Major Announcement from Commish Tomorrow.

[paulwoods13]

By the way, I really feel the reason for the 100 yard field is because US expansion will be on the horizon in the near future….once our governments are friends again, so let’s say 2028.

You are a lot more optimistic than I am about the state of global politics.

[primetime321]

Another thing that surprises me if the timing of the announcement. Why do it during the season? Why not do it in the off-season where the league generally has little visibility and something like this would get more people talking about the game? Furthermore, it wouldn't take away from the interest in the current season, which it likely is for some fans at the current time.

[RB957]

Another thing that surprises me if the timing of the announcement. Why do it during the season? Why not do it in the off-season where the league generally has little visibility and something like this would get more people talking about the game? Furthermore, it wouldn't take away from the interest in the current season, which it likely is for some fans at the current time.

The one thing that has happened is that people are talking about it. Lots of commentary and viewpoints being expressed. For me, just that fact that this is drawing attention is a good thing for the league.

[IssuesMcgee]

I emailed my rep today threatening to pull my seasons for next year. To his credit, he replied to me very quickly and asked me to explain why I have a problem with the rule changes.

I decided to post my response here because it is a lot more eloquent than my arguments on here.

Feel free to pick my points apart.
-----‐------------‐--------------------------------------

Your quick response and willingness to engage in conversation is appreciated. I was not expecting that.

I will try not to waste your time and I hope to be as clear and concise as possible. In no particular order, here are the issues I have with the rule changes.

1. Moving the goal posts to the back of the endzone. This all but completely eliminates an element unique to the game, which is the return on a missed field goal. While rare, the kick return on a missed field goal is intense and it has led to some of the greatest moments in the game. One of the things that makes the CFL so entertaining is that momentum and the score of the game can change at any moment. Moving the goal posts to the back of the endzone takes away from this and the overall athleticism required to play the game, as it relinquishes responsibility on the kicking team because they do not have to worry about a missed field goal.

2. The Rouge. While I understand the argument that a team should not be rewarded for missing a field goal, a unique aspect to the CFL is the endzone must be protected at all times. In the NFL, there are a lot of pointless punts and kickoffs that lead to nothing. In the case of a punt, why should the receiving team be rewarded with field position because they just stood there and watched a ball bounce to the back of the endzone? Doing away with this rule means there are more phases of the game where the vast majority of the players on the field stand around doing nothing. Just like my argument against moving the goal posts, there is overall less athleticism required. If you don't want 1 point scored on you, don't let the other team in position to do so.

3. Shrinking the endzones. While I am aware that BMO Field has smaller endzones than the rest of the league, some of the most intense moments of the game are when a QB air mails it to the endzone in coverage and the ball is in the air for what seems like an eternity. I believe making the endzones smaller will reduce this type of play and generally lead to less movement in the endzone. I also believe teams will opt for more running plays and short passing plays when in the red zone, given the smaller space they have to work with to score.

4. Shrinking the length of field. Why? Canadian Football has a rich history spanning nearly 150 years. While I am aware that there have been significant rule changes since the birth of the sport, what other self-respecting league would change the dimensions of their field/court/rink in a desperate attempt to win more fans? I don't see how shrinking the length of the field will attract people in Canada who have already decided they do not like the CFL. The whole point of Canadian Football is that it's a difficult game to play. All this tells me is that the CFL board of governors will be willing to institute any kind of crazy rule changes in the future. What's next? 4 downs? Eliminating movement before the snap? I fear what the game could look like in a few short years.

5. Speed of the game. It's no secret that the NFL is more popular, but the fact is, it's a slower game with less movement, less athleticism involved and less value placed on speed. If you make the CFL more like the NFL, it's inevitable the game will slow down.

I could go on but that sums up my main concerns. I hope I have not wasted your time in writing this lengthy email.

Once again, I thank you for your quick response and willingness to engage in conversation.
----‐-----------
The reps want your feedback. Don't be afraid to speak up.

[OV Argo]

I emailed my rep today threatening to pull my seasons for next year. To his credit, he replied to me very quickly and asked me to explain why I have a problem with the rule changes.

I decided to post my response here because it is a lot more eloquent than my arguments on here.

Feel free to pick my points apart.
-----‐------------‐--------------------------------------

Your quick response and willingness to engage in conversation is appreciated. I was not expecting that.

I will try not to waste your time and I hope to be as clear and concise as possible. In no particular order, here are the issues I have with the rule changes.

1. Moving the goal posts to the back of the endzone. This all but completely eliminates an element unique to the game, which is the return on a missed field goal. While rare, the kick return on a missed field goal is intense and it has led to some of the greatest moments in the game. One of the things that makes the CFL so entertaining is that momentum and the score of the game can change at any moment. Moving the goal posts to the back of the endzone takes away from this and the overall athleticism required to play the game, as it relinquishes responsibility on the kicking team because they do not have to worry about a missed field goal.

