CFL announces changes to the game - merged topics

[Blueforlife]

To those throwing shade at the commissioner: This was signed off on by every member of the executive. The commissioner works for the group. They are Stuart's boss and not the other way around.

The Bombers have had a lot of success and the CFL in its current form works for us but unless you'd like to play Saskatchewan 12 times a year it's time to understand that the change is necessary. 

Ask Nathan, doesn't sounds like any consultation at all.  Typical top down corporate decision about $.

It's clear you want American ball in Canada and have been pushing that for a long time. I believe you are in the minority here.  Tough spot as the league needs to adapt but I don't favor the direction we are headed.

[Blueforlife]

The length of the field will result in less kick off returns.

They took 10 yards off the field, so KO's that currently land at the 10 will be on the goal line. The end-zone is now 15 yards & if the ball goes through the end-zone, 0 points. Returners can let it bounce & it will go out the back.

Gets me so mad.  We just became the kinda fun league and soon to be no fun. 

[markf]

This also explains the Luke Willson experience...

Telling us all about the shortcomings of the CFL.

The extreme unpopularity off that stuff should have given them a clue.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

The length of the field will result in less kick off returns.

They took 10 yards off the field, so KO's that currently land at the 10 will be on the goal line. The end-zone is now 15 yards & if the ball goes through the end-zone, 0 points. Returners can let it bounce & it will go out the back.

Good point, preferable choice for the receiving team as most returns would be hard pressed to reach their own 40.  This will encourage shorter/higher kickoffs with backspin to avoid kicking it into the endzone,  also easier to cover.

[TrueBlue75]

[/quote]

Rourke:

Nathan Rourke started off a conversation about his impression of CFL rule changes with a "How much time do we have?" and then got even more fired up from there.

"The new rule changes are garbage," the B.C. Lions quarterback said after practice Monday ...

"I grew up watching the CFL and loving the game. I grew up in Ontario and played Canadian rules all my life. I was aware of the league down there and was a fan of it, but I was a fan of the CFL because of its differences. I went down to the States, proud of the game and explaining the differences — the waggle, the yard off the ball, the extra person. These are the things that are unique about the game. The rule changes make it sound like we want to be like that league down south. In recent history, leagues that have tried to be like the NFL haven't existed very long. The CFL has existed for longer than the NFL and there's a reason for that. The fans love it."

https://www.msn.com/en-ca/sports/nfl/bc-lions-qb-nathan-rourke-the-new-rule-changes-are-garbage/ar-AA1N5aeq


One of the stupider things about trying to be more like the NFL is how the current NFL offences are more like the CFL, which they have done to increase excitement. Scrambling, running  quarterbacks are all in style there now.

And pre snap motion,  one coach even said, trying to borrow CFL type motion as much as they can with their rules.
 
Both CFL staples forever.



Players and coaches were not consulted.   Arrogant move.

I just gained a whole lot more respect for Rourke. Good for him airing his displeasure. He's bang on! "That league down south"...lol

[Jesse]

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.

I don't see anything that can change the product for the better though. These are cosmetic things that make it look more American. That's it.

[Jesse]

I just gained a whole lot more respect for Rourke. Good for him airing his displeasure. He's bang on! "That league down south"...lol

New favourite player.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

Rourke might not be the most neutral mind on this given he spent all his energy trying to make it in that league and not succeeding even a little bit.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

I don't see anything that can change the product for the better though. These are cosmetic things that make it look more American. That's it.

Do you think we're done? I don't.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

Ask Nathan, doesn't sounds like any consultation at all.  Typical top down corporate decision about $.

It's clear you want American ball in Canada and have been pushing that for a long time. I believe you are in the minority here.  Tough spot as the league needs to adapt but I don't favor the direction we are headed.

Who said anyone consulted? I didn't.  I told you who the commissioner is accountable to and in Winnipeg it's Wade Milller who signed off on this.  Every member club did. The commissioner might have delivered you the news, but he didn't invent it by himself.

[TBURGESS]

[TrueBlue75]

New favourite player.

Definitely one of them! I had no idea he was this passionate about the Canadian game. Love him for that!

[Sir Blue and Gold]

Despite calling himself a "pretty traditionalist CFL guy," Winnipeg Blue Bombers president and CEO Wade Miller likes the changes the league will be making to its rules and field dimensions over the next two years.

"This is an evolution of the game and a positive step forward for our league, and we look forward to these changes that are going to deliver great excitement and big plays and entertainment every time that ball is snapped," Miller told 3DownNation via telephone.

"I've never been a big fan of rewarding a rouge point for a missed play. Getting more plays in with a 35-second clock, I think that's fantastic. I think there's going to be more opportunities for touchdowns, a bigger opportunity for coaches that are going to have to take more risks and be more aggressive in the middle of the field."

https://3downnation.com/2025/09/22/blue-bombers-president-wade-miller-calls-cfl-changes-positive-step-insists-they-will-not-impact-bisons/


Maybe the guy who is pretty much the driving force behind the Bombers economic and business turnarounds words might calm? The guy knows business and he knows football business.

[Jesse]

All of the thing Wade mentioned there feel like the opposite of what will actually happen.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

All of the thing Wade mentioned there feel like the opposite of what will actually happen.

I wonder if that's what traditionalists said when they approved the forward pass. Ruining the game, some people said, I'm sure.