Is the CFL Screwing Canadian QBs #2

[argolio]

CFL vets going down south are typically treated similar to undrafted college free agents, not NFL free agents. If he were to get offered a smaller bonus like a typical camp arm, he'd probably stay in the CFL. If he were to get the level of bonus that so-called 'priority free agents' get, then he'd have a decision to make.

[ArgoRavi]

Rourke is 50 times the QB Chris Streveler is so one would think that if a marginal QB like Streveler can get multiple NFL opportunities, then Rourke should easily be able to get some NFL shots but time will tell.

[jerrym]

Even in June NFL personnel were noticing Rourke.

Canadian quarterback Nathan Rourke has captured attention around North America, including NFL coaches and personnel people. ...

Interested NFL observers are quietly keeping tabs from afar, so the Lions best make the most out of Rourke in 2022.

https://3downnation.com/2022/06/27/c...sonnel-people/

[kellynjk]

Oh I hope Rourke sticks around, he is so much fun to watch!

[jerrym]

For the third time this season, Rourke broke the passing yardage mark for a Canadian QB with 488 yards in leading the Lions to a 41-40 victory. Even more impressive was his ability to bring them back from a 20-3 deficit and a Calgary 9 point lead with six minutes to go, displaying the same calm, unfazed-by-anything manner that characterized his Ohio college career where he repeatedly did similar things in late come-from-behind wins.

[argolio]

Do many CFL players have little or no interest in the NFL?

Probably all do monetarily in theory, but there's the practicality of being an established CFL player compared to going to an NFL camp and trying to win a job. CFL vets typically compete against NFL rookies -- draft picks and free agents. If the CFL player is more or less considered equal to the competition, the NFL usually goes with the younger player(s). Some CFL players are happy staying where they are.

ALL CFL players would love to be in the NFL for the money & prestige.

My point is: why do NFL teams not scout CFL players in way more detail? - they may have written most of them off coming out of college ball or a brief NFL roster shot before, but demonstration of outstanding football skills in CFL play should mean much more to them than it mostly does, IMO.

I can think of two big reasons:

1. Since the NFL/AFL merger, the NFL has never had a supply problem. The NCAA as a talent source provides more than enough prospects on an annual basis.

2. According to one quote I found online, around 1 in 20 CFL vets in NFL camps make an NFL roster or practice roster. Even if the odds are actually three or four times better, that's with players who want to pursue NFL careers. I don't see the NFL benefitting from spending a lot more money for such a limited return.

[ArgoRavi]

Another Canadian QB named Mike Beaudry got some snaps for the Elks on Friday night in Ottawa.

[bannedforlife]

Nathan Rourke (22/31, 71%, 375 yds) left the game with an ankle injury, hope that isn't serious. He was replaced by fellow Canadian Michael O'Connor (5/5, 100.0%, 36 yds).

I didn't see Beaudry in the box score, The Elks released Beaudry on June 11th and later brought him back on July 12th.

Regina-born QB Mike Beaudry looking for opportunity after pro day performance
JC Abbott 3downnation April 4, 2022

Despite not having his CFL dreams come true a year ago, quarterback Mike Beaudry is still looking for a professional opportunity after exhausting his post-secondary eligibility at the University of Idaho.

The Regina-born pivot returned to the University of West Florida, where he began his college career, for a recent pro day, checking in at just shy of six-foot-five and 248 pounds. Beaudry was clocked at a 4.95-second forty-yard dash at that impressive size, while jumping 27.5 inches in the vertical and eight-foot, 10-inches in the broad. He also clocked a 4.38-second short shuttle and 7.41-second three-cone.

Beaudry, who spent several of his formative years in the Saskatchewan capital before moving to Florida as a child, is eligible for the 2022 NFL Draft at the end of April due to extended NCAA eligibility rules during the pandemic. However, the dual-citizen already went through the CFL Draft process in 2021, going unselected. He is free to sign with any team north of the border.

A college journeyman, Beaudry was the first ever commit to West Florida for their football program’s inaugural season in 2016. He would redshirt with a broken leg that year, before leading the team to a DII National Championship in just their second year of existence. He sat out the 2018 campaign in order to transfer to a FBS program, landing at the University of Connecticut. Beaudry began the 2019 season as UConn’s starter, before eventually losing the job to fellow Canadian Jack Zergiotis.

Beaudry ultimately landed in the FCS with the University of Idaho, playing 11 games across a shortened spring campaign and 2021 regular season. He completed 188-of-301 passes for 2,093 yards with seven touchdowns and nine interceptions, while rushing for 165 more and a TD on the ground.

Despite struggling to seize a consistent role at the top level, Beaudry’s ideal frame and solid arm strength have kept him on the radar of pro scouts. In January, he was one of a number of Canadians who participated in the College Gridiron Showcase, where he earned an upgrade from the Small School Showcase into the main week of practice alongside top Canadian NFL hopeful Tre Ford.

[jerrym]

Beaudry is listed as having played five games for the Elks on CFL.ca as this point but has zero other stats.

[jerrym]

If Rourke is out for most or all of the season, it would mean it's more likely that he is back in the CFL next year as NFL teams may wait to see if he has fully recovered and may want to see him action for a longer period.

[paulwoods13]

If Rourke is out for most or all of the season, it would mean it's more likely that he is back in the CFL next year as NFL teams may wait to see if he has fully recovered and may want to see him action for a longer period.

