The CFL and the CFLPA still have three more days to beat the date of their CBA resolution the last time they had to hammer out a new deal.

In 2010, the sides came to an agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement exactly one week before the start of rookie camp. One week before rookie camp this year is on Wednesday, so they could still be ahead of schedule if they can figure something out in the next three days.

Yeah, right.

When the CFL and CFLPA had its negotiations four years ago, there was nowhere near the amount of strong talk we’ve been hearing from the players over the past several weeks. There was a general assumption that a deal was coming four years ago, so the talks weren’t that big of a deal. To no one’s surprise, a new agreement was reached on May 26, 2010.

While this year’s talks aren’t going as smoothly, it sounds like things are looking up a bit. There were rumblings the players were going to go public with their demands on Tuesday, but that apparently isn’t going to happen now after some progress was made on Friday in Toronto.

In fact, the sides are scheduled to talk again on Wednesday, according to a source close to the negotiations.

The leverage, of course, is with the league, which doesn’t deny things are looking up in the nine-team league, but says they’re not that great yet. It’s no secret the players want revenue sharing, but the league instead is willing to give them a modest salary cap increase.

It looks like the players want to give the league a scare, so maybe training camps don’t start on time. The chances of the season not starting on time? Can’t see that happening.

WAITING, WONDERING

The people stuck in the middle of this labour mess are the football operations folks, who are busy preparing for a season that might be delayed.

Then again, they’re forging ahead like nothing is out of the ordinary.

“It’s business as usual until we’re told differently,” Roughriders general manager Brendan Taman said.

Teams have already begun booking flights and reserving lodging for players. The fields are reserved, and the schedules are set. Now all they need is a collective bargaining agreement, and they’ll be set to go.

“In order to get the best deals on flights, you gotta do it,” Alouettes general manager Jim Popp said. “Everything is proceeding as normal.”

Rookie camps are scheduled to begin on Wednesday, May 28, with main camps to open across the country bright and early on the morning of Sunday, June 1. Rookie camps will be able to take place because the CBA doesn’t expire until after they’re complete.

“(A work stoppage) is something you think about in the back of your head,” Popp said. “If something happens, you think, ‘What’s next?’ But I’m optimistic. I want and expect us to be on schedule.”

EL KABONG!

One of the league’s more colourful characters called it a career this week, as offensive lineman Patrick Kabongo retired from the B.C. Lions.

The 6-foot-6, 354-pound guard out of the University of Nebraska was drafted by the Ottawa Renegades in 2003 but never played for them, opting for an NFL tryout with the Detroit Lions instead. He spent eight seasons in Edmonton, helping them win the Grey Cup in 2005.

The larger-than-life 34-year-old, who was a West Division all-star in 2008, appeared in 33 games for the Lions over the last two seasons.

LATE HITS

Heartbreaking news out of Florida last week, as the five-year-old son of Ticats defensive tackle Torrey Davis drowned in a pool at a Tampa apartment complex on Mother’s Day … Stampeders defensive back Quincy Butler was charged with two counts of common assault following an incident in Calgary early Thursday morning, according to the Calgary Sun. The 30-year-old allegedly assaulted a cab driver and a bystander who tried to intervene … The Alouettes signed former Kansas State star quarterback Collin Klein this week. He took part in their mini-camp in Florida, and Popp is excited about Klein’s ability to make things happen with his feet.

INSIDERS SAYS ...

The winner of the draft? I would say Calgary. They went in picking seventh. By the end of the night, though, they got maybe the best two football players — Lavertu and Smith — who will play in the CFL this year. Got the best overall player in the draft in Duvernay-Tardif, too. Yeah, Kansas City drafted him, but he’s worth the risk in the third round … The loser? Montreal. They drafted two players the media made stars after the combine: The big tackle from (Danny) Maciocia’s team (David Foucault) and the safety from Queen’s (Andrew Lue). Sure, Foucault looks the part, but I’m not convinced he can stay healthy. And we didn’t like Lue as a football player. There’s a difference in being an athlete — looking good and testing well — and being a football player. Look at his film. He always jumps on the pile at the end of the play, but how many tackles does he make? Not many … I think Montreal won the draft. They took better players throughout the entire draft … We probably made a mistake not drafting Casey Chin. My coaches liked him. He was a steal for B.C. at the end of round three. A real steal. Good linebacker and deep snaps, too … The RedBlacks were the draft losers. Their trades were brutal … I really liked Evan Gill to Hamilton at No. 9. That’s good value … Edmonton should have kept their pick and drafted (Anthony) Coombs, but since we play them three times, I’m glad they didn’t. That young man might be rookie of the year … Kevin Glenn to the Lions was highway robbery on B.C.’s part.