Jason Pottinger chose his words carefully, because this was the first time he could speak for himself, on the record. [url=https://www.cheaptigers.com/]Detroit Tigers Gear[/url] . And the Ottawa Redblacks linebacker wanted to be sure his words delivered their full effect. "Its an insult," h

Jason Pottinger chose his words carefully, because this was the first time he could speak for himself, on the record. Detroit Tigers Gear . And the Ottawa Redblacks linebacker wanted to be sure his words delivered their full effect. "Its an insult," he said over the phone Wednesday after the CFL Players Association lifted its media ban, giving its members the ability to speak openly about stalling collective bargaining talks. For Pottinger — 30 years old and an eight-year CFL veteran taken by Ottawa in Decembers expansion draft— "It," is an all-composing term, referring to the CFLs reluctance to explore any revenue-sharing model, and the publication of the leagues newest offer Wednesday, which includes a "ratification bonus" ($1,000 for rookies and $3,000 for veterans) if the players agree to the leagues terms by June 2. "Its a slap in the face." "It" ultimately alludes to a negotiation process that has made no progress for months. Like most players, Pottinger has not directly been part of the talks. There is now a week left before the current CBA expires on May 29. Last week the CFLPA began mailing out strike ballots to its members. Pottinger has received his, and he has voted Yes. "Im hopeful," he said. "But the league has to start taking us seriously." For the most part, players have kept quiet over the last few months. The CFL made certain no one representing the league or any team spoke, threatening hefty fines for any league or team official willing to share any thoughts on the negotiations. And then today - after TSN initially reported the leagues latest offer to the players - CFL commissioner Mark Cohon released the offer on the leagues website along with an open letter to players and fans. The leagues offer includes an initial nine per cent increase on the salary cap — from the existing $4.4 million to $4.8 million — in the first year of a new CBA, and a yearly $50,000 increase over the life of a new five-year deal (putting the cap at $5,050,000). The league minimum salary would also be raised from $45,000 to $50,000. And the CFL would maintain a $450,000 annual payment to the CFLPA for "Player marketing and other rights." The proposal also includes larger active rosters, plans for limited amounts of contact practices, and the continuation of player pension, medical, and life insurance benefits. "The CFL offer strikes an appropriate balance of, on the one hand, providing significant compensation increases and health and safety improvements to the Players while, on the other hand, creating an environment in which the League and its teams can continue to build for a strong and stable future," Cohon wrote in his letter to the players. "I was surprised [the league went public]," Pottinger said. "This must have been their plan. We had an understanding that neither side would approach the media for 24 hours. [The players] gave that notice [Tuesday afternoon] and the league broke that understanding. They came in [to the proposed Toronto meeting place Wednesday] handed their proposal and walked out. Now is that bargaining?" Four hours later, CFLPA executives held a press conference and released their counterproposal. The crucial component of the players offer is $6.24 million salary cap partly determined by a revenue-sharing model, which would allocate 55 per cent of gross revenue from TV, internet and radio rights, 45 per cent of gross sponsorship revenue, and 40 per cent of gross ticket revenue to the players. "We advised the CFLPA in no uncertain terms that their proposal was not realistic, and would not form the basis for any financial settlement," Cohon said in his letter. "In fact, it would threaten the very existence of the CFL." "The league has only recently been upfront with us about their finances," Pottinger said. "This isnt just about the players now. This is about the players who are coming into the league, and who will come into the league. In five years, I will likely be out of the league. I want players coming to the CFL then to say Thanks for putting up a fight. CFLPA president Scott Flory also issued a letter to CFL fans Wednesday afternoon. "We are in not interested in destroying the game that has given us all so much. We put our bodies, hearts and souls on the line and seek nothing more than to be fairly paid for what we do," Flory wrote. Sources - players both close to the negotiations and outside of the meetings - have told TSN over the past few months that some kind of revenue-sharing scheme must be an integral part of any new CBA. But are the percentages in the CFLPAs recent proposal fixed, immutable numbers? Or a starting point that hasnt yet been properly considered? Pottinger, a businessman himself working toward his Master of Business Administration, paused when considering the questions. The terms "whats fair" and "fair share" were constantly repeated principles when players were advised to say little or nothing. The