The CFL knew that having the XFL and USFL competing in the United States last year was going to deplete the player pool with many wanting to stay home. With the two leagues merging into the UFL and reducing their teams from 16 to eight, the tide has turned in favor of the CFL.
Calgary Stampeders coach Dave Dickenson spoke with Jock Wilson of QR 770’s Sports Talk with Jock this week about the merger and why it helps the CFL.
“It will (make it easier to sign American players). It’s eight teams as well, so everyone has kind of brought it down to a number that will take good players away but not dry out the talent pool like it was last year,” Dickenson said transcribed via 3DownNation.
The UFL just completed its first phase of determining its player pool with a Dispersal Draft that took place Friday. Each team can protect 42 players and select up to 20 in the draft. There will be a follow-up draft coming up on January 15 as teams look to get their rosters to 75 players before training camp in February.
Dickenson pointed to players reaching out with game tape as evidence of the merger's immediate impact.
“I already feel like it’s making a difference,” Dickenson said. “I have players getting ahold of me and sending me film, agents calling … there’s definitely a bigger pool of players out there and now it’s our job to find the right ones to fit our system.”
He also shared some reasons players should join the CFL, including the number of games played and higher pay.
“I think our salaries are better than theirs,” Dickenson said. “Obviously we play more games. We got the history. I believe we got the stability and the fan support.”
The CFL’s free agency begins on February 13 at noon EST, and pending free agents will be able to talk to teams for the week leading up to it.
Fans have not seen the full effects of what the UFL will do for the CFL, but increasing the talent pool is certainly a bonus. If the CFL can work through its plans for an expansion to 10 teams, that will further attract American players to travel north for football.
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