Andrew Hawkins knows more about the CFL and its history than many fans do. Hawkins is not alone in saying the CFL is more fun than the NFL. They all say that.
The funny bit is that the XFL was trying to update the rules of the game to be more entertaining. CFL is what the XFL wanted to be in almost every way, they even had the rock playing for them.
I'm a big cfl fan and nfl fan (actually prefer NCAA ball over either). Reality is that the cfl is dyijng and if we want to playing football in Canada we need to make some changes. Millenials and Gen Z and the growing immigrant population are not coming out to Cfl games like we need them to- they are more interested in the Nfl
@@darinfrandsen3393 That's only really true in Toronto. The Lions, Elks, Stamps, Riders, Bombers, Ticats and Als don't seem to have an attendance problem. The problem is that Torontonians are a bunch of wannabe Americans. If the CFL is going to die, let it die with dignity. Don't turn it into another USFL. The two games are NOT different enough from each other that a simple rule change is going to do anything. People who like the NFL better are just a bunch of USA-worshippers. They give lame excuses like "Oh it's better football because the players are paid better." when the truth is that all you need for a game to be enjoyable is for both sides to be on the same level. Adopting American rules in the CFL wouldn't save it but it would be damning its soul.
Great interview: 1. Canada loves the CFL and the rules. This will not change. 2. Canada loves the NFL and the rules. This will not change. 3. The CFL is not a corporation and cannot be bought unless the independent ownership agrees. There are no CFL share to be purchased. 4. You point is valid about men playing against men. 5. Any CFL team (even the worst) can beat the best NCAA football team (no contest). So to compare the CFL as a minor league is very insulting. 6. The CFL is a different league.
I don’t know about that joe burrow with 65 passing tds and going undefeated in a college season is pretty good cfl is about offense and passing really so I’d wager my money on them plus taller and more speed but I’d only put about 55% chance of winning
That ignorance is what leads to insult. Go Gord D! I mean most Americans just do not know the Canadian game....they are missing something! A shout out to all the Americans whose talents help the excitement along!
NCAA is not a minor league, it’s kids in school. Obvious any CFL team would beat an NCAA team. But CFL and NFL teams haven’t been close in talent since they held exhibitions 50 years ago. Regardless of rules used it’s hard to see any CFL team beating an NFL team…It has nothing to do with arrogance.
It's comparable to division 1, it's so ironic that many Canadians look down on the CFL because it's not the NFL. They scoff at the idea of following both the big league and minor leagues. Yet it is entirely normal in the states to watch both NCAA and NFL. Granted this is mostly the posers in Toronto.
@@dixonhill1108 Honestly I'm from Alberta and people mostly like the CFL and football, maybe the sentiment is different out east because they have big teams but they're not gonna get an NFL team with that attitude.
@@dixonhill1108 actually while an issue in TO it's not elsewhere, most Canadians like having both to view in fact tv ratings conclude that until Grey Cup is done that the CFL outdraws the NFL. After well the NFL is all the football available so we all watch that
Canadian Football is awesome and exciting, especially when playing in snow storms or on icy field at -30 celcius (-22 F) . If a player can play in these condition they can play anywhere after
@@daerdevvyl4314 better excitement too as there’s a 4TH down and better defense and running too as with 3 downs ya gonna pass a lot more more teams more drama more skill too on average bigger dudes faster dudes.
Up until the late 70’s the money wasn’t different, Joe Theismann signed with Toronto Argonauts for more money. The NFL tv deal is what makes the the NFL the juggernaut that it is.
They are two different sports. They have different rules. Making them out as a minor football league would be disrespectful. I'm a die-hard Detroit Lions fan, born and raised here in Michigan, so I can just imagine what a die-hard CFL fan feels about their team.