message wont change now. "In the end - and I know youve heard this enough times already - but we want whats fair," he said. "I want you to write this: Back in 2010 [when the soon-to-be-expired CBA was being negotiated] revenue sharing for the players was around 56 per cent. The league approached us and said they couldnt operate with a revenue sharing model. They told us the league wouldnt be healthy. They told us to be partners. We understood. We thought we were partners." "Now it just feels like take, take, take." Players used social media to air frustration and show their filled-in strike ballots. Ones with NO crossed have yet to be seen. "In writing this letter, we the Executive, are still here where our negotiations were scheduled to be, working towards furthering talks. We need two sides," Flory wrote in his open letter. What is the timetable now? Does Pottinger expect to miss the first week of training camp? The first preseason game? The first week of the regular season? Is he ready to strike? "Im still hopeful for a new deal," Pottinger said. John Hiller Jersey . Thats how the Ravens won when Ryan was their defensive co-ordinator from 2005-08, and that is precisely the formula Baltimore used to beat Ryans New York Jets on Sunday. Dawel Lugo Jersey . The Philadelphia left fielder clubbed a tiebreaking, solo home run in the seventh inning, and the Phillies edged the Red Sox, 2-1, in the middle test of a three-game interleague series at Citizens Bank Park. https://www.cheaptigers.com/389z-charlie-gehringer-jersey-tigers.html . - UFC 178, previously announced for Sept.VAL-DOR, Que. -- Sebastien Auger stopped 53 shots for his second shutout of the season as the Saint John Sea Dogs blanked the host Val-dOr Foreurs 2-0 on Friday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. Auger made 29 saves through 40 minutes of action, but was at his best in the third period as his club was outshot 24-1. Mathieu Joseph opened the scoring for the Sea Dogs (16-30-4) with a power-play goal at 10:22 of the second period while Oliver Coopers insurance goal was into an empty net at 19:39 of the third. Guillaume Gelinas and Nicolas Aube-Kubel led the Foreurs (31-18-2) with seven shots apiece on Auger. Val-dOrs Antoine Bibeau kicked out 19-of-20 shots in a losing cause. --- TIGRES 6 ISLANDERS 2 CHARLOTTETOWN -- Jean-Francois Plante scored twice and set up one more and Francois Tremblay made 30 saves as Victoriaville downed the Islanders for its eighth win in a row. Angelo Miceli, Mark Tremaine, Philippe Hudon and Jan Mandat also scored for the Tigres (25-19-6) while Carl Marois and Cameron Yarwood each had two assists. Troy Vance and Spenser Cobbold scored for Charlottetown (17-30-5), which is on an eight-game skid. Eric Brassard turned away 46-of-52 shots in a losing cause for the Islanders. --- SAGUENEENS 4 PHOENIX 3 (OT) CHICOUTIMI, Que. -- Simon Tremblay scored twice, including the winner 3:30 into overtime, as the Sagueneens edged Sherbrooke to snap a three-game slide. Dominic Beauchemenin had two goals and an assist for Chicoutimi (25-25-1) while Laurent Dauphin added three assists. The Phoenix (15-29-7) got goals from Julien Bahl, Matej Beran and Kevin Domingue. Domeninc Graham made 23 saves for the Sagueneens as Sherbrookes Gabriel Parent stopped 34-of-38 shots in defeat. --- ARMADA 6 REMPARTS 4 QUEBEC CITY -- Ryan Tesink scored twice and Philippe Sanchee tacked on three assists as Blainville-Boisbriand halted Quebecs seven-game win streak. Detroit Tigers Pro Shop. Emil Aronsson, Marc-Olivier Roy, Danick Martel and Marcus Hinds also scored for the Armada (31-10-9), who went 3 for 4 on the power play. Anthony Duclair had a goal and two assists for the Remparts (30-13-8), who went 2 for 5 with the man advantage, while Tyler Brown, Adam Chapman and Nick Sorensen each scored once. Blainville-Boisbrainds Samuel Montembeault made 29 saves for the win. Francois Brassard started in net for Quebec and allowed five goals on 22 shots through 40 minutes of action. Callum Booth started the third period for the Remparts and stopped 4-of-5 shots in relief. --- VOLTIGEURS 6 OLYMPIQUES 5 (SO) DRUMMONDVILLE, Que.-- Frederick Gaudreau scored the winner in the seventh round of the shootout as the Voltigeurs toppled Gatineau. Ryan Culkin scored once and set up two more for Drummondville (32-16-3) and Nikolas Brouillard, Olivier Caouette, Matthew Boudens and Alexandre-Grande-Maison had the others. Alexandre Chenier-Allard had a pair of goals for the Olympiques (30-17-4) while Taylor Burke, Jake Coughler and Simon Tardif-Richard each scored once. Louis-Philip Guindon made 16 saves for the Voltigeurs as Gatineaus Robert Steeves stopped 23 shots in defeat. --- MOOSEHEADS 4 CATARACTES 3 SHAWINIGAN, Que. -- Jonathan Drouin had two goals and an assist as Halifax slipped past the Cataractes. Nikolaj Ehlers had a goal and an assist for the Mooseheads (34-17-1) and Brent Andrews scored what turned into the game winner. Alex Filatrault, Alexis DAoust and Nicholas Welsh scored for Shawinigan (13-31-7) and Brandon Gignac helped out with two assists. Halifaxs Kevin Darveau made 23 saves for the win as Marvin Cupper stopped 31-of-34 shots for the Cataractes. ' ' '