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“They did say there’s ongoing talks and hopefully in the next couple weeks there will be some more clarity so that we’ll be able to give players coming up the accurate information.

“As of now, new players coming up have to know that the option window is not available to them. Our league is hoping that will get changed once they can sit down and sort it out with the NFL.”

Because the NFL window was written into the CBA, both players and management were operating on the assumption that it would be in effect this off-season.

However, the NFL did not sign off on it, so players with contracts for next season were not able to work out with NFL teams.

It caused a problem for teams, who told players they would be able to work out when they signed their CFL contracts, and the players themselves.

The most notable example was Calgary defensive back Tre Roberson, who had a year left on his deal with the Stampeders but eventually was released so he could pursue NFL opportunities.

Blue Bombers defensive end Jonathan Kongbo was released from a three-year contract to sign with the San Francisco 49ers. Had the NFL window, as worded in the CBA, been in effect, the Bombers would have retained Kongbo’s CFL rights, but now that is not the case.

The Bombers honoured a handshake agreement with Kongbo, but they, like all other CFL teams, would rather an official policy be in place sooner rather than later.

“That’s something we’ll get figured out,” Bombers president Wade Miller said. “Making change isn’t always as smooth and as quick as you’d like. We want to see our players have that opportunity. It will just take time to work that out between the two leagues. “