You're right. My issue is, and I love the CFL and don't follow the NFL until after Grey Cup, is not American fans loving the game but more Canadian fans loving the CFL. I was talking to someone the other who didn't watch CFL because of camera angles looks cheap, another person talking about high school football saying too bad it's 3 downs. It's horrible that a lot of Canadian Football fans compare CFL to NFl and buy into the hype. Both leagues are great but I don't think you'll find many Americans tuning into CFL and not NFL not because of quality but because it's not American. I wish Canadians would feel the same. Bud Grant said as much too. There's a lot of CFL alumni running sidelines in NFL
Andrew Hawkins is right. The CFL is a legit league. It's fun, explosive. No lead is safe in the CFL. Americans should give the Canadian Football a chance. You won't be disappointed. We might have a shortened season in September pending if we can flatten the pandemic curve
@@j-tundifanclub6565 That hardly ever happens in the NFL. Maybe once every 4 years. Comebacks always occurs weekly in the CFL Check out the last Grey Cup, the Canada Day game in 2010
@@j-tundifanclub6565 Oh please. I'll take the 97th Grey Cup game over ANY Super Bowl. Superbowl LI wasn't even all that exciting. The most exciting Super Bowl I've ever seen was Super Bowl XXV. Hell, if you do a poll, I'm willing to bet that even Super Bowl XLII would be rated as more exciting than LI.
I love when players who have done both can give actual credit to the CFL. It's the furthest from Bush league,the player quality is very high and it is a very good game.
@@scottthompson3493 ..or should that be Fluffriders? You people are forever reminding the world you have that football team. You're the reason why I haven't been a fan of this league for more than a decade.
I lived in Edmonton in the Warren Moon days and watched him throw a football and he just wowed me how accurately and the speed he released it. He was a NFL top tier Quarterback at the time and unfortunately his skin colour prevented him from going their from University.
@@xanbex8324 There's also politics involved too in the NFL. If you didn't come from a big college, you won't even get a look even if you are really good. Cam Wake went undrafted. He came to the CFL and dominated. Then the NFL realized he was good enough to play.
Explaining the CFL to someone whose never seen the CFL is always pretty difficult. My advice WATCH THE CFL and you'll find out pretty quick why a lot of people love it.
It's not hard if they already understand NFL rules. Gridiron football is the most complicated team sport on the planet. Explaining either of them to someone who doesn't know either game is borderline impossible.
I watch both leagues but prefer Canadian football. Faster pace. Ball changes hands more often. There is a kicking game...no horrible fair catches, or non catches. Stop time in final three minutes. All much more exciting. Been that way for over a century. My favourite team, Toronto Argonauts are the oldest professional team in North America, playing football since 1873. Same name, same colours. Football was slightly different back then. More like rugby, but the game evolved.
@@alpearson9158 Thanks for reminding me. Yes, they're even older than I thought, though the RR name is not quite as old--it was changed from (just) "Ottawa Football Club" to "RR" in 1898 in solidarity, it seems, with Teddy Roosevelt's famed cavalry regiment that served in the Spanish-American War (accordingly too, the team colors were changed from whatever they had been to the black, red and white of Roosevelt's regiment).
I am an American fan of the CFL that does not want it to adopt ANY NFL rule I can think of. I quit watching NFL football ten+ years ago but fell in love with the CFL when I finally got cable TV for the first time, about eight years ago. The NFL is just too big, too loud, too expensive and too boring for me. Please, keep the CFL Canadian! and FUN!
CFL is way better than NFl. 3 downs way more interesting. Bigger end zone and field. I think Canadian fans would not like that if you changed it the rules and field and game. We have tons of NFL games on tv. I prefer CFL. More fun to watch. NFL is watched in Canada as well but our CFL teams are cherished and loved.
The Cfl and Nfl are two different games and always will be. Nobody's changing any rules for either league. I personally like both but a lot of people like one or the other. It's just nice to have two long standing traditional leagues to watch 8 months out of the year.
They announced a little while ago that they might go to 4 downs in the CFL and I replied I would never watch another CFL game if they did. I've been an Argonaut (best team name ever) season ticket holder for about 30 years and I'm confident that over half the fans would do as I would. Only trouble in Toronto is, too many people here are Jonesing for an NFL team. We are constantly wiping the drool from these people's mouths they want it so bad. If Toronto did get an NFL team, the CFL would basically cease to exist for all intents and purposes. It will come some day though and I hope I'm off to the happy hunting ground when it does happen.
@@Oscar_Leroy I appreciate your argument; however, I don't want the NFL here regardless as I don't like that type of football. It's boring 90% of the time. On the other hand, there are individual players who I've admired over the years. I have to admit that.
