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“All jokes aside, we know what we are signing up for. It’s just a little bit more motivation and adds more fuel to the fire. It’s about the money, but at the end of the day it’s not. I want to play football and I want to have an opportunity to do what I love.’’

That opportunity comes with a price. The average CFL salary is reportedly $80,000 per year, which converts to $57,000 in U.S. currency. The league minimum is $52,000 per year, which breaks down to $37,000 US. Then the income is subject to taxes.

The financial difference is so dramatic that some players have considered making changes to their lives to play in the CFL.

“It’s terrible — it’s made me want to move to Canada,’’ said newly signed running back Kendial Lawrence, who spent the previous two seasons with the Edmonton Eskimos. “The exchange rate, it kills a guy. Still, I feel if you’re responsible and you save your money right and you spend it right, you should be OK. You will have money either way you go. I cannot lie. I have thought a couple of times about moving to Canada so I can stop with the exchange rate.’’

Riders linebacker Greg Jones said it has been tough watching the Canadian dollar fall. Jones spent the previous two seasons with the Toronto Argonauts before signing as a free agent with the Riders on Wednesday.

“I think it might pick up soon and I’m hoping for that,’’ Jones said. “It’s part of the game. I wouldn’t have come here if I didn’t think it was worth it. I’m taking it as it goes. I’m not going to worry about it too much.’’