CFL commissioner says league must remain financially prudent with new TV deal

REGINA – CFL commissioner Mark Cohon was preaching financial responsibility at his annual state of the league address.

Last March, the CFL and TSN agreed to a new five-year broadcast agreement reportedly worth $43 million a year, more than 2 1/2 times more than the previous deal.

The deal will mean more money for teams and, with the collective bargaining agreement slated to expire prior to the start of 2014 training camps, the CFL Player’s Association will also be looking for an increase to the $4.4 salary cap.

But Cohon said the league, its teams and players can’t afford to be financially irresponsible with the windfall.

In the late 1990s, the CFL nearly folded and endured several lean years despite signing a then-record $15.6-million, three-year TV deal with Carling O’Keefe (1981-’83).