I am a sports fan, and I’m not alone.  We understand that professional athletes don’t really have that long of a playing career.  Let’s look at CFL football. Once a guy is staring at his 40th birthday his playing career is behind him while those of us in the non-sporting working world are still in our prime at that age with many years yet to come in our chosen occupation.   Therefore, you can’t blame an athlete for wanting to make sure he is maximizing his income while in his twenties and thirties because he doesn’t know what the future holds after he retires from playing.   So, when his contract expires with a team he may re-sign with that team or go somewhere else that will pay him more.   There are a lot of CFL players whose contracts are up.  Look at our Riders.  32 pending free agents including this year’s numbers 1 & 2 quarterbacks, Trevor Harris and Shea Patterson.   Winnipeg has 27 pending free agents including big names like Kenny Lawlor and Adam Bighill.   29 Free agents in B.C., 30 in Edmonton, 30 in Calgary, 24 in Montreal, 31 in Ottawa, 24 in Toronto, and looks like “only” 17 in Hamilton.   A CFL team has an active roster of 45 players, so the possibility exists of large turnovers which we really don’t want to see, especially when it comes to fan favourites.   Free agency opens February 11 and General Managers and Head coaches will be working some long hours I’m sure before then.  Let’s hope they get to enjoy Christmas. 

That’s Coffeetalk.  I’m Vic Dubois.