Rod Pedersen argues that an All Canadian Senior Bowl during CFL Week would greatly increase interest in the event. What do you think?

If the CFL wants all the top players to attend and make it a true fan event one (very drastic) way to do it is to turn it into an All-Canadian Senior Bowl (for fun let’s call it the Russ Jackson Bowl).

Have the combine testing, four days of game prep and one-on-ones for the scouts (both CFL and NFL scouts would definitely attend) then finish the week with a televised game for the fans (I say for the fans, because at other senior-oriented events in the U.S. you see the scouts leave before the game).

Fans would get a chance to see how a player from the Prairie Football Conference would match up with a player from the Big Ten and a player from the OUA! Can those high-ranked NCAA players adjust to playing the CFL game and with some playing a different position that would fit their skills?

It would also bring a bigger pool of players into the fold. Eighty players would be invited with coaches provided from the East and West Division final losing teams.

Players would arrive Sunday with testing on Monday and Tuesday. Practices would run Wednesday through Friday with a Saturday afternoon game. Throw in CFL governors meetings and CFL Week, it would be one hell of a week of football that would put the league front and centre on the sports landscape.

The first thing would be to kill the East - West Showcase that’s usually in May. This game is for the top USports players eligible for the next year’s draft. It doesn’t include the top NCAA or Canadian Junior players.

Each CFL club pays a lot of money for East - West Showcase, so instead the money could be put towards a true senior event.

Next is probably the most difficult, moving the event to January after finals are over. It would almost make this a Vancouver exclusive event because Rogers Centre is now the only domed CFL stadium.

The other problem with January is that it’s a long way from the CFL draft in May turning the CFL off-season upside down. This could be a blessing in disguise because now there is more time to build up a player’s profile leading up to the draft.

This would be a BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal) for the CFL, but it would be an incredible step to making the CFL a true year-round sport!
http://www.rodpedersen.com/2018/03/o...nior-bowl.html