@@wombatwilly1002 On the second round, yes. I actually went to the first game with the Bills (and the Cowboys, I think(?)) because my friends wanted to go. In the Skydome (now Rogers Centre), the field was dwarved by the size of the stadium; however, it was still fairly fun. I just object to trying to make the CFL game into a sad imitiation of the NFL. Also, I did watch the NFL for awhile; however, too many games are all defense and not exciting enough to be worth my time of which I never have enough anyway so I am just partial to the CFL. Also, my Dad tried out for The Argonauts back in 1947 (they won the Grey Cup that year) so there is that draw for me as well. Cheers!
Pretty sure the American field is smaller because Harvard didn't have a full sized field when they played McGill way back when they first wrote down the rules
That's how it went down. A Canadian football field is a standard rugby pitch and Harvard didn't have the space for one so they shrunk the field and dropped one player. Why they added a forth down is a mystery.
Also so many guys from nfl come to cfl and love it and have tremendous success along their way. I’m from Hamilton Brandon banks from the Chicago redskins came here and became a household name within the Hamilton football community. Which is huge. And even though myself and many other ticats fans are heartbroken he went to the Argos of all teams (our mortal enemies for eternity in the cfl) we still recognize he was an absolute treat to have as a fan. Broke records, made a name for himself in a totally new country. He didn’t have an nfl shot and he came here and was beloved by everybody. If you live downtown you see a ticats players enjoying our city and you yell OSKEE WEE WEE, OSKEE WA WA, HOLY MACINAW, TIGERS, EAT ‘EM RAW. I’m from Hamilton and I really wish one day I can take the time and money to go see a game in Saskatchewan in their beloved stadium. I met someone at the last grey cup game that told me they have been to the least 30. I am 25. He was from Ottawa wearing his teams jersey proud at Hamilton’s grey cup hosted at home. I made a new friend that night. I believe that is what the game is about. But, the Argos still suck #hammertown #gotigercats #cfl #hamiltonishome #steelcity #brandonbanks #ivorwynnestadium #timhortonsfield
@@gotmilt8960 I grew up the Mpls-St. Paul Twin Cities. No, I have never been to, as I heard Canadians call it, Winterpeg. I adopted the Bombers due to proximity to Manitoba & our common history with Bud Grant.
Technically, the CFL only dates back to the mid-1950s. The Grey Cup title game (and corresponding trophy) does have a history dating back to 1909. The CFL was the result of a merger between two geographically separate leagues - one in Western Canada, one in Ontario and Quebec. Some of the teams have histories that pre-date the CFL itself by decades.
True. That's how the CFL ended up with two teams having the same name: Saskatchewan Roughriders (one word) from the West, and Ottawa Rough Riders (two words) from the East.
the CanadiaN GAME IS FROM AS FAR BACK AS 1861 . THE FIRST US GAME ( MODERN FOOTBALL) WAS PLAYED AT HARVARD IN 1883 WHEN MCGILL COLLEGE WENT DOWN TO TEACH THE NEW GAME .
Three downs forces teams to take risks throwing the ball because they really only have two chances to get a first down or at least close to it. And the bigger field encourages teams to acquire faster players who can outdistance opponents rather than packing the players into a small area where the only way through is sheer size running over each other. Honestly the average NFL game is just meat slamming against other meat for hours.
As my self as a Canadian I would not like to see them change the rules. I find the CFL a faster, more entertaining. That's in my opinion. One thing you have to think about if the NFL buys the CFL and changes the rules, think about all the high school and college/university football stadiums, practice fields, that you have renovate or tear down and built new stadiums.
@@MrFlamesFan12 And we aren't comparing talent? Obviously NFL has more they pay them more. But the CFL rules are so superior especially in regards to special teams.
@@Rindiculousfun Bruh the rouge is the dumbest rule in sports. Also why the fuck are the end zones 30 yards long and why are the uprights not in the back of the end zone. CFL rules are wack af and make for a boring game. No star power in the CFL
@@MrFlamesFan12 lol so you're honestly telling me with a straight face that football teams should be rewarded for taking a knee in the endzone? Lol you really like boring games don't you. You do you, but I'd recommend you go to a few games before coming to predetermined conclusions. I like NFL, however many CFL rules are far superior in making a much more electrifying game
@@Rindiculousfun Lemme know when the CFL actually gets an exciting and electrifying prospect with some talent. CFL simply isnt on the same planet in terms of skill level as the NFL.
