December 12, 2018

Tillman: CFL neg lists ‘a little bit like the stock market’

Dale Sparks

It’s been almost a year now since the CFL first publicly disclosed a portion of the players on each team’s negotiation list. While the process is still relatively new for the league, it’s something that one GM has long championed and done on his own.

“I think it’s an important way to connect with our fans,” Hamilton Tiger-Cats GM Eric Tillman said this week, leading into the 2018 edition of the league’s neg list reveal. Each team now shows 10 players on their 45-man negotiation list.

Through his stops in Saskatchewan, Edmonton and now Hamilton, Tillman has been open about doing similar things. Over the last few years, the Ticats started producing videos where Tillman spoke about players on their list.

“It was (Ticats CEO) Scott Mitchell who advanced and championed the concept of engaging with our fan base in this manner,” Tillman said.

“Our video series on Ticats.ca was incredibly well-received and was the genesis of the league-wide decision to embrace this concept of allowing CFL fans a glimpse into our collective plans for the future.

“The reaction has been very positive on both sides of the border. Our traditional fans love it and we’ve received positive feedback from potential new fans in the United States, from agents and even from parents of neg list prospects, too.”

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Arizona quarterback Khalil Tate runs the ball during a game in 2018 (Arizona Athletics)

CFL teams can add to their lists at any time of the season. Although a Canadian will end up on a neg list at times, it’s used primarily to essentially call dibs on an American player that lands on a team’s radar, whether it’s through scouting or simply seeing someone in a game on TV that they think could be a fit in the CFL.

Quarterbacks are a big part of the list. Of the 90 names revealed in this year’s list, 44 are quarterbacks.

“On the 45-man neg list we have 10 quarterbacks protected among 45,” Tillman said.

“Orlondo (Steinauer) and June (Jones) are very happy with Jeremiah (Masoli), Dane (Evans) and our current quarterback situation but as an organization, having 10 quarterbacks on our negotiation list reflects the significance of having a long-term view, too.”

At any position, Tillman said that the neg list is a gamble. Some players appear to be a perfect fit for the league, but end up catching on in the NFL. He jokes about how when he was in Saskatchewan, the Riders put Chase Daniels on their list in 2008. The Missouri QB is now in his 10th year in the NFL as a backup, having just gotten the third start of his career this past month.

“The truth is you just don’t know. There’s always a projection,” he said.

“With 32 (NFL) teams, all it takes is one team, right? Certainly there’s a changing landscape with the two new leagues, so more than it’s ever been, it’s a projection. We know there are different approaches to building successfully in this league but I think the one common denominator is recognizing the importance of the quarterback position.

“But if you target enough guys then certainly you’re going to get a quality player, or two or three.

“The reality of the neg list across the board, anyone will tell you that if you strike out on 50 per cent of the players you protect, you feel good about it and that’s just the reality. It’s a little bit like the stock market. Not every investment is going to bring a big return but if you invest wisely then overall you certainly reap the benefits.”