I’ve never been one to belittle CFL players and the fact that they aren’t paid ridiculous amounts of money to play football.
Individual salaries are not disclosed but it is estimated that at the high end of the salary scale are quarterbacks Ricky Ray and Henry Burris, who earn somewhere between $400,000 and $500,000 per season. Great money, really great money – just not quite “I’m going to build a bowling alley in the middle of my mansion” type of money that some players make south of the border.
On the other end of the scale is the minimum salary of $50,000 per season plus $525 to $725 per week of training camp.
In the middle is the average CFL salary, estimated at $90,000 plus preseason pay.
It’s one of the cool things about the CFL, the fact that players’ paycheques are in amounts that most people can actually relate to and wrap their minds around.
There is extra money available, however, with playoff pay. Players whose teams get the first-round bye receive $3400, as do the players on the #2 and #3 seed teams, who play in the first round.
Then another $3600 is paid to each player who plays in the east and west finals. So for Calgary and Hamilton, who won first place in their respective divisions, players will receive a respectable seven grand.
The biggest jump goes to the two Grey Cup teams: $8000 is paid to players on the losing side, and $16,000 goes to the Grey Cup champions.
So when the intensity of the season ramps up at playoff time, money is as big a motivator as anything else. Just something else to think about when enjoying the playoff games this weekend.
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