why doesn't the CFL play on a normal field? how about why doesn't the NFL play on a normal field, typical American mindset if it's not American it's not normal SMH
personally i think cfl players have to be faster than nfl players because there's a lot more field to cover and travel but nfl players have to be tougher because they are playing on a tighter smaller field
If anyone other than a Canadian changed a single cfl rule us Canadians would lose most of our fandom for the cfl. ANY talk of changing even a single rule in the cfl including that stupid rouge rule that even most of us don't like comes with instant rage from us. THIS IS OUR LEAGUE, OUR WAY. IF YOU CAN PLAY, YOUR WELCOME HERE! But join us, don't try to change us please.
if NFL did buy CFL and changed the rules to NFL id quit watching i think 3 down is way better compared to 4 feel like theres more urgency and competition and the games more enjoyable to watch when the players can have fun which the NFL is strongly opposed of for some reason, oh your wearing cleats that celebrate upcoming holiday that'll be 10,000$
I'm an American and I hate it when we think we can roll in and make things our way. BTW I live in Germany and I understand respecting how others do things.
Running backs get way more respect as well. Kory Sheets had one of the best seasons in CFL history when he won with the riders, went to the NFL and just sort of faded away.
Given the miniscule number of college players that make the NFL every year, there is a gold mine of talent available to the CFL. The CFL requires a little different skill set than the NFL. Americans think that any NFL player could easily make a CFL roster and I dispute that. Three words, longer, wider, faster. The NFL is a sprint while the CFL is a marathon. Being 6 foot 8 and 400 pounds and strong as an ox works in the NFL but you would be half dead by half time inaCFL game. Many an American comes up to Canada, but the bigger field, 12 men, motion, 3 downs etc. sends them home with their tail between their legs.
For defense probably but no 400 pound man is gonna do that but 300 yeah most likely as it’s a heavy offense game and small tweaks if you can catch and juke players you’ll dominate if you can throw boom in the NFL it’s not really a sprint as it’s bigger guys hitting each other and better defense and offense really more close and entertaining if you are a Pro Bowl or All Pro blocker in the NFL that giant One yard scrimmage is easy as hell to dominate since players are thinking pass players good at Running Back would kill that open middle after some practice it’s easy like living in a New place hot or cold.
@@Channel-23s in practice the one yard off actually really works in some defensive schemes as well as it does for the offense. At the same time slightly smaller and more agile O-linemen provide quicker blocks and well managed qb pockets. Seeing is believing. If the opportunity avails itself take in a CFL game. Ottawa Hamilton, and Saskatchewan have extremely knowledgable fans that are interactive and tend to enjoy their weekly party
different enough that success in the NFL doesn't guarantee success in the CFL. ie. Ricky Williams; but similar enough that the most talented players usually end up leaving for a shot in the NFL
Most Canadians would never stand for using NFL rules, but that's OK, the leagues can still work together to build the game. Here's a thought for the NFL. WHat can the NFL learn from CFL rules? I'm not talking about 3 downs or your small field because you won't give them up anymore that we would.There is 1 aspect of the game that would improve the NFL game if it adopted style CFL rules and that is the kicking game. Every kickoff and punt is an opportunity for a skilled and talented athlete to make a big play, sometimes game changing. The NFL faircatch rule, and the kickoff rule that sees kicking team players circle the bouncing ball,are lost opportunities for exciting and possibly game changing plays.Both rules need to go, and changes made to ensure there is a return attempt on every punt or kicoff. The CFL solution on the punt is requiring a 5 yard "cushion" around the returner until he has touched the ball. The receiver gets a "fair catch" and an opportunity to "break one" should a coverage error occur. The rule doesn't guarantee an exciting play, but does guarantee an opportunity and who knows when that opportunity will make a difference. Don't like the 5 years rules? Fine, figure out another way to get a return on every punt. BTW, former CFL QB's that succeded in the NFL: Warren Moon Doug F Flutie Joe Theismann Jeff Garcia Vince Ferragamo Andre Ware Joe Kapp Danny McManus
From what I read on social media sites, you mess with Canadian rules at your peril! They seem hostile to people trying to change CFL rules. Fact is, I dont blame them! It's a much faster and far more exciting game than the NFL. In fact, I can think of a couple of Canadian rules the NFL should adopt to improve their game! (Hopefully, the upcoming XFL and/or USFL adopt some of them).
