzbigr.blog/

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Take a look at the Ottawa Redblacks’ 2020 CFL Draft class

After a long 8 rounds, the Ottawa Redblacks have been able to improve on both sides of the ball. Checkout the chart below which shows each of the Ottawa Redblacks draft picks from this year’s CFL Draft. Stay tuned for more at https://lilzbigr.blog/

Round 1, Pick 8LB/DB Adam Auclair, Laval
Round 2, Pick 10DL Michael Hoecht, Brown
Round 2, Pick 19 (Territorial)LB Daniel Basambombo, Laval
Round 4, Pick 29OL Jakub Szott, McMaster
Round 5, Pick 38DB Treshaun Abrahams-Webster, Calgary
Round 6, Pick 47LB Brad Cowan, Wilfred Laurier
Round 7, Pick 56DL Reshaan Davis, Ottawa
Round 8, Pick 65OL Ketel Asse, Laval

Did the Ottawa Redblacks steal the 2020 CFL Draft?

Coming off of a 3-15 season a year ago the Ottawa Redblacks front office has stayed busy through the offseason putting together a coaching staff, making blockbuster moves and just recently finished a full 8 round draft. To bounce back from 3-15 its obvious that they had to improve and they did on many aspects and the 2020 CFL Draft helped them a lot.

Yes, Nick Arbuckle and Cleyon Laing were massive additions to the Redblacks team, but as you dig into the Ottawa Redblacks draft it sure is great to see what they pulled off.

Picking up Adam Auclair in the first round was great. Auclair was expected to go in the first round and as one that could play linebacker and defensive back he is for sure a great draft pick by Marcel Desjardins and defensive coordinator Mike Benevides will really enjoy him on his defense. Going on Benevides defense is Michael Hoecht. Hoecht could be a steal for the Redblacks if things go in their favor, meaning if he plays for them. Weeks leading up to the draft he was looked on to be a first round pick in the draft but after being signed to the LA Rams his draft grade dropped and Marcel was happy to take him at number 10. Also happily taken by the Ottawa Redblacks on defense is Reshaan Davis who could be the steal of the draft depending how things turn out. Davis for many was thought of as a 2nd round pick and coming out of Ottawa he is coming off a 7 sack season and given that the Redblacks don’t have a lot of Canadian depth at edge he could play a huge role early in his career.

Ottawa Gee-Gees defensive end Réshaan Davis celebrates after sacking Laurier quarterback Connor Carusello. Photo: Greg Mason, uOttawa Sports Services.

Davis easily can be the steal of the Draft for the Ottawa Redblacks but what if they have two big steals that could be the one? Well they do. In the 8th round of the 2020 CFL Draft, the Ottawa Redblacks were able to get hands on offensive lineman Ketel Asse from the University of Laval. Asse was looked at to be a first or second round pick after not being brought in by NFL teams but after rethinking about him, he dropped all the way to 65 where the Ottawa Redblacks were able to get him. Although the team has a lot of Canadian depth on the line with Alex Mateas, Nolan MacMillan, Jason Lauzon-Seguin, Evan Johnson and Mark Korte it is shown that they are interested in seeing what other players can do for them and bringing in Asse in the last round of the draft gives him an idea in which he could be the player used.

All in all, the 2020 CFL Draft was very successful for the Ottawa Redblacks as they got much better defensively and if things work out they could even have the steal of the 2020 CFL Draft with Ketel Asse on the offensive line. Stay tuned to see more on Ketel Asse and the rest of the 2020 CFL draft class of the Redblacks here at https://lilzbigr.blog/

Closing up shop, the Ottawa Redblacks pickup Ketel Asse with their final selection in the 2020 CFL Draft

After only getting Jakub Szott on the offensive side of the ball and having picked 6 defensive players in the 2020 CFL Draft the Ottawa Redblacks were able to bring in Ketel Asse. Asse, like Szott is an offensive lineman and coming out of Laval Asse had a chance to go into the NFL later in their draft last week and to see him fall all the way to the 8th round is crazy and could be the best pick in this year’s draft for the Ottawa Redblacks. Drafting three guys from the University of Laval it shows that Rouge et Or talent will be able to transform to Rouge et Noir talent in the 2020 season when it happens.

