As multiple CFL players have recently been cut ahead of offseason roster bonuses, remember why they exist.
With an offseason bonus, players either collect it or get cut in January, giving them a head start on FA.
Without an offseason bonus, players get cut in May when teams are out of money.
With an offseason bonus, players either collect it or get cut in January, giving them a head start on FA.
Without an offseason bonus, players get cut in May when teams are out of money.
Comments
If teams had their druthers and didn't have to pay those bonuses they could just hold all those contracts and see how they fair in free agency, and then start issuing releases, which would really suck for a cut players
This is a more humane approach. Though, as a fan of chaos the resulting spring free-for-all would be kinda entertaining
Most players get the money. Some have to renegotiate their deals and a few get cut.
When a player is released, that doesn't mean the system is broken. It means it's working.
1) Whether they pay bonuses in January or May, they're out the same amount of money come May.
2) Typically, they're actually pretty flush that time of year cause they're sitting on a ton of season ticket money