Yah for sure as a big CFL fan I agree. First a no yards rule instead of fair catch is far superior to the excitement of the game similar to being onside for punts instead of the ball just being dead after it leaves the kickers foot. I don't know if this would ever work or fly in the NFL, but why do you get free field position on a touchback? If you don't return the ball out of the endzone, get the ball on the 25, however you also give up a point therefore no free field position making touchbacks less boring. Those two would greatly improve special teams that is severely lacking in the NFL.
three downs forces offences to go for the big play more often, and the rouge and lack of fair catch means players receiving kicks always have to make a strategic decision to attempt a return
@@Rindiculousfun fair catch for safety and the field is longer and end zone bigger too touchbacks are basically a oh shit the kicker fucked up and hit it too hard and boom better field position it makes kickers hone there skill but why would a kicker score a point for missing a XP in the CFL if it goes outta bounds
@@aidanwotherspoon905 it forces more offense but defense sucks at that point and it’s just passing if a score is close that is intense but blowouts are well over and just a highlight clip.
@@Channel-23s no yards is way safer a rule than a fair catch. Usually, because of the 5 yard halo the players are standing around waiting for the ball to drop rather than trucking as hard as they can down the field in case the fair catch isn't caught. I've seen many more injuries due to the fair catch rule, and never one due to the no yards rule. Also, why would you award a team free field position? That's so stupid. Also, teams rarely want to score a single point. Teams would much rather have the ball at the 35 yard line giving up a single point rather than getting tackled at the 10 bringing it out of the end zone. I watch a lot of NFL and CFL, however every NFL game there's at least one thing that I have to go on about their rulebook that is completely stupid. For example, the onside kick rule. Due to the stupid implementations in recent years onside kicks are recovered about 1% of the time. How does that make the game any fun to watch in the last 6 or so minutes when the opposing team is down by more than 8 points? The Seahawks actually recovered one of those a few weeks ago but apparently there's this super dumb rule that you can only line up players in a certain formation that was penalized. In the CFL, onside kicks are recovered about 35% of the time due to any players allowed to be positioned anywhere with a running start. That is much more fun to watch, and one team this year actually went a perfect 5 for 5 with onside kicks this year. Yah, I get it is about safety, however I don't think I've ever seen an injury on an onside kick attempt. If it's that rare, what injuries are you trying to mitigate? Is it worth the game being unwatchable because the game is so freaking boring? CFL rulebook is superior in almost every rule in my opinion for making the game more fun, but Americans just didn't grow up with that rulebook, so they don't really give it a chance and call it stupid. I grew up watching both games, and I can make a sort of unbiased opinion because I do watch both games.
I think it already kind of is a developmental league imo NFL teams should be looking at players from the CFL rather than undrafted college players because CFL players are still playing pro football
NFL is the best at pushing the mantra that they are the best so it has become engrained. NFL may have better players BUT when you compare the actual games the CFL is better
The NFL wants the CFL to exist because it is a springboard league where you can see players play at the pro level. The NFL also bailed the CFL out in the mid 90’s with an interest free loan to keep them afloat.
Does anyone remember when the NFL was on strike (the officials, I think) and they televised CFL games in the States? It was brutal. The Americans called it every nasty name in the book except football! From the fans to sports media, they never gave the CFL a chance. So, I think it would be wrong to incorporate the two.
The Canadian content rule (19players) is vitally important for the longevity of "Our Game"...Most Canadian kids have grown up with their local team being their source for heroes and inspiration. Similar to our hockey heroes, our football heroes like Rollie Miles or Joe Kapp, Pinball Clements or Doug Flutie...We grow up thinking that one day, we might play for our hometown team....Gawsh...Shucks, I'd never be able to make it to the NFL but maybe (because we already have 19 Canadians-all local heroes in Canada-playing on our team...Every high school player in Canada knows somebody who is playing in the CFL because of that Canadian Content rule...That is a lifelong fanbase and the best opportunity for this league to survive. Once we've "Gone Amerikkkan" that would be the end of the CFL...Covid over the last 2 years has disrupted the CFL tradition but here's hoping we can get this league back to where we were....
We aren't anyone's minor league dude! And exactly what is a regular field! We gave you our rule book! We played the game first! Yes I get guys want to get to the NFL because $$$ and I bet for most that is the only reason. Canada has a much better quality of life and many players stay in Canada after their careers end. Our game if you gave it a try is way more entertaining and lots of guys do leave the CFL and become great NFL player, very few NFL guys ever succeed in the CFL. Ignorant American response, You all think your the best but sorry far from it.
