Major Announcement from Commish Tomorrow.

[OV Argo]

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.

Ok then; sure thing; and such a fine CEO this guy is.



There is a slight chance (very slight mind you IMO), that these changes are a sort of trial balloon effort by the BOGutlessclowns in charge of the once great CFL now. To gauge the public and media reaction. They know full well there would be some negative reaction by some fans or media, but they don't really care about average football fans. A lot of compliance and acceptance by the media and some in their existing fan bases - all kinds of rationalizations and excuses already being trotted out to say how wise and welcome all these changes are - plus a lot of publicity in general for the league (the timing of this announcement is inexplicable / beyond bizarre IMO) ... and they can convince themselves that this is a move in the right direction. A huge push-back by both the public and media, (along with respected CFL players - like Nathan Rourke & Peter Dyakowski calling out this "garbage")- and they might have to rethink or reverse some of these moves (field size, moving goal-posts), and then they could just save face and say we are listening to the public / our fans - which would be a boldface lie of course, but par for the course for bottom line wor$hipping little corporate weasels / american wannabes.

[Scooter McCray]

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.

Ok then; sure thing; and such a fine CEO this guy is.



There is a slight chance (very slight mind you IMO), that these changes are a sort of trial balloon effort by the BOGutlessclowns in charge of the once great CFL now. To gauge the public and media reaction. They know full well there would be some negative reaction by some fans or media, but they don't really care about average football fans. A lot of compliance and acceptance by the media and some in their existing fan bases - all kinds of rationalizations and excuses already being trotted out to say how wise and welcome all these changes are - plus a lot of publicity in general for the league (the timing of this announcement is inexplicable / beyond bizarre IMO) ... and they can convince themselves that this is a move in the right direction. A huge push-back by both the public and media, (along with respected CFL players - like Nathan Rourke & Peter Dyakowski calling out this "garbage")- and they might have to rethink or reverse some of these moves (field size, moving goal-posts), and then they could just save face and say we are listening to the public / our fans - which would be a boldface lie of course, but par for the course for bottom line wor$hipping little corporate weasels / american wannabes.

OV, the more I have had time to think on the changes, read comments, listen to other opinions, etc. The more I do believe Johnston and the BOG are sincere that they are looking to change but maintain the integrity of our great game and make it even more wide open and entertaining. Now I may be getting duped, and I am sure some on the BOG may have an Americanization agenda, but I believe those are a minority. And we all need to be vigilant and have our hills to die on. For me its 4 downs, ratio, motion, 12 men, width of field. These new changes I believe will generate more TDs and open up the endzones to more offence. But we will have to see.
Will these changes drive more attendance and viewership? Remains to be seen. I am a purist. The game is exciting to me. I wish they didn't need to make changes. But it seems more Canadians disagree with me rather than agree with me, and its been that way for a long time. So adjustments were made, and it looks like they made them in a thoughtful way that protects the core pillars in such a way that will keep our game better than ever. Give it a try until midway through 2027. And if they go NFL light we'll they've killed it, but I don't think the people in charge are that stupid because they used to be fans once.

[IssuesMcgee]

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.

Ok then; sure thing; and such a fine CEO this guy is.



There is a slight chance (very slight mind you IMO), that these changes are a sort of trial balloon effort by the BOGutlessclowns in charge of the once great CFL now. To gauge the public and media reaction. They know full well there would be some negative reaction by some fans or media, but they don't really care about average football fans. A lot of compliance and acceptance by the media and some in their existing fan bases - all kinds of rationalizations and excuses already being trotted out to say how wise and welcome all these changes are - plus a lot of publicity in general for the league (the timing of this announcement is inexplicable / beyond bizarre IMO) ... and they can convince themselves that this is a move in the right direction. A huge push-back by both the public and media, (along with respected CFL players - like Nathan Rourke & Peter Dyakowski calling out this "garbage")- and they might have to rethink or reverse some of these moves (field size, moving goal-posts), and then they could just save face and say we are listening to the public / our fans - which would be a boldface lie of course, but par for the course for bottom line wor$hipping little corporate weasels / american wannabes.

No one in the media will speak out against this because the media's job is to serve corporate interest.

[ArgoRavi]

An interesting video and article here: https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/article/johnston ... f-the-cfl/

[paulwoods13]

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.

At the risk of cherry-picking, I have to disagree with this point. There is no factual basis for the NFL being slower and with less athleticism and less value placed speed. Those are matters of opinion, and a very strong case can be made to the contrary.

[OV Argo]

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.

Ok then; sure thing; and such a fine CEO this guy is.



