CFL.ca Staff
TORONTO — An extensive audit process has confirmed that all eight teams were under the Canadian Football League’s $4.3 million salary cap for 2011, the league announced today.
“The success of our Salary Management System underlines our teams’ commitment to putting a great product on the field and following sound business principles at the same time,” said Commissioner Mark Cohon.
“The work our Board of Governors and our football leaders have done on this issue is an important building block in our league’s strong foundation.”
While the level of compliance has been consistently high, this marks the first time all CFL clubs have been under the cap since it was introduced in 2007.
The system’s review process includes detailed field audits of all eight clubs twice per year, once during the CFL season and once following its completion. Teams are also required to provide regular updates on compensation levels at the 6-game, 12-game and 18-game point of the season.
The salary cap for the 2012 season is $4.35 million.
Under the provisions set by the league’s Board of Governors, teams are fined one dollar for every dollar they exceed the cap up to 100,000 dollars, and two dollars for every dollar they exceed the cap between 100,000 and 300,000 dollars, plus the loss of the team’s first round draft pick. Teams are fined three dollars for every dollar they exceed the cap beyond 300,000 dollars, and they lose their first two draft selections.
As no team exceeded the cap in 2011, the order for the May 3rd CFL Canadian Draft (live on TSN at 3pm ET) is not affected. It remains (barring trade) for the first round:
1. Saskatchewan Roughriders.
2. Edmonton Eskimos (via trade with Toronto).
3. Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
4. British Columbia Lions (via trade with Montreal).
5. Calgary Stampeders.
6. Edmonton Eskimos.
7. Forfeited (by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers when they chose to take Kito Poblah in last year’s supplemental draft).
8. British Columbia Lions.
The 2012 CFL season is the road to the 100th Grey Cup game, which will be played Sunday, November 25 in Toronto. It opens with RONA Canada Day Kickoff Weekend when the Hamilton Tiger-Cats host the Saskatchewan Roughriders at 7 pm ET on Friday, June 29, a contest that pits Hamilton free agent signing Andy Fantuz against his old team, followed at 10:00 pm ET by a rematch of the 99th Grey Cup, with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers visiting the British Columbia Lions.
Opening weekend continues on Saturday June 30 when the Toronto Argonauts and their prized off-season acquisition Ricky Ray visit the Edmonton Eskimos, with whom Ray established himself as an elite quarterback. Week One wraps up on Canada Day, July 1, with the Montreal Alouettes visiting Calgary to take on the Stampeders.
To view the full 2012 CFL schedule click here.
