CFL announces changes to the game - merged topics

[Sir Blue and Gold]

This sets up for a very interesting 2027 CBA negotiation. Just my two cents but I don't think it will stop here.

League owners say, "status quo is unacceptable," says the Commish. I think it's the start not the end.

[blue_gold_84]

[Sir Blue and Gold]

Commissioner refuses to say the league won't go to 4 downs in the future. A reporter asked him to guarantee that. He didn't.

[bwiser]

I don't mind the goal posts being moved back. It never made sense to have the goal posts in the field of play.The Bombers might not have won the western final in 2019 if not for Fajardo hitting the goal post on a pass in the fourth quarter.

[Pete]

i like the changes , currently the 20 second clock seems arbitrary at times.. my question is in the last 3 minutes how  does the clock stop . allowing 35 seconds to be run off will cut the number of plays I wouldnt want to see that currently its the most exciting time in the game
the posts moving back is very good and should have been done sooner

the rouge is over reacted to. Its not a big deal in my opinion.

the shortened field..im not sure about.
its about time we had a commissioner make thoughtout moves vs the previous one

[Jesse]

Great.

A bunch of changes that don't improve the game, just make it more similar to the NFL.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

Very encouraged. Phased in approach. After listening carefully, I'd say that more changes are being considered and they'll move on them if they're encouraged by growth.

Super interesting that he refused to say both that 4 downs would never be considered and also that there was not a single rule that was unchangeable.

Reporters gave him a platform to offer that and he passed on both questions.

[blue_gold_84]

Commissioner refuses to say the league won't go to 4 downs in the future. A reporter asked him to guarantee that. He didn't.

Did not like that non-answer. At all.

If the CFL ever adds an extra down, I am done.

[Blue In BC]

Very encouraged. Phased in approach. After listening carefully, I'd say that more changes are being considered and they'll move on them if they're encouraged by growth.

Super interesting that he refused to say both that 4 downs would never be considered and also that there was not a single rule that was unchangeable.

Reporters gave him a platform to offer that and he passed on both questions.

How are any of these changes going to improve growth? The USFL does some of this and can hardly get 10K fans in most stadiums.

[markf]

slow drip change to four down football.

Definitely would decrease my level of interest. A lot.

And will not convince my thirty year old "NFL is better" nephews to follow the CFL.

Why would they, or anyone watch  a second rate NFL?

The idea that all we need to do is add a fourth down, to increase fan interest is comically stupid.

Turns out hiring someone from a not very good sports network might not be a good idea.

[theaardvark]

OK, not a huge fan of the rouge change.  The "reward for failure" is a dog that just don't hunt.  Its just a different way to score. Keeping it for a modified safety is a compromise we have to live with I guess.

Keeping the width the same is great, but not sure how eastern teams are going to accommodate 2 sidelines with the width the same.

15 yd endzones I can deal with, the removal of the goal posts might actually make the end zones bigger.

100 yd instead of 110, I guess it makes MTL and TOR fields the same as others, although it might make TOR put a little more real grass into play.  The truncated corners in MTL though, I can live without.

But this does make a lot of asterisks.  Max return TD is 114 yds now.  I guess FG's will now be spot +15 yds to maintain the records.

Did they say where kickoffs would be kicked from?  Guessing the 20...

[Sir Blue and Gold]

Good catch on the sideline and width thing, Aardvark.

I guess the thing there is stay tuned. The arguments have already been made for goal posts is the same as what can be used for width.

Fans closer to the action, better sidelines etc etc. or "fans loved being way closer to the action with the goal posts" and so moving in the width is simply listening. Maybe that's a 2027 press conference for 2028.

I think exciting days are ahead and if fans keep an open mind and understand that the product can be way better than it is, you'll end up liking it.

[theaardvark]

Rouge is now a 1 point touchback.  Precision punting becomes huge.  When you punt instead of going for a FG, now you need to land it in the EZ, no further.  Sheahan is going to excel...

[blue_gold_84]

Turns out hiring someone from a not very good sports network might not be a good idea.

It's all about money for guys like him. Everything else comes second - and it's a distant second, to be sure.

But at least he sprinkled in some anecdotes of his time playing football back in high school nearly 40 years ago. Those were useful. /s

[Blueforlife]