CFL Commissioner Randy Ambrosie at Friday's annual state-of-the-league news conference "maintained the stance that the science isn't convincing" enough to link head injuries and CTE, according to Dan Ralph of the CP. He delivered the message "more gently than his predecessor," Jeffrey Orridge, but his remarks show the league's stance "hasn't changed." Ambrosie said, "We have to follow the science and the science ... is inconclusive. The cause and effect is unclear, it just simply is." Ralph noted former NFL Senior VP & Chief Security Officer Jeff Miller in March '16 "acknowledged the link during a discussion on concussions convened by the U.S. Congress." While Ambrosie has not seen enough evidence to be convinced concussions can lead to CTE, he said that he "remains committed to making the game 'better and safer for our players.'" Ambrosie "maintained he wasn't being 'blind to one side of the argument versus the other.'" He said that he will "continue to come down hard on CFL players who use their heads to make tackles" (CP, 11/24).The NATIONAL POST's Scott Stinson wrote for all of Ambrosie's attempts to "couch this issue in cautious language" and for all he did to "emphasize that he takes the subject of football and brain health seriously, there is a simple takeaway from all that talk: CFL commissioner denies link between football and CTE, the headlines will say." Stinson: "That will be a fair assessment of the situation. And Ambrosie will still be technically correct." He is being "cautious because the future of the league is at stake," but there is a "big difference between something being legally and scientifically established and something being sensibly known" (NATIONAL POST, 11/25). Meanwhile, SPORTSNET.ca's Mark Spector wrote a man whose bosses are "facing crippling litigation over CTE can not stand up and build the opponent’s case publicly." Spector: "Not if [he] wants to keep the job." It is an "impossible position to be in, and Ambrosie’s lengthy promise to follow the expert medical opinions was as fulsome and honest as he could be" (SPORTSNET.ca, 11/24).
TALKING TV IN THE U.S.: In Ottawa, Tim Baines reported the CFL's deal with ESPN is set to expire soon, and the league is "looking at increased synergy with NFL and its NFL Network." The station is "starved for content from May-August so CFL games could be of big interest to the league." It seems as if a potential TV deal with NFL Network "would be tied to the CFL moving its season up to provide content while the NFL is out of season." Ambrosie said, "I’d like to see the Grey Cup earlier, it won’t happen for 2018, but for 2019 it’s possible. I’d like to see it maybe the third week of October." He added, "I’m wondering whether we can’t take our Grey Cup from the most important sporting day in Canada to increase it two or three times that size if we got the date right." Baines noted if the CFL "wants to move its schedule up with a start date in May, there could be pushback from its Canadian broadcast partner, TSN." The CFL’s deal with TSN and RDS runs through '21, and going head-to-head with Stanley Cup playoff games "may not be a path the TV network wants to navigate." However, Ambrosie said that it is an "idea worth having discussions about." Ambrosie: "We’ve talked about the idea of what are they doing for programming on the NFL Network, could we be a positive source of amazing content? I’m entirely on board with sharing our game with more people around the world ... and I’m not just talking about the U.S. market." Baines notes Ambrosie is "open to exploring any ideas that can give increased exposure to the CFL product," and NFL Network "would open up doors worldwide" (OTTAWA SUN, 11/25).
EXPANDING TO THE MARITIMES? In Ottawa, Bruce Garrioch reports the CFL’s BOG "received an update" from Ambrosie on "possible expansion to Halifax during a weekend meeting in Ottawa, and there was optimism." A group led by former Coyotes Owner Anthony Leblanc, an Ottawa resident, has "held discussions with CFL officials and Halifax mayor Mike Savage about expansion" in time for the '20 season. All parties "would have to come to agreement on building a stadium" before anything could happen. Ottawa Sports & Entertainment Group President Jeff Hunt: “A lot of the pieces are in place for this Halifax bid to succeed. They’ve got a very credible ownership group. I think you’ve got government there that wants to see this happen" (OTTAWA SUN, 11/27).
GET IT DONE: In Edmonton, Terry Jones wrote there was "a lot to like" about Ambrosie in his first state of the league news conference, as the contrast with Orridge "was so complete, it was unmistakable and undeniable." Orridge was "all style and no substance -- talk a lot and say nothing about anything [of] importance." Ambrosie had "already established that he gets it and, furthermore, had already proved that on the job prior to his hour-long session with the media" (EDMONTON SUN, 11/25). In Winnipeg, Jeff Hamilton wrote Ambrosie "appears to be everything the CFL head office could want in a commissioner." In the span of just five months since being hired, the "overwhelming consensus is that Ambrosie has done a formidable job." Ambrosie, who played in the CFL, has "endeared himself to fans, too, touching everyone who crosses his path with his genuine love for the game" (WINNIPEG FREE PRESS, 11/25). The NATIONAL POST's Stinson wrote Ambrosie has "pulled off a masterful bit of retail salesmanship." He has "shown up at a lot of games, partied with fans, and generally made himself an available face of the league." He has also "responded to fan concerns." He has "given fans reason to believe that they are listening to him" (NATIONAL POST, 11/25).
LESSEN THE BLOW: In N.Y., Ken Belson noted Ambrosie has "stood by" rules changes implemented this year that include a ban on in-season full-contact practices and the addition of a "third bye week to it's 18-game calendar." He said, "This is a way for us to improve our game and keep it at the forefront and be progressive. I know change is hard, and sometimes you have to make the bold decision in order to move things forward. That’s the way the world works." The CFL said that it "would take a full year to determine how many injuries the new policies helped to prevent." However, players anecdotally "say they have felt fresher longer this season." Blue Bombers OL Patrick Neufeld said that the "tempo at practices without pads had not changed, but that players were forced to focus more on footwork, hand movements and tackling techniques." Players said that the "biggest difference" has been the "extra time to recover during the 18-game regular season" (N.Y. TIMES, 11/25).
