CFL announces changes to the game - merged topics

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

How many go to college and never play one down for money?  There are literally thousands of NCAA grads who would love to play for money, even $50k.  Many play semi-pro ball for a fraction of that.

No one comes to the CFL to make $50k/yr for an extended period.  Its a chance to play pro ball, work towards a bigger paycheck in Canada, or even a look from the NFL.

I share your concern of losing the loyal fans the CFL has by selling out.

It would be colossally dumb for the CFL to alienate the fans that currently attend games and watch their broadcasts, for a younger audience they've never been able to figure out how to attract in the first place. 

[Tecno]

My initial hunch is toward answering "what happened recently".  Stuff like this mid/late-year is usually reactionary.  So, what happened recently?  Too many bad hits taking out top players.  VAJ creamed and not a peep by anyone except me; maybe he's out a few weeks.  Zach may be out for good.  That "legal" hit on Wheatie might have 4 broken ribs and be out 7 months.

If Zach is done, that would anger MOS into action, and he's part of the rules committee and Mafia has behind the scenes clout.  If MOS got Dickenson The Greater on board because of the VAJ hit, then those guys together (with Huffer too) have MAJOR clout.

If the CFL is announcing a "change" tomorrow, then it will be: you can't hit a diving/sliding/moving-toward-the-turf player ever or it's 25Y, auto disqual, full fine, and 2 game suspension.  And you can't ever blow up a QB like the SSK guy did to Zach, even if it's not involving helmets.  Maybe add in a new defenseless REC rule to protect Wheatie from that hit.

If the CFL is announcing a MAJOR change tomorrow, it will be you can't touch a QB ever.  If you want a sack, for the QB (only) it'll be either touch football, flag football or some high-tech touch-sensor thing.  The CFL will remove all QB hits and eliminate all concussions and CTE forever, and be the first league to do it.

P.S. The latter plays into our hands because we built our whole D around batdowns, not sacks.

That's my guess.

[Tecno]

Ambrosie wouldn't have gone along with that plan, makes sense they brought in a corporate psychopath to do the dirty work.  Can anyone name 5 things Stewart Johnston has done since becoming CFL commissioner?  He's kept an extremely low profile, could be he's nothing more than a MLSE lackey.

If a new commish comes in and does something brain dead like change to 4 downs, the field, the waggle, or anything "American" like that, JUST WHO DOES HE THINK HE IS.  He's like the new rookie on the field.  Sit down, and shut up until you learn what's going on.

And if he's stupid enough to do something drastic and fundamental, then I call shenanigans, because he's not acting alone, he'll have been directed to by Disney, The Destroyer of Brands, who was ultimately his boss at his last job.  And I would hope all GMs, HCs -- the whole league -- revolts and simply says "no".

That said, I'm pretty sure the big announcement will have nothing to do with Americanization.  Because why would you do that or announce it now with only a few weeks left.  Makes zero sense.

[Tecno]

Outside of my family/friends, there's not much that I love more than the Bombers and the CFL.

I'm very afraid of being alienated from the thing that I've followed for more than 20 years.

Tru dat, Jesse.  I got your back.

[Tecno]

QB protection, the penalties they have in place are inadequate and have not improved the safety of QB's.

Imagine if it's announced this week Zach & VAJ are done for the season...  The CFL "show" is instantly diminished.

[dd]

The commish isn't suicidal, he's too new to come in here and change the Canadian aspects of the game, I agree it's going to be player safety, hits Oman Qbs and defenceless players should go up, losing too many Qbs and the on field product and attendance is suffering.

[RebusRankin]

Hope its player safety related, suspect its amwricanization.

[Tecno]

The commish isn't suicidal, he's too new to come in here and change the Canadian aspects of the game

Agreed.  However, there are some real aaa holes(-in-the-ground) in this world with God complexes, and/or answering to Higher Masters (no, not Jesus... ones with more money).

Let's hope he isn't one of them.  Otherwise he's the ultimate manchurian candidate.

[Tecno]

How can anyone argue the CFL needs "Americanization" in order to attract new fans to stay financially viable considering we just came off a year where apparently the CFL made so much money they could up the player SMS by $400k?

Both things cannot be true.

[peg_city]

How can anyone argue the CFL needs "Americanization" in order to attract new fans to stay financially viable considering we just came off a year where apparently the CFL made so much money they could up the player SMS by $400k?

Both things cannot be true.

7 teams lost money

[peg_city]

I guess it really depends on what the changes are.

If we become a feeder to the NFL, I would actually like that. It would give me reason to watch the NFL.

[BlueGold8597]

The wording is important I think. They said, "Changes to THE GAME" not to "the league". This scares me. It's not an expansion team or a TV contract, its a change to the game itself. I fear the CFL as we know it might be over. I wouldn't be interested in an NFL minor league.

[Blue In BC]

We're expecting the worst but hopefully it's none of the things we really don't want to happen. Fingers are crossed. It's odd timing and suggestive. Badly handled PR IMO regardless of what happens.

[blue_gold_84]

Worst waiting game ever.

[CrazyCanuck89]

I can't see them making a ratio change in regard to number of starters. A possible change in the number of DI's as opposed to back up Canadians but even that is a stretch. I've been promoting +2 DI's and 2 less Canadians but I'm an outlier.

If it was affordable ( it's not ) I'd just say add 2 more DI's and keep everything else the same.

Please no fair catch or eliminating changing K/O's to NFL type rules.

I don't like the one division play off idea that has been discussed for a few years.

IMO we may have more safety checks from EITS and more severe penalties if they occur?

Can any of this be done and implemented with 4 games left?

They can't make ratio changes without the union's consent.