Blue Bombers Blog

Bob Young to serve as Vice-Chair

Winnipeg, MB (CFL) — The Board of Governors of the Canadian Football League (CFL) today elected Gene Dunn as its new Chair and Bob Young as its Vice-Chair.

Gene Dunn is President and Chief Executive Officer of Monarch Industries Ltd. Monarch Industries is a Winnipeg-based manufacturer of industrial products and has been recognized as one of CanadaÂ’s 50 best managed companies for ten consecutive years. Mr. Dunn, a long-time Blue Bomber Board Member and former Chair of this community club, is active in the Winnipeg business and sports communities. Mr. Dunn currently is also the Co-Chair of the Grey Cup Festival Committee.

Bob Young, a Hamilton native, spent 14 years in the hardware leasing industry in Ontario prior to moving to the United States. In 1994 his work on open source software led to his co-founding of Red Hat, a NASDAQ traded company. Today, he is serving as the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Lulu.com, a digital publishing website. A true open source visionary, Mr. YoungÂ’s efforts developing Red Hat into a household name have won him prestigious honours such as Business Week Magazine’s "Top Entrepreneurs" for 1999. That very year he founded The Center for the Public Domain, a non-profit foundation that supports the growth of a healthy and robust public domain of knowledge and the arts.

In making the announcement, Commissioner Wright commended both individuals for their commitment and leadership and welcomed their entrepreneurial experience. “Gene and Bob have both contributed extensively to the League in their own cities and across the country. Their stewardship of the Board of Governors during this period of rapid growth will be of enormous benefit to all member clubs.”

Governors approve Constitutional changes necessary to launch the system this season

Winnipeg, MB (CFL) -– The Canadian Football League (CFL) Board of Governors today approved the final administrative and constitutional changes required to introduce the new Salary Management System (SMS) for the 2006 season. In making the announcement, Commissioner Wright applauded the Board for taking this bold step to provide long-term cost certainty for its member clubs. “The Board today took a big step forward to put in place a framework of certainty for its future. This is a positive move for the League, our franchises, our athletes and our fans. I am personally gratified to see this League embrace this comprehensive system. I applaud Calgary’s Ted Hellard and his Committee who worked so hard to construct this ‘Made in Canada’ program for the CFL.”

Highlights of the system first unveiled at the LeagueÂ’s Winter Meetings in January include:

• Maximum salary expenditure cap (SEC) to be established annually

• Effective enforcement measures, including certification of player compensation by member club representatives and the hiring of Compliance Officers

• Salary Transparency with a central repository of records

• Significant monetary penalties up to a maximum of 3:1 and the forfeiture of draft selections for SEC violations (to take effect in 2007)

• Active Roster limit increased to 42 from 40, and new 4 player Reserve Roster introduced

• Expanded practice roster

• Filing of Active Rosters changed from 48 hours to 1 hour prior to kickoff

• All elements are compliant with the recently announced Collective Bargaining Agreement

Full details of the CFLÂ’s new Salary Management System can be found at www.cfl.ca.

Successful tests lead to Board ratification of the new system

Winnipeg, MB (CFL) -– The Canadian Football League (CFL) announced today that the Board of Governors have approved the introduction of Instant Replay for the 2006 season, beginning with the Winnipeg vs. Montreal match on June 16th.

In making the announcement the Commissioner noted the success of the extensive testing program conducted in 2005 and through this year’s exhibition season. “We are confident that the program approved by the Board will further enhance our fans’ experience in stadium and through broadcast and webcast. This program has been tested and re-tested to ensure that it fully meets our needs”, Commissioner Wright stated.

The CFL’s Instant Replay System (IRS) was designed in Canada to assist Officials in evaluating play situations. CFL Director of Officiating, George Black, indicated his strong support for the new program stating, “This instant replay technology will provide one more exceptional tool for our on-field team to ensure that our officiating will be the best it can be”.

Highlights of the CFL Instant Replay System include:

• Each team will have the ability to execute 2 challenges per game prior to the last three minutes of the second half.

o The first challenge will have no impact on team time-outs, regardless of the outcome of the challenge.

o A second challenge, if unsuccessful, will result in the loss of a team time-out, either in the first half or the second half.

• In the last 3 minutes of the second half, and in overtime, all Instant Replay Reviews will be initiated by the Replay Official in the League Supervisors’ booth.

• All Instant Replay Reviews will be conducted by a Referee at field level on a field level monitor. The Referee has a maximum of 90 seconds inside the video booth to make a decision.

• Instant Replay reviews will be limited and will cover plays in three main areas:

o Possession rulings in the endzone; forward progress with respect to the first down or goal line; and endzone plays involving the sideline in goal and dead ball line.

o Passing plays – pass complete or incomplete.

o Other detectable situations such as a ball carrier ruled down by contact and a fumble which occurred prior to down by contact.

The CFLÂ’s new Instant Replay System is fully outlined at www.cfl.ca.