Davis: CFL neg lists come out of the dark; players' salaries should be next
Negotiation lists used to be so secretive that American players (and their agents) didn't know their CFL rights were owned until a team contacted them. That was also an advantage enjoyed by the teams because a listed player, at any time, can formally request a contract. The team has 10 days to comply, otherwise the player becomes available for another team to list him.
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Most Canadian players are initially obtained via the college draft, but most American players — who comprise more than half a CFL team's active roster — are signed from neg lists.
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CFL scouts and general managers typically neg-list U.S. college prospects who aren't surefire NFLers, so it's sometimes a guessing game that can change if a player makes an NFL roster. Indeed, the neg lists are constantly in flux.
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For the past six years each CFL team was twice annually required to reveal 10 of its neg-list players. That wasn't enough to be wholeheartedly interesting. Even full disclosure of the neg lists isn't quite enough for full-fledged fans, but it's a very good start.
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