It is, to be sure, a procedural thing.
But at the same time, the Canadian Football League knows exactly what it is doing.
Shedeur Sanders was selected by the Cleveland Browns with the 144th overall pick in this year's NFL Draft, part of an almost comically notable fall from projections that the former Colorado star would be a Round 1 gem.
The Browns, by taking him in Round 5, might still have a steal. But for now, the high-profile son of all-time superstar Deion Sanders is - as a football player - just a guy. He has entered a crowded quarterback room that consists of Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett and Dillon Gabriel (not counting the injured Deshaun Watson.)
He's a fourth-stringer. ... with a lofty ambition.
"My goal is to be the best teammate and to be as polished as I can be in every aspect," Shedeur recently said. "I view (my situation) as, 'I got time. I got time to be able to grow and mature and be able to understand the ins and outs of the defenses and be able to get the good insight from the vets in the room.'
"So, I look at it as a plus.''
But what if he gets "minused'' from the roster?
The CFL would like him to come up north of the border.
On Friday, the Fourth of July - America's 249th birthday! - it was officially announced that Sanders as among the notable names on the CFL negotiation list.
This doesn't mean he's going anywhere; it just means that the Toronto Argonauts are the team that officially has his rights should he ever wish to explore the idea.
Is it viable that Shedeur fails to make the Browns' 53-man roster? Absolutely ... but if he gets cut, they'd likely want him on the practice squad - and other NFL teams would surely want the same.
But ...
If Shedeur ever wants to spend a season in Canada? His football invite is now official.