I disagree with this. it might reduce the number of teams eager to spend money on him, but it won't eliminate all of them. Injuries don't really scare NFL teams away from prospects, as long as they can review medical records and are satisfied with the care and treatment. This one is apparently on the mild end of Lisfranc injuries. He has a huge incentive to sign with an NFL team after this year since he will still be on his rookie contract in the CFL next season. Unless there are major red flags around his recovery, I bet he will get a signing bonus larger than his full-year CFL contract, and potentially much larger.

[ArgoRavi]

I disagree with this. it might reduce the number of teams eager to spend money on him, but it won't eliminate all of them. Injuries don't really scare NFL teams away from prospects, as long as they can review medical records and are satisfied with the care and treatment. This one is apparently on the mild end of Lisfranc injuries. He has a huge incentive to sign with an NFL team after this year since he will still be on his rookie contract in the CFL next season. Unless there are major red flags around his recovery, I bet he will get a signing bonus larger than his full-year CFL contract, and potentially much larger.

We shall see, Paul, but I will be surprised if Rourke isn't back in B.C. next season as I doubt he will take many, if any, more snaps this season and I suspect NFL interest will cool considerably as a result.

Hopefully O'Connor lights it up except on October 8th and if the Argos and Lions meet in the post-season.

[jerrym]

Nathan Rourke will undergo surgery for his sprained right foot with a best case scenario of returning late in the season. The Lions have confirmed that Canadian and former Argo QB Michael O'Connor will start against the Riders on Friday. The Lions also have American QBs Antonio Pipkin and Kevin Thomson, but Pipkin while running some sneaks, has yet to throw a pass in 9 games and Thomson hasn't thrown any either in two games. So far O'Connor is 9/12 for 63 yards in backup action.

[argolio]

Assuming he wants to pursue the NFL (and I'm still skeptical), if he thinks his injury will not let him perform at his best during the annual Jan-Feb meat market of CFL players working out for NFL teams, I think he'll stay with the Lions.

[bannedforlife]

Assuming he wants to pursue the NFL (and I'm still skeptical), if he thinks his injury will not let him perform at his best during the annual Jan-Feb meat market of CFL players working out for NFL teams, I think he'll stay with the Lions.

He has said that was his dream, to play in the NFL.

[OV Argo]

He has said that was his dream, to play in the NFL.

Unfortunately, I doubt you would find almost no young Canadian football players now who's dream was to play in the CFL over the NFL - with it's prestige & mega-buck$. Part of the sign of the times with the CFL sold down the river and disrespected in their own country.

Back in the day (Ok - quite a long time ago) - a lot of us young football fans/players had a whole bunch of CFL stars as our heroes, and dreamed of playing on the CFL stage. Younger people now are brought up on all-American hype (not just sports, but other entertainment fields) and are either ignorant of the CFL or have been told/sold it is not "major league".

IF the CFL had some smarts over the years, they would have been trying to hype the hell out of CANADIAN football and the top talent from Canada (like Rourke was sort of developing this year) - to give Canadian kids something to look up to or aspire to. But - nope - no such brains and it's lowest common hype denominator that rules.

[Argo57]

Unfortunately, I doubt you would find almost no young Canadian football players now who's dream was to play in the CFL over the NFL - with it's prestige & mega-buck$. Part of the sign of the times with the CFL sold down the river and disrespected in their own country.

Back in the day (Ok - quite a long time ago) - a lot of us young football fans/players had a whole bunch of CFL stars as our heroes, and dreamed of playing on the CFL stage. Younger people now are brought up on all-American hype (not just sports, but other entertainment fields) and are either ignorant of the CFL or have been told/sold it is not "major league".

IF the CFL had some smarts over the years, they would have been trying to hype the hell out of CANADIAN football and the top talent from Canada (like Rourke was sort of developing this year) - to give Canadian kids something to look up to or aspire to. But - nope - no such brains and it's lowest common hype denominator that rules.

For the vast majority of players it’s all about fame and $$$ which makes it an easy decision to try to make it down south (if given the chance).
Quite frankly I don’t blame them.

[OV Argo]

For the vast majority of players it’s all about fame and $$$ which makes it an easy decision to try to make it down south (if given the chance).
Quite frankly I don’t blame them.

Nope - the CFL has long since had no hope of competing with those NFL things.

BUT - the CFL has done nothing to promote the Canadian-ness of the CFL or to hype all the outstanding young Canadian talent in the league, in years & years; in fact - they've gone backwards there, with more Americans on rosters; Global bull$hite, and young Canadian talent restricted to CFL minimum wage (like Rourke this year); plus flirting wiht XFL nonsense or $ucking-up to American rules.

Oh say can u see ? How bout you Ambrosia ?

[paulwoods13]

Assuming he wants to pursue the NFL (and I'm still skeptical), if he thinks his injury will not let him perform at his best during the annual Jan-Feb meat market of CFL players working out for NFL teams, I think he'll stay with the Lions.

Unless he absolutely can't, physically (which seems unlikely), why would he not work out for NFL teams? If he doesn't show well and gets offered no contract, he returns and plays another year. If he shows well enough to get offered a contract that guarantees him more than he'd make up here (which is not a huge stretch), he takes it and takes his chances.

[bannedforlife]

I think you could go to the NFL and still provide a service for the CFL by being a good ambassador for the league like Flutie was (and several other players). Something like the post I made about Chad Johnson.

Personally for me money would be the only issue, fame and notoriety would mean nothing and often lead to troubles on their own and I also wouldn't want to live in the USA. Many people who have played both prefer the CFL and it's lifestyle so really, it's all about money.

My question to a Canadian would be, if like the olden days you could get the same money playing in the CFL as you could in the NFL where would you play? I think there would be some interesting and surprising answers to that.