There is a slight chance (very slight mind you IMO), that these changes are a sort of trial balloon effort by the BOGutlessclowns in charge of the once great CFL now. To gauge the public and media reaction. They know full well there would be some negative reaction by some fans or media, but they don't really care about average football fans. A lot of compliance and acceptance by the media and some in their existing fan bases - all kinds of rationalizations and excuses already being trotted out to say how wise and welcome all these changes are - plus a lot of publicity in general for the league (the timing of this announcement is inexplicable / beyond bizarre IMO) ... and they can convince themselves that this is a move in the right direction. A huge push-back by both the public and media, (along with respected CFL players - like Nathan Rourke & Peter Dyakowski calling out this "garbage")- and they might have to rethink or reverse some of these moves (field size, moving goal-posts), and then they could just save face and say we are listening to the public / our fans - which would be a boldface lie of course, but par for the course for bottom line wor$hipping little corporate weasels / american wannabes.

No one in the media will speak out against this because the media's job is to serve corporate interest.

Likely; there has been some very critical stuff coming from some veteran CFL reporters; but yeah, most of the media will roll over in compliance or shrug their shoulders on this one. Good little sheep are what the corporate powers that be like to count on.

"Elbows up" -

[primetime321]

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.

At the risk of cherry-picking, I have to disagree with this point. There is no factual basis for the NFL being slower and with less athleticism and less value placed speed. Those are matters of opinion, and a very strong case can be made to the contrary.

This is the only issue that I disagree with you, Issues. NFL players, especially the top end players, are generally faster and more athletic than their CFL counterparts. This is required when you are playing football in a smaller area. A case in point are NFL receivers who have to get two feet down in bounds for a legal catch rather than one foot up here.

However, this can be used as a reason why we cannot Americanize our game. Our rules allow players to make plays even though they may not be as athletic as the so-called “best players in the world”. There are more ways to score points up here , which should be maintained. There are also more ways to make plays, which helps to show the skill sets of the players. Otherwise, it will end up like the spring leagues, which are a waste of time, a waste of space and a huge waste of money.

[AngeloV]

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.

At the risk of cherry-picking, I have to disagree with this point. There is no factual basis for the NFL being slower and with less athleticism and less value placed speed. Those are matters of opinion, and a very strong case can be made to the contrary.

Agreed. If you look at boxscores, the NFL runs more plays than the CFL, despite the fact that they run the ball more which keeps the clock moving. You and I have said for a long time Paul, the 20 second clock is not what it used to be. I have personally seen 25 seconds tick off the game clock before the 20 second clock is whistled in. I have watched for this at games live many times. It's not always that long, but rarely under 15. This all stated with expanded rosters and added substitutions.

[OV Argo]

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.

At the risk of cherry-picking, I have to disagree with this point. There is no factual basis for the NFL being slower and with less athleticism and less value placed speed. Those are matters of opinion, and a very strong case can be made to the contrary.

This is the only issue that I disagree with you, Issues. NFL players, especially the top end players, are generally faster and more athletic than their CFL counterparts. This is required when you are playing football in a smaller area. A case in point are NFL receivers who have to get two feet down in bounds for a legal catch rather than one foot up here.

However, this can be used as a reason why we cannot Americanize our game. Our rules allow players to make plays even though they may not be as athletic as the so-called “best players in the world”. There are more ways to score points up here , which should be maintained. There are also more ways to make plays, which helps to show the skill sets of the players. Otherwise, it will end up like the spring leagues, which are a waste of time, a waste of space and a huge waste of money.

It's a big mistake, IMO, to make huge generalizations and a blanket statement like NFL players are "faster and more athletic"; while a whole bunch of them may well be, a bunch of them also certainly are not (IMO); it depends on specific positions in some cases - like big middle clogging NFL DTs are just not going to be, for the most part, quicker or more athletic than average CFL DTs; and IMO there are more versatile, all-around receivers - guys who are a nice combo of hands, speed, route running and YAC ability - on a typical CFL rosters over NFL guys who may be fast, precise route runners, but just drop way too many passes or show little YAC ability. And CFL punters often are called to make tackles whereas almost never in the NFL, along with being superior at ball placement on the much bigger CFL field.

Canadian football is just a much more complex game than American football (and i love both varieties of my favorite sport )- 12 men aside instead of 11 and a wayyyyyy bigger playing surface easily make it more complex (in theory anyways till we get a clique of same old GOBs calling all the offences); a rouge single point also adds to a more diverse /complex game. The morons in charge of the CFL don't grasp this, don't care, as they are willing to make the CFL a simpler, more American game. Integrity and respect for Canadian football is totally lost on these clowns, but pretty well a sign of the times, IMO. And they're all on crack if they believe any of these changes are going to do anything to help their bottom-line bizne$$ - not one iota of improvement there, and likely will lose money ... but that may be part of the plan to be able to say we have to pull the plug on the CFL and Canadian football up here.

[paulwoods13]

So they're going to keep losing money on purpose in order to be able to say "we're losing money and need to stop losing money"? Why not just say it now and skip the extra losses? It's getting hard to keep track of the conspiracies.