When it happens Asse will certainly be a part of a great group of offensive linemen. Leading the pack are both Nolan MacMillan and Alex Mateas but giving what has happened this offseason in losing both Philippe Gagnon and Stephane Nembot it is a possibility Asse starts a few games in his rookie year with the Ottawa Redblacks. Stay tuned to see what happens to Asse and the other draft picks by the Ottawa Redblacks here at https://lilzbigr.blog/

With their 56th pick in the 2020 CFL Draft the Ottawa Redblacks bring in Ottawa Gee Gee product Reshaan Davis

With their 7th round pick the 2020 CFL Draft, the Ottawa Redblacks improve heavily on the defensive side of the ball. After drafting primarily defense for the first rounds drafting Adam Auclair, Michael Hoecht, Daniel Basambomo, Treshaun Abrahams-Webster and Brad Cowan the team sticks to the defense in drafting Ottawa Gee Gees defensive lineman Reshaan Davis.

With that being said the players drafted all can make an impact for the Ottawa Redblacks in the 2020 season when that happens but Davis might stick out from the others. Sure they have already drafted Hoecht on the defensive line but with him already under contract with the NFL’s LA Rams its unsure he plays in the CFL so having Davis now drafted by the Redblacks, he can help fill that hole at defensive line and he’s a real ball player too so he won’t disappoint.

Playing in the same city for the Ottawa Gee Gees Reshaan Davis has been able to make 69 career tackles and 13 sacks while he’s coming off a 7 sack season where he also had a forced fumble. Having Reshaan Davis drop to the 7th round could come in clutch for Mike Benevides defense in the future.

Recapping the 19th, 29th and 38th overall picks by the Ottawa Redblacks; Redblacks pick linebacker Brad Cowan with the 47th overall selection in the CFL Draft

The Ottawa Redblacks didn’t draft an offensive lineman in the first round but Marcel Desjardins made sure to get one in this year’s draft. Drafting in the fourth round, McMaster’s very own Jakub Szott. Szott to fall into the fourth round is a steal and following the selection 3DownNation’s John Hodge gives the Redblacks an A- with the selection so its not too bad of a selection by Marcel Desjardins and the Ottawa Redblacks.

Along with Szott, the Redblacks were able to make a couple other selections, first being the territorial pick at 19 where they drafted Laval’s Daniel Basambambo. The linebacker was born in the Congo before coming to the Ottawa area at a younger age where he was able to play a number of sports excelling at football which he got to play for Laval’s Rouge et Or. If he ends up playing for the Redblacks Marcel Desjardins mentions that he’d be a great special teams player even though he’s listed at linebacker.

Sticking on the defensive side of the ball, the Ottawa Redblacks brought in defensive back Treshaun Abrahams-Webster from the University of Calgary. Abrahams-Webster, in 2019 was able to put a good resume together making 25 tackles and forcing two fumbles which added to his career totals of 79 tackles with Calgary. Being in a defensive back with players like Antoine Pruneau and Sherrod Baltimore, he will only get better and he has a lot of potential ion Ottawa.

Also with a lot of potential with the Ottawa Redblacks is newly picked Brad Cowan. Cowan was just drafted with the 47th overall pick by the Ottawa Redblacks and at linebacker he can be a good player for the team if given the chance. Even-though the team is pretty set at linebacker with Williams, Unamba and company Cowan adds great depth to the team and can play special teams if he’s needed to.

With their second draft pick of the 2020 CFL Draft the Redblacks pick up Michael Hoecht

With the 10th pick in the 2020 CFL Draft the Redblacks drafted Michael Hoecht. Hoecht, the Canadian put up big numbers at Brown University and ended up being one of the Canadians signed by NFL teams with the Los Angeles Rams. Although he was signed by the Rams it doesn’t mean he’s done with the CFL? Of course if he is with the Rams for good its unsure he’d play in Ottawa but if he is taken out of  LA he will be a big player for the Redblacks defensive line. 

Being a part of Mike Benevides defense Hoecht will for sure make an impact and it will be a good look for Redblacks fans in the future.

Ottawa Redblacks draft Adam Auclair with 6th overall selection in the 2020 CFL Draft

With the sixth overall pick in the 2020 CFL Draft the Ottawa Redblacks select Adam Auclair. For the first time in 5 years the Ottawa Redblacks have drafted a non offensive lineman in the first round. Given the depth that we have at o-line with previous first rounders, Marcel Desjardins felt confident to get better elsewhere.

Drafting gives the Ottawa Redblacks some fire power on the defensive side of the ball and what he had shown at the University of Laval he could give the Redblacks an instant impact.