January 17, 2011

Expansion Draft plan approved

CFL.ca Staff

TORONTO — The Canadian Football League’s Board of Governors has approved an Expansion Draft Plan designed to provide Ottawa with the opportunity to compete in its first year in the league.

“Our goal has been clear throughout:  to give Ottawa the chance to field a competitive team without unfairly undermining our existing franchises,” said CFL Commissioner Mark Cohon. “We are confident this plan meets that objective.”

The plan is superior to the ones provided to Ottawa’s last entry in the league, and that bodes well for the team’s future, said Jeff Hunt, a member of the prospective ownership group in Ottawa.

“The expansion draft is just one part of our plan to build a team our fans can be proud of, but it will provide the foundation on which we build,” Hunt said.

BACK IN THE CAPITAL

 

Ottawa is expected to return to the CFL in 2013 following a seven year absence. Kerry Joseph, seen above, was the Ottawa Renegades’ quarterback when the city last had a team in 2005

In March 2008, the CFL announced that an Ottawa group consisting of businessmen Jeff Hunt, Roger Greenberg, John Ruddy and Bill Shenkman had been awarded a CFL franchise conditional on the provision of a proper stadium. The ownership group now also includes Ottawa Fury Soccer Club owner John Pugh. The Ottawa franchise will become official upon implementation of the group’s agreement with the City of Ottawa for the redevelopment of Lansdowne Park, including the refurbishment of Frank Clair Stadium.

If everything proceeds as planned, the Ottawa team could take the field for the 2013 season. In that case, the expansion draft would be conducted on or about Thursday, December 13, 2012. It will consist of three rounds: one for imports, and two for non-imports.

Ottawa will be able to select a total of eight imports and 16 non-imports, including two quarterbacks, from existing teams.

In addition, if the team is ready to start play in 2013, Ottawa will pick first in all six rounds of the 2013 CFL Canadian Draft, after picking as many as four underclassmen from the NCAA in the 2012 CFL Canadian Draft.

Here are some additional details on the expansion draft:

The Expansion Draft is divided into two main categories from which players may be selected, Non-Imports and Imports (quarterbacks, kickers, and punters are eligible for selection within the applicable Non-Import or Import category).

Ottawa will have the ability to select not more than two quarterbacks and not more than one kicker or punter (for clarity, Ottawa may not select a kicker and a punter). A Member Club cannot have both a quarterback and a kicker or punter selected from its roster. A Member Club cannot have more than one quarterback selected from its roster.

ROUND ONE:  IMPORT DRAFT

Member Clubs may protect one quarterback, and ten additional Import players.

Ottawa will select one Import player from each Member Club.

Import quarterbacks, kickers, and punters are eligible for selection (and protection), provided that:

– Each Member Club may protect a maximum of one quarterback in the Import Draft.

– All other quarterbacks on a Member Club’s roster at the time of the draft are eligible for selection in this section.

– Ottawa will only be able to select two quarterbacks in the Expansion Draft.

– If a quarterback is selected from a Member Club in the Import Draft, such Member Club will be able to protect the names of an additional two Non-Import players in the first round of the Non-Import Draft.

2013 CFL Canadian Draft

 

Shomari William, seen above was the first overall selection in the 2010 Canadian Draft. Ottawa will have the first overall pick in the year it begins play, possibly 2013.

– If a kicker or punter is selected from a Member Club in the Import Draft, such Member Club will be able to protect one additional Non-Import player in the first round of the Non-Import Draft.

ROUND TWO: NON-IMPORT DRAFT

Each Member Club will protect six Non-Import players.

Non-Import quarterbacks, kickers, and punters are eligible for selection (and protection), provided that:

– If a Member Club had a quarterback selected from its roster in the Import draft, it will be permitted to protect eight Non-Import players in the first round of the Non-Import Draft (instead of six); and

– Ottawa will be prevented from also selecting a kicker or punter from that Member Club.

– If a Member Club had a kicker or punter selected from its roster in the Import Draft:

– That Member Club will be permitted to protect seven Non-Import players in the Non-Import Draft (instead of six); and

– Ottawa will be prevented from also selecting a quarterback from that Member Club.

Any kicker or punter selected in the Non-Import Draft must be selected in the first round. If a Member Club had a kicker or punter selected from its roster in the Non-Import Draft, such Member Club would be eligible to protect eight Non-Import players in the second round of the Non-Import Draft, instead of six.

Ottawa will then select one non-import player from each Member Club.

ROUND THREE: NON-IMPORT DRAFT

Member Clubs will then submit a second list of an additional six Non-Import players for protection

If a Member Club lost a Non-Import kicker or punter in the first round of the Non-Import Draft, such Member Club would submit two additional Non-Import player names for protection.

Ottawa will then select one non-import player from each Member Club.

The Commissioner will resolve any dispute related to player eligibility for the Expansion Draft process.

CFL CANADIAN DRAFT (Non-Imports)

Ottawa will select in rounds one, two, three and four of the CFL Canadian Draft in the calendar year preceding the year it begins play, possibly 2012. It will select at the ninth position in each of the first four rounds and may only select Redshirt Juniors from the NCAA. Ottawa will be able to select a maximum of four underclassmen (NCAA) in that CFL Canadian Draft.

Ottawa will have the first pick in every round of the CFL Canadian Draft in the calendar year in which it begins play, possibly 2013. That provides Ottawa with the:  

1st overall selection

10th overall selection

19th overall selection

28th overall selection

37th overall selection

45th overall selection

Plus two additional picks at 55 and 56.

In addition to the Expansion Draft and selections in the CFL Canadian Drafts, the conditional Ottawa franchise may operate a Negotiation List in advance of its return to the league. Ottawa’s interim Negotiation List can include a maximum of 25 players, including a maximum of 10 quarterbacks.