I love both the CFL and NFL . Americans always seem unable to understand how the CFL and the Grey cup are a part of Canadian culture. In particular, Americans don’t seem to understand that a big part of the definition of “Canadian cultural identity” is “we are not Americans”. To change the rules of Canadian football would be another move towards Americanization and that is considered a bad thing.
College football is the minor league of the NFL CFL is just different. Different rules, different field. It's hard to describe until you see it in person, but I like the bigger field because it means more scoring usually, more showcase of athleticism and skill. No one the NFL buys it, changes the rules and succeeds. If they do they completely mis understand what makes the CFL great.
The one thing I disagree was when he said that they do not show many NFL games in Canada? We have all the US channels up here and honestly the NFL is huge in Canada NFL has a division called NFL Canada and they make a ton of money on NFL jerseys swag etc. CFL fans are awesome and die hard but honestly I would say there are more NFL fans in Canada in comparison to CFL
must be from TO. Actually as said before until Grey Cup is done Canadians seem to prefer the CFL afterwards it's the only football around. Sure I like NFL but I much prefer our game and the CFL usually avoids Sundays for most of the year so ...............................
@@alpearson9158 I’m from Hamilton. Tiger Cats are my team always. What I was trying to say was there are more NFL fans than he made it sound. I have a lot of friends that bust my balls because I’m a die hard CFL fan. I’m not a fan of the NFL. Don’t assume I’m from Toronto
0:14 What does he mean by there's "no offseason"? He says later after the season is over, you're done until June. Isn't that the offseason? 0:33 4-hour days is the max. Done by 1pm. Like a summer job. 2:32 Shit, I didn't even know that the CFL is older than the NFL. And I'm Canadian. 3:45 “We got our own big white guys.” 6:31 Learning to play against grown men.
Growing up in eastern Canada I was a moderate CFL fan. Then at 19, me & some buddies watched the Bills / Giants SB in ‘90 and I was hooked - I’ve been a Bills fan ever since (I know, I know, you don’t have to tell me lol). I’ve been an avid NFL fan ever since. HOWEVER I’m now starting to get into and watch the CFL again because - 1) more than ever, for the last decade the NFL seems more like WWE sports entertainment rather than a real sport - the athletes are the real deal, the game is legit but the refereeing is horrendous and makes the games seem rigged much like a WWE match. The holding calls, the pass interference just ruins the game for me. It’s maddening to see ridiculous game deciding calls be so impactful. The teams and players should decide the game NOT the refs. 2) hate me all you want but I miss the old hard-nosed, hard-hitting NFL - players like Steve Atwater, Lawrence Taylor, Bruce Smith - they hit you, now so many tackles are missed, so many questionable calls on the tacklers extending drives that should’ve ended etc etc 3) the NFL has transitioned from 60/40 pass or run to 75 / 25 pass or run - that’s EXACTLY what the CFL is! 75 pass / 25 run and the CFL is more challenging because they only have 3 downs and a bigger ball. The defences have all transitioned to a perma-nickel 4 down lineman zone style. THAT’S the CFL!! So many receivers are open now with no defenders within 10 yards, they all play soft zone in a prevent scenario. 4) the biggest difference between the NFL & CFL is the hype - the NFL has so much more hype and media than the CFL. Like watching Taylor Swift watch Travis Kelce, star-watching at the SB, the NFL Network, the commercials. The superstar musicians. It’s a lot of hype. Much like the WWE again.
Doug Flutie and Warren Moon loved the Canadian rules....I would never support changing them to be more like the NFL. I love the NFL too, but as a CFL fan, in part because of the rules that make it a different game, I would never support it.
On the notion that the NFL might buy the CFL... why change anything if they did? The MLB exists with 2 leagues, though the rule differences at this stage are very minor. It would be pretty cool to see 2 different rule sets and the home-team rules being applied. But the issue there is the schedule, too hot in much of the US for when the CFL typically starts, too cold in much of Canada for when the NFL typically ends.
