The gold-wrapped TV deal the Canadian Football League secured last year will make financial life a lot easier for every franchise this season. But for a few weeks this spring, it also played a significant role in a labour dispute that could have stopped the season from getting off the ground. TSN/RDS and the CFL signed a new contract last year that runs through 2018, reportedly worth in the neighbourhood of $40 million per season, more than double the previous five-year agreement. That extra cash is great news for money-losing franchises like the Toronto Argonauts and Hamilton Tiger-Cats. "We needed a deal that would dramatically change the economics of our league and its teams and thats what this does," league commissioner Mark Cohon said last year when it was announced. "This will allow losing teams to start making money and to make some investments in their future, whether its new stadiums or practice facilities. Its definitely transformative from an economic standpoint." But the flip side of the coin was the serious pre-season friction with the CFL Players Association the lucrative new agreement provoked. Players wanted a bigger slice of the TV pie than the league was offering and in the end settled for a $600,000 bump in the salary cap to $5 million, more than a million short of what they initially sought, although only $200,000 less than their final offer to the league. But labour peace has now been guaranteed for the next five years and TSN president Stewart Johnson wants to look for even more ways to give fans an up-close-and-personal look at the CFL this season as the new deal kicks in. "How do we create better access for a viewers?" he said as the CFL prepares to start the 2014 season with the Toronto Argonauts visiting the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Thursday. He said he league has already been very co-operative in allowing the network to put microphones on players, put cameras in locker-rooms for speeches and Grey Cup pre-game and post-game talks and putting cameras in less traditional places on the field. "Look for us to continue to look for new ways to innovate when it comes to that type of thing," he said. This year former Bombers coach Paul LaPolice will move to a full-time member of the "CFL on TSN" panel from the part-time role he occupied last season. Rod Smith will host the show. "He (LaPolice) has shown to be an incredible asset to bring a coachs perspective to our panel as we try to tell those stories," said Johnston. The panel is expected to be live in Ottawa for the expansion Redblacks opener and Hamilton as their new stadium is christened. The 2014 CFL broadcast schedule will expand to 86 games in 2014, with the addition of the Ottawa expansion franchise and the playoff games, including the Grey Cup. "Were thrilled with that expansion to begin with. Having nine more games on the schedule in and of itself is a huge benefit to TSN (and) expanding to another major Canadian market that will generate interest not only in the home team but the league as a whole is a benefit to TSN." The new agreement gives TSN and RDS exclusive media rights to all CFL exhibition, regular-season and playoff games — including the Grey Cup — as well as the leagues annual draft and combine. In addition to broadcast and digital rights, it includes exclusive radio rights to the Grey Cup for TSN and Team radio stations. "The deal is an incredibly important component of TSNs overall programming schedule," said the network president. "It is an exclusive relationship with a top-tier property that delivers incredibly compelling all-Canadian content and culminates in the biggest show on Canadian soil, the Grey Cup." The CFL is a marquee property for TSN, which lost the NHL national rights earlier this year after Rogers paid $5.2-billion for a 12-year deal. Sports increasingly is seen as the premium product for broadcasters in the competitive multi-channel environment. "It has to be consumed live, there are very few folks who want to PVR a sporting event and watch it later," said Johnston. "That translates into an increased value proposition for our advertisers." Charles Clay Jersey . Born in Berkeley and raised in Oakland, where he later pitched for the As, Ross beat the Giants for the first time in six career appearances by throwing eight scoreless innings to lead the San Diego Padres to a 2-1 victory Friday night. Jerry Hughes Jersey . -- Conner Bleackley got it done in regulation time and in the shootout. http://www.thebillsgearshop.com/Bills-Oj-Simpson-Draft-Jersey/ . Expensive. The NFL fined Tomlin $100,000 on Wednesday for interfering with Baltimores Jacoby Jones on a kickoff return in the third quarter of a 22-20 loss to the Ravens on Thanksgiving night. Russell Bodine Jersey . -- Cincinnati Reds closer Aroldis Chapman is undergoing surgery to repair a broken bone above his left eye but has no other serious injuries after being hit in the face by a line drive in a spring training game. Thurman Thomas Jersey . I kind of got a taste of being able to pick a suit with the draft lottery, I went with the bow tie.Philadelphia, PA (SportsNetwork.com) - A virtual Whos Who of great FCS coaches over the last three decades have captured the Eddie Robinson Award, and this years national coach of the year will take his place next to