Saskatchewan Roughriders' kicker Brett Lauther is the first vice president for the CFL players’ association and admits the league's game changes took the union membership by surprise.
“[CFL commissioner Stewart Johnston] has a job, he gets paid by the board of governors and this isn't really something that has to be approved by the players. I think a lot of guys think it would have probably been nice, as 25 percent of the revenue growth of partners, to know a little more -- they don't have to. They made the decision to make the changes they wanted. For us, especially as a vice president, we're worried about player safety and growing revenue. If this does that, there's not much we can really complain about.”
Lauther is in his seventh CFL season and is still digesting the changes.
“It really doesn't matter what I think. I thought there was some really good stuff that made sense, some other things that maybe you thought you'd keep more Canadian and keep in the game. You’ve got to let them do their job if it plays out and grows revenue. Maybe they have a big TV deal in their pocket or something we don't know about in the States that was behind this. It's hard to really give too much of an opinion yet, but definitely big changes.”
First elected to the CFLPA’s board of directors as first vice-president in 2024, Lauther couldn’t state whether the partnership between the league and the players' association has altered since the announced changes to the game without player consultation.
“As much as we want it to be there, I've got to be a little careful with my words here, I don't think there ever has truly been much out there publicly. With the revenue sharing, it's still difficult to get. You still have to go to a lot of mediation, you still have to press them on everything to try to get your 25 percent. For now, I'm sure that will be the first thing brought up in the new CBA and going forward. If you're truly a partner, they did not have to consult us, this is their change and we didn't have a say, but you'd think if you were in business with anyone, especially players and the product, there would be a little more of a heads up.”
Lauther thinks an open line of communication may have removed some of the players' hesitation towards the changes.
“Even if they did some surveys, got some feedback and didn't even listen to us, at least the guys got to put some opinions out and maybe had some ideas that they didn't think of to potentially change things or edit it a little, that could be better. I can understand why a lot of guys are upset. For me, it's trying to represent all the guys. It doesn't really matter what my opinion is, it's more about player safety and growing revenues, if they do it's hard to complain.”
The second-most accurate Riders kicker of all-time also feels the move will impact grassroots football.
“That's some of the first questions I had right away. I said no one will ever play the CFL game until they get to the CFL now. So no one in Canada, the States or Europe will ever play this game until they get to this league and this set of rules.”
Lauther also knows there is an impact on infrastructure.
“The first thing I asked was what Calgary, McGill, or B.C. is going to do? It sucks because potentially the Rams might never play in here [Mosaic Stadium] again. Maybe they could change, but I don't see how you just change every field in Canada. Even in my hometown, they finally got the field, the new track, and stuff just done after six or seven years of trying to get it done. You put it in, it's a completely different set of rules at the pro level now, so it's a little different. That's all above my pay grade.”
The 34-year-old Lauther knows the changes, in particular moving the goal posts to the back of the end zone, will impact special teams when they come into effect in 2027, but he thinks that will help him.
“You'll have to kick longer field goals, getting down to the red zone, the 20 yards plus the 15, you're looking at 35 yards there. You'll have to get down inside the teams like 30 or 35 to kick some pretty long ones.”
For now, Lauther will focus on the job at hand, which is an important game in Edmonton on Saturday.
“I feel like this is a time where it's tougher to kick longer field goals and tougher for the operation to work. You can get into some snow games, cold games, and weather that guys haven't been in before. This is when you can step up, show your worth and try to be there, trustworthy for the guys and maybe go on a run like we plan on doing. “
On Saturday, the Roughriders and Elks will be heard across the 620 CKRM Co-operators Rider Broadcast Network. Pregame coverage begins at 2 p.m. with kickoff following at 5 p.m. from Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton.