2. The Rouge. While I understand the argument that a team should not be rewarded for missing a field goal, a unique aspect to the CFL is the endzone must be protected at all times. In the NFL, there are a lot of pointless punts and kickoffs that lead to nothing. In the case of a punt, why should the receiving team be rewarded with field position because they just stood there and watched a ball bounce to the back of the endzone? Doing away with this rule means there are more phases of the game where the vast majority of the players on the field stand around doing nothing. Just like my argument against moving the goal posts, there is overall less athleticism required. If you don't want 1 point scored on you, don't let the other team in position to do so.

3. Shrinking the endzones. While I am aware that BMO Field has smaller endzones than the rest of the league, some of the most intense moments of the game are when a QB air mails it to the endzone in coverage and the ball is in the air for what seems like an eternity. I believe making the endzones smaller will reduce this type of play and generally lead to less movement in the endzone. I also believe teams will opt for more running plays and short passing plays when in the red zone, given the smaller space they have to work with to score.

4. Shrinking the length of field. Why? Canadian Football has a rich history spanning nearly 150 years. While I am aware that there have been significant rule changes since the birth of the sport, what other self-respecting league would change the dimensions of their field/court/rink in a desperate attempt to win more fans? I don't see how shrinking the length of the field will attract people in Canada who have already decided they do not like the CFL. The whole point of Canadian Football is that it's a difficult game to play. All this tells me is that the CFL board of governors will be willing to institute any kind of crazy rule changes in the future. What's next? 4 downs? Eliminating movement before the snap? I fear what the game could look like in a few short years.

5. Speed of the game. It's no secret that the NFL is more popular, but the fact is, it's a slower game with less movement, less athleticism involved and less value placed on speed. If you make the CFL more like the NFL, it's inevitable the game will slow down.

I could go on but that sums up my main concerns. I hope I have not wasted your time in writing this lengthy email.

Once again, I thank you for your quick response and willingness to engage in conversation.
----‐-----------
The reps want your feedback. Don't be afraid to speak up.

Outstanding Issues !!!

I will be making a similar call (i think) to my RedBlacks season tix rep tomorrow; and telling him my view on this $hitting on the Canadian game by these BOGoofs who have so little respect for Canadian football. And i fear these changes are just a ploy by MLSE and other corporate clowns involved in the CFL to erode the Canadian game so these all-american wannabes will usher in it's demise - hey, maybe you clueless dupes & morons get an NFL team for "Toronnawannbeland eventually or end up with a minor league Mickey Mouse feeder league for your almighty NFL. Good luck on that.

You're either in or in the way (credit Ozzy (RIP) )

ZERO more dollars or $upport for the CFL from me in the future if these simpleton, pathetic main changes (field size, getting rid of the rouge) go thru. Got a combined 4 U Sports and Junior ball Canadian football teams for me to support in these parts going forward.

[RichK]

A fun/funny conspiracy I read is that TSN brought on Luke Willson to soften the blow of these changes by using him to publicly bash the league in lead up. To highlight how broken and antiquated the rules are, play is poor, the game sucks and needs changes. This seems a lot more plausible than flat earth conspiracies.

FWIW my 30-year-old son has a couple of friends who’ve never followed the CFL but who now want to come to an Argo game with us because Luke Willson got them interested in it.

[RichK]

By the way, I really feel the reason for the 100 yard field is because US expansion will be on the horizon in the near future….once our governments are friends again, so let’s say 2028.

The League’s explanation for shortening the field makes perfect sense to me: It is very much connected to moving the posts to the new end line. To kick a FG teams will now have to reach the 35-38 to have a shot, instead of the 50-53. Nobody wants it to be MORE onerous to have a game- winning FG drive, do they? Gotta shorten the field to adapt to the new posts.

But I imagine the new field will look might mighty strange for a while. It’ll look a lot more square.

[RichK]

Im glad they’re not eliminating the rouge entirely. It’ll be good to see single points still going up on the board, albeit not as often. Punters will have to develop a new skill, getting a ball to settle inside the shorter end zones without going out.

[AngeloV]

Im glad they’re not eliminating the rouge entirely. It’ll be good to see single points still going up on the board, albeit not as often. Punters will have to develop a new skill, getting a ball to settle inside the shorter end zones without going out.

Agreed. But If I understand it correctly, the ball just has to touch in the endzone, not settle there. If it bounces through, a point will be awarded I believe.

[paulwoods13]

Why now? Because Johnston is moving fast, because some of these changes (field configuration) are going to be complicated and time-consuming to implement, and because waiting would only have resulted in leaks, preventing the league from controlling the message and allowing the naysayers to establish the narrative. Johnston is acting precisely as a good CEO should.