"Only in the CFL" was a phrase I heard and read after Ed Hervey reneged on a deal with the Ottawa Renegades last week to re-sign with the Edmonton Eskimos.

Hervey's actions were reminiscent of Scott Flory's embarrassing backtrack with the Saskatchewan Roughriders last season – yet another example of how not to conduct business as a free agent.

But for one to suggest that this could happen "only in the CFL" is a blatant cheap shot at a league that looks like a model sports entity these days, compared with its financially bloated big brothers.

Vince Carter admits he didn't give 100-per-cent in Toronto and is dealt in part for Alonzo Mourning, who is paid $10 million US to refuse to play for the Raptors; Jose Canseco's steroid allegations in Major League Baseball, the current NHL mess, and match rigging in European soccer are all examples of why the phrase "only in the CFL" should be rendered obsolete.

Speaking of CFL free agency, the Calgary Stampeders are already big winners of the off-season bidding wars even before Henry Burris chooses between the Stamps and Roughriders.

Signing explosive Jermaine Copeland from Montreal gives Calgary its best receiver since Allen Pitts and Terry Vaughn. With Burris gunslinging for the Stampeders, Calgary would be bona fide contenders for West Division honours.

They would also possess two of the most engaging personalities in the league west of Mike (Pinball) Clemons.

Saskatchewan fans deserve to keep Smiling Hank. At the same time, the unwavering loyalty of Stampeder fans during the ill-fated Feterik era is deserving of all the spoils the new Calgary organization can provide.

While Hamilton, Edmonton and Winnipeg have also made key acquisitions, there must be concern in Ottawa about the exodus from the Renegades.

So far, five free agents have bolted from the nation's capital including four homebrews: Kelly Wiltshire, Mike Abou-Mechrek, Alexandre Gauthier, and Mike Maurer. Joe Paopao is the right man for the job in Ottawa but the 'Gades' front office dithering after the Grey Cup has left the affable Paopao trailing the field in the CFL's off-season sweepstakes.

For the past two years on our CFL on CBC telecasts, I have been a proponent of a rule change to penalize punts kicked out of bounds.

One of the CFL's great assets is its special teams play, which has produced superstar kick returners like Hall-of-Famer Henry (Gizmo) Williams, as well as current stars Bashir Levingston, Keith Stokes, Corey Holmes and Ezra Landry.

CFL fans buy tickets to watch these box office attractions make big plays and, by extension, special teams players (including Argo punter Noel Prefontaine) hustling down the field to prevent long returns.

With apologies to the punting fraternity, what fans don't open their wallets to see are punters kicking for the sidelines.

It's a strategy, by the way, that backfired on Wally Buono in the 2004 Grey Cup game.

Duncan O'Mahony's sideline shots provided the Argonauts with instant field position throughout the championship game.

The only exception to the new punting rule should be for kicks inside the 10-yard line. The coffin corner kick is a skill that should not be taken away from the punters. I've seen O'Mahony bounce a few out at the goal line and in a tight ball game. It's a play which demands a deft touch, is exciting, and should be rewarded.

One other rule change I think should be implemented is to tweak the overtime setup.

I've never understood why the ball is scrimmaged at the 35 to begin overtime. By doing so it provides teams with instant field goal position. If a team fails to score on its first possession their opponent can walk out and attempt a winning 42-yard field goal without running an offensive play. Both teams should have to earn that scoring position by moving the ball into scoring range from midfield.

There has also been talk of eliminating the single point on missed field goals.

It rewards failure, suggest its many critics. I disagree. What the single point rewards is the acquisition of field position. The rouge creates some of the CFL's most compelling plays: the missed field goal return and the kickback at the end of close games. The exception should be in overtime. Paul McCallum's infamous missed field goal in overtime of the West Division final would have been the winning single point for Saskatchewan had B.C. failed to score on its possession.

Hardly a deserving way for the Roughriders to have claimed victory.

Otherwise, let's save the rouge. It's a distinctive part of the Canadian game. Only in the CFL.