I'm Canadian and love the CFL and NFL equally. My favourite teams are the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (My hometown team) and the Green Bay Packers (Most Canadians are Packers or Bills fans). Keep them separate.They are each their own entity, no need to mix. Guys who just aren't ready for the NFL or are a step behind can come here and continue playing the game they love, and the NFL can continue being the elite monster that it is. My only problem with Canadian football is the field size. I want to see the CFL keep its rules and everything, I just want to see them play on a 53 yard field in width. Keep it at 110 yards length but with the rule set they have with a 53 yard field things would be much better in my opinion.
The CFL field is a full rugby pitch. It is what it is. The US would be playing on the same size field if Harvard had room for one. True fact. They shrunk the field and reduced the team size by one man. Why they added an extra down makes no sense to me. American football started as Canadian football with some weird tweeks.
Hate hate hate the boys’ dismissal of the CFL... sorry if you two didn’t mean it that way, but it just sounded like typical Americans who can’t understand anything but american culture. The CFL is by far a better game, it’s only the money that keeps us on the down-low compared to other pro sports, and we Canadians are ok with that... you guys keep your ego-driven millionaires down south where they belong... we want real men to play our game 😉
Fans would for sure hate if they changed the rules to American, honestly tho if we had the nfl running our league it would be a huge honour, us Canadians would be thankful like usual. shoutout Hawkins and the dawg pound baby. #NoFreeShoutOuts
A merger would destroy the Canadian Football, the CFL players couldn’t compete size wise, and the rules unlikenesses while subtle, make for a much different game. Making the rules the same destroys the game, CFL and NFL are at their core different yet alike games, but the small differences are more striking, because you don’t expect it.
They could totally keep cfl rules. Even college rules don't fully line up with NFL rules. TDS with 1 foot in. Hashmark placement. And the ot rules are way different.
I am not certain that there are not laws preventing the NFL from taking over the CFL. I am fairly certain something like this has been discussed in Parliament, but it would have been decades ago... i.e. in the 1980s or about then.
There is a lot of ignorance of the Canadian brand of football by Americans who haven't watched the game. Of course preferences are understandable, but the CFL has a different set of rules and size of field that give a fan and player experience that is different, and many people love that brand. And there are NFL fans that enjoy the CFL game too because it is different and gives a nice enjoyable variation to enjoy simply because it is a change of pace. Of course there will be die hard NFL fans who have known only that brand all their lives so change can be difficult for them...we get it. There are people that put down the skill level of CFL players even relative to the NCAA. There are 100+ college football programs all having rosters 100+ players, and new players come and go every two to four years in those programs. There are probably 10,000 players in college every season. The absolute best players with skills that translate to the NFL of course go on to play pro ball for 32 teams with rosters of 53 players (32 x 53 = 1696 players) but every year very few college players actually make NFL rosters because they already have established veterans that are the best of the best. And then there are also outstanding college football players whose skills don't translate to the NFL even though they dominated college ball...even against players that get drafted by the NFL because the metrics are different. The players often move on to the CFL. The CFL gets all the outstanding college ball players that don't make the NFL...the skill level of players in the CFL far exceeds that of college because it is getting the NEXT BEST of the best of college players. As Hawk said the CFL takes college players, and elevates their play because it is literally grown men playing against grown men in a professional environment. Some college players are ready to play men when they're done school, but not all are ready and still need developing whether it be the NFL or CFL. The rule set difference means that player requirements are very different. The huge field and 3 down play means that offensive linemen are pass blocking far more, and defensive lines are pass rushing far more. The skills required for a running back are less about size and strength and more about speed and pass catching and pass blocking. Quarterbacks must have very strong arms to deal not just with a 110 yard field, but a very wide field too. Being a defensive back in the CFL is a nightmare and being a slot or wide receiver is any American wide receiver's dream because of the pre-snap motion that is permitted as well as the size of the field. The type of athlete required for the CFL game is very very different to the NFL and there has been many a former NFL star whose crossed over and has had a rude awakening. Many former NFL stars or newly signed NCAA stars have busted in the CFL either due to ignorance and taking the game lightly, or just not having quite the right skill set to translate to a different game. Former NFL running backs tend to have the most difficult transition.
*- The Canadian game is much more fun game to play.* *- The orient of this commentary is not about the game.* *- It is about being a stimulus stimulus to self-importance: "I am special and my social/interaction with people gives me a chance to show off how self-important I am".* *- The only better more fun game is Australian Football/"rugby". They don't wear any pads or helmets at all and play a game similar to the CFL on an Olympic sized soccer pitch. {most of the players are lanky and well over 6 foot tall}*
The CFL isn't meant to be compared to the NFL. It's supposed to be a different style of football, and it's fun if you look at it that way. When people try and rip on canadian football for not measuring up to the NFL they miss the point. It's like saying nascar is garbage because you prefer formula 1 instead. When football fans realize that, they enjoy the CFL a lot more.
