Richard Obert

azcentral sports

The Rattlers placed defensive backs Markus Smith and Jimmy Legree on league suspension Wednesday after both left the team to pursue Canadian Football League tryouts.

The Rattlers already placed defensive back Demar Dorsey on league suspension after he left for a CFL tryout, where he suffered a major knee injury, according to Rattlers GM and coach Kevin Guy. Because Dorsey's contract was suspended with the Rattlers during the CFL tryout, Dorsey's injury isn't covered under the collective bargaining agreement, Guy said.

Guy is upset with the CFL for trying to take players from the Arena Football League, because of the collective bargaining agreement in their contracts.

Smith was starting for the 2-0 Rattlers, who have held their first two opponents to 28 points each.

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"Markus was making plays, but he wanted to go to a tryout in Canada," Guy said. "That's something we need to address as a league. We have to protect our league. Canada is not a higher league. They're competition. It's the NFL and we're fighting over who they cut. We've got our own league and our rules.

"Owners have to stand up and decide to protect our league, what we're playing for. It is an issue. When you have an organization like us, and we're going to recruit 365 days a year, and put the best product on the field. ... Some of those guys in Canada are just lazy. They want to look at our roster and try to cherry pick. At the end of the day, that's lazy recruiting on their part. They need to do a better job of recruiting in the offseason."

The AFL has eight teams this season, but is adding a Washington, D.C., franchise next season, and it very close to a major television network deal with Univision in Mexico, where two more teams are expected to be added.

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The CFL season begins June 8.

CFL players make a minimum salary of $52,000 Canadian, with the CFL salary cap set at $5.1 million Canadian.

AFL players make roughly $825 a game (more for certain players such as quarterbacks). They have season-long housing, transportation and meals provided.

Canadian money is 75 cents on the American dollar. Guy said players get taxed twice when they try to bring it from Canada to America. CFL players also have to pay for their own housing and meals.

"If you get offered a contract, you can leave," Guy said. "But to go do tryouts, we're not running a charity. At the end of the day, we want guys who are here and committed."

The Rattlers will bring in two defensive backs on Thursday. Their home opener is 6 p.m. Saturday against the Tampa Bay Storm (0-2) at Talking Stick Resort Arena.

Reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-460-1710. Follow him at twitter.com/azc_obert.