As the CFL off-season officially ended with players arriving at their respective teams for medical testing on Saturday, all thoughts were on taking the first step toward the 2014 Grey Cup.

But there was no denying a grey cloud hanging over everyone's heads given the current state of collective bargaining negotiations.

“There's definitely a grey cloud over our league right now and it definitely needs to be resolved,” said seven-year veteran Eskimos fullback Calvin McCarty.

While the league is contending with its own economic realities, it's hard to blame the ones out on the field getting their teeth knocked in for wanting to be taken better care of.

“That's really the only way you can get your teeth fixed, is if it happens on the field,” said McCarty. “That's my only comment on that, but families …”

Dependants and spouses didn't have dental coverage under the latest collective bargaining agreement, which expired on Thursday.

“There are a lot of things that could be done, but I think that's something outside of what everybody was talking about with revenue sharing that may be potentially an option for players,” McCarty said. “But as of now, I don't think it's in the (proposed) agreement, so really, we're chasing ghosts right now.”

And what are football players doing here if not trying to provide for their families?

“Looking in the off-season for a job that might provide something that this one doesn't,” said McCarty, who spent his fourth off-season in Edmonton as an analyst with Alberta Innovates Technology Futures. “It was a contract job for four months, but they did provide some dental so I was able to take care of a few things.

“At the same time, it's tough to really get a career job when you're saying: 'I have to leave, I'll see you in six months.' ”

The Eskimos organization is focused on training camp and the regular season and, until they're told otherwise, running things business-as-usual.

But it's been anything but for offensive lineman Brian Ramsay during these negotiations, where he holds the title of CFLPA treasurer.

“We've been talking the last couple months,” said Ramsay, who returned from the latest meeting in Toronto on Thursday in order to report to the Eskimos medicals. “People were saying talks broke down but logistically, everyone's back to where home is. We can still be talking, it's just not in the same hotel room.

“(Any potential strike) is one of those things that we're adapting as we go. Talking to the team here, guys are getting ready to come to camp.”

gerry.moddejonge@sunmedia.ca

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