New rules / commissioner's statements

[theaardvark]

Did the commissioners statements and clarifications on the how and why of the rule changes affect how you feel about them going forward?

Does his denying that American expansion and the imposing of any other "Americanization" of the rules quell your fears?

Do you accept that the changes reflect the wisdom of men with hundreds of years of experience in football in general and CFL in particular help you understand that these changes are meant to improve the game and being in more fans?

Or do you think that this is all a ploy to placate the fans and that they are intending on turning the CFL into XFL North?

[Waffler]

I don't trust anything this guy says. He just hears what he wants to hear. He gotta go.

[Blue In BC]

I have no confidence in him at all and that's not just because of rule changes recently made or in the future.

The SMS increase in 2025 and the lack of notice or a clear path on how it was to be spent was a big red flag for me. It's still not clear IMO.

[GOLDMEMBER]

I have no confidence in him at all and that's not just because of rule changes recently made or in the future.

The SMS increase in 2025 and the lack of notice or a clear path on how it was to be spent was a big red flag for me. It's still not clear IMO.

I trust your opinion regarding the commish because I know you are very up to speed on his goings on.

The optics at a minimum really suck.

[blue_gold_84]

Stewart Johnston is a villain.

[gobombersgo]

There was also no official announcement this year to let everyone aware that the East would be home team for the Grey Cup.

If a fan from another city bought Grey Cup tickets with the hopes of sitting on their team's side, (if their team made it) then they would now be sitting on the other team's side.

[Foxhound]

Does his denying that American expansion and the imposing of any other "Americanization" of the rules quell your fears?

Do you accept that the changes reflect the wisdom of men with hundreds of years of experience in football in general and CFL in particular help you understand that these changes are meant to improve the game and being in more fans?

No and no. I'm particularly troubled by the reduction in the length of the field from 110 yards to 100 yards and the reduction in the length of the end zones.

 

[theaardvark]

If only we could get peoples honest opinions in an anonymous forum...

The commissioner was hired by the league, given a mandate by the owners, his proposals given 100% endorsement by the teams.  Unanimous consent.

I get how some fans may perceive him as a villain, but his actions and intentions are 100% for the betterment and even survival of the league.  And the owners of the teams, the people that actually have skin in the game, are unanimously behind him and his actions.

[The Zipp]

no issues apart from the roll out of the changes could have been better making them less prone to the "americanization" bleating that people adverse to change are making. 

if he can't deliver on the things he mentioned in his adress then i will be more inclined to label him as a "dud".

the genius sports nightmare that Randy brought in was handled very very poorly.  it should have cost someone their job. 

[theaardvark]

no issues apart from the roll out of the changes could have been better making them less prone to the "americanization" bleating that people adverse to change are making. 

if he can't deliver on the things he mentioned in his adress then i will be more inclined to label him as a "dud".

the genius sports nightmare that Randy brought in was handled very very poorly.  it should have cost someone their job. 

I agree with your points, communications has not been the forte of the CFL for a long time.  The reason I bring up his recent address is that it seems like he is improving that communication. Its not perfect yet, but better.

[Jesse]

Using Stew as a figurehead for all the people who have a hand in the changes:

- Continually repeating that there's no "Americanizing" when you've already done it is just gaslighting
- He's walking back comments because of the massive negative reaction. Good. Let's keep it up.
- He's either not paying attention or just trying to control the narrative by talking about all the "positive feedback" he's received.
- He still refuses to communicate a reason behind the changes
- He still refuses to respond to questions about why he didn't consult with football Canada/players/coaches/etc
- He has and deserves zero trust when it comes to any statement he makes about the future
- A new website is good news, but unfortunately the league has been terrible at new rollouts, so gonna reserve judgement and see if it actually works before I think it's a positive step. Our stats system still hasn't recovered from the last technology "upgrade".

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

I agree with your points, communications has not been the forte of the CFL for a long time.  The reason I bring up his recent address is that it seems like he is improving that communication. Its not perfect yet, but better.

Are you kidding me???  I'd bet a solid nickel you didn't listen to his entire address, it was painful, he speaks to humans as if he's from Mars.  It was nothing but reiterated top down corporate mind-speak justifying and defending the dictates he created to radically change the structure of the game which he pulled directly out of his *** with no relevant consultation.  Risking millions in revenue by alienating existing fans in the hope that non-interested bystanders will double down and pick up the slack. 

This corporate geek is about to go down as the worst commissioner in CFL history.  My God how I miss Randy Ambrosie's human touch!!!

[dd]

He strikes me as a cold, impersonable corporate nerd who has zero credibility in the football world. Zero. He just gives off a weird vibe and I just don't trust or like the guy from the minute I saw him

[TrueBlue75]

He strikes me as a cold, impersonable corporate nerd who has zero credibility in the football world. Zero. He just gives off a weird vibe and I just don't trust or like the guy from the minute I saw him

I agree. Hope he gets a hearty boo at the game tomorrow.

[gobombersgo]