them. Voting for the Eddie Robinson Award began on Monday with 21 finalists from across the FCS. Morgan States Lee Hull was named as the final addition to the list. Each of the 13 FCS conferences has at least one finalist. Eleven of the coaches have led their teams to either a shared or outright conference title and 13 will be coaching in the FCS playoffs. Past winners of the esteemed Eddie Robinson Award include Mark Duffner, Erk Russell, Chris Ault, Jim Tressel, Houston Nutt, Andy Talley, Paul Johnson, Joe Glenn, Jerry Kill, Jerry Moore, and the only two-time winners, Mickey Matthews and Craig Bohl. A national panel of sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries select the Robinson Award, now in its 28th year and selected only on regular-season merits. The winner will be announced Dec. 15 at The Sports Network FCS Awards Banquet and Presentation. The Sports Network FCS Awards package is located at http://tinyurl.com/n5ysh8x. The 2014 Eddie Robinson Award finalists: Beau Baldwin, Eastern Washington (Big Sky Conference) Has led Eagles to a third straight conference title, a 10-2 record, a No. 4 ranking in the final regular-season poll and into the FCS playoffs Rod Broadway, North Carolina A&T (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) The Aggies won a share of the conference title for the first time since 2003 and posted their highest win total (nine) since that same season, while climbing into the Top 25 for the first time in over 10 years. Clint Conque, Stephen F. Austin (Southland Conference) While improving a 3-9 record last year to 8-4 in Conques first season, the Lumberjacks have defeated two Top 10 opponents and qualified for the FCS playoffs. Marty Fine, Bryant (Northeast Conference) The Bulldogs appeared in the Top 25 for the first time ever and won eight games - the most since their program moved into the FCS ranks in 2008. Broderick Fobbs, Grambling State (Southwestern Athletic Conference) In his first season at his alma mater, Fobbs has turned around a 1-11 squad with a seven-win season and a chance to reach the SWAC championship game. John Grass, Jacksonville State (Ohio Valley Conference) Has led the Gamecocks to a perfect conference record in his first season as well as the No. 3 national ranking and a 10-game winning streak heading into the FCS playoffs. Dean Hood, Eastern Kentucky (Ohio Valley Conference) Has guided the Colonels to nine wins - the most in his seven seasons - second place in the OVC and into the FCS playoffs. Russ Huesman, Chattanoooga (Southern Conference) With a perfect record in conference play, the champion Mocs are 9-3 and headed to the FCS playoffs for the first time since 1984.dddddddddddd Lee Hull, Morgan State (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) The Bears were picked ninth in the MEAC under their first-year coach but have gone 7-5 with a share of their first conference title in 35 years, advancing to the FCS playoffs for the first time. Chris Klieman, North Dakota State (Missouri Valley Football Conference) After a 9-0 start that was the best by a first-year coach in Missouri Valley history, the Bison are 11-1 and No. 2-ranked entering the FCS playoffs. Mike Kramer, Idaho State (Big Sky Conference) An 8-4 season represented the Bengals combined win total over the previous five seasons, and they have moved into the Top 25 for the first time since 2005. Dale Lindsey, San Diego (Pioneer Football League) Has directed the Toreros to a 9-2 record and the PFL championship as well as a berth in the FCS playoffs for the first time. Sean McDonnell, New Hampshire (CAA Football) The Wildcats are No. 1 ranked and the No. 1 seed in the FCS playoffs after posting a 10-1 record, including a perfect season in CAA Football. Joe Moglia, Coastal Carolina (Big South Conference) Led the Chanticleers to the No. 2 ranking and the first 11-0 start in Big South history while earning a share of the conference title and an FCS playoff berth. Tim Murphy, Harvard (Ivy League) Led the Crimson to the league title for an eighth time and a 10-0 record for the only unbeaten finish in the regular season among all FCS programs. Tony Reno, Yale (Ivy League) Early season victory over FBS member Army helped push the Bulldogs to an 8-2 record - their highest win total since 2007. Mike Sanford, Indiana State (Missouri Valley Football Conference) In his second season, Sanford has turned around a 1-11 team with a seven-win campaign and the Sycamores first FCS playoff bid since 1984. Brock Spack, Illinois State (Missouri Valley Football Conference) The Redbirds have earned a share of the conference title, doubling their 2013 win total with a 10-1 record and earning a bid to the FCS playoffs. Mark Speir, Western Carolina (Southern Conference) A 7-5 record marked the Catamounts first winning season since 2001 and they shared second place for their best finish in the conference since 1992. Joe Susan, Bucknell (Patriot League) With an 8-3 record, the Bison reached that win level for only the fifth time in their 129-year history, and finished second in the league standings. Everett Withers, James Madison (CAA Football) A seven-game winning streak to end the regular season has pushed the Dukes and their first-year coach to a 9-3 record and into the FCS playoffs. 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