I’ve tried watching the NFL but I can’t get into it. I prefer the CFL rules and game play. If the CFL changed to be like the NFL I’d stop watching. I love the CFL, I watch every game. I have my team of course (Edmonton) but I watch every game, every team. I watched the Super Bowl today and was honestly kind of bored. Except for that one kick return that was almost returned for a touchdown (felt like I was watching the CFL for a sec haha). CFL doesn’t need to change. Wish the players, coaches and staff got paid more of course but besides that it’s perfect how it is.
People need to stop comparing the CFL and NFL. Football teams have massive rosters, more than most sports. Not to mention the NFL is the biggest (most profitable) sports league in the world. Of course ANY league will look small compared to it. Especially a sport only 2 countries play, not to mention Canada is 10x smaller than America.
CFL. fan... I liked the positive comments by andrew, but the commentators clearly couldn't be bothered to do ANY reading on the CFL. If you guys want the right to add your input get off your couch and prepare for your subject. I bet you couldn't name half the teams or even identify the province's with teams. Lazy and it is a disservice to your viewers. Andrew's comments might have led to a very interest conversation. CFL older than the NFL there is an easy 10 minutes of very interesting discovery for your viewers. But zero prep really?
Only reason cfl isn’t as popular is bc a lot of Canadians r hockey fans I’m Atlanta born grew up an nfl fan but I believe the Cfl when it comes to entertainment it’s better by a long shot I can get bored of 100 games in the nfl but I can watch 200 cfl games consecutively
CFL Longer and wider field, 3 downs, defense must line up one yard off the football Punts and field goals ball is live. No fair catch Movement in the back field (offense) Single point called a rouge if a field goal is missed the defensive team has to run the ball out of the end zone. If not its a single point for the offense. I could go on and on :)
Appreciate the kind words! We still love you up here, Hawk
dont require masks at the argos games and i will come
@@jake4297 that’s not up to them😂 talk to Doug Ford
Avg salary in the CFL is $60,000 yr. After taxes that ain't shit. Y don't y'all pay more? $100k yr should be an average salary yr.
@@jake4297 stay home if you're scared of a piece of fabric
@@aidanwotherspoon905 I’m not scared I already have bad acne. Masks don’t help
As a Canadian Titans fan, I couldn't love this anymore! Respect to Andrew for speaking well of the CFL.
Yes now my man!
Aren't they a soccer team?
Andrew Hawkins knows more about the CFL and its history than many fans do.
Hawkins is not alone in saying the CFL is more fun than the NFL. They all say that.
Doug Flutie for one!
There's no way that Canadians would accept NFL rules in the CFL. It would destroy our game.
The funny bit is that the XFL was trying to update the rules of the game to be more entertaining. CFL is what the XFL wanted to be in almost every way, they even had the rock playing for them.
@@dixonhill1108 the rock did not make the Stampeders he was cut
@@dixonhill1108 funny cuz the XFL popularity and attention was higher than the cfl has ever been.
I'm a big cfl fan and nfl fan (actually prefer NCAA ball over either). Reality is that the cfl is dyijng and if we want to playing football in Canada we need to make some changes. Millenials and Gen Z and the growing immigrant population are not coming out to Cfl games like we need them to- they are more interested in the Nfl
@@darinfrandsen3393 That's only really true in Toronto. The Lions, Elks, Stamps, Riders, Bombers, Ticats and Als don't seem to have an attendance problem.
The problem is that Torontonians are a bunch of wannabe Americans. If the CFL is going to die, let it die with dignity. Don't turn it into another USFL. The two games are NOT different enough from each other that a simple rule change is going to do anything.
People who like the NFL better are just a bunch of USA-worshippers. They give lame excuses like "Oh it's better football because the players are paid better." when the truth is that all you need for a game to be enjoyable is for both sides to be on the same level. Adopting American rules in the CFL wouldn't save it but it would be damning its soul.
Andrew you did an excellent job explaining why the CFL's rules and culture doesn't need to adapt to being a "NFL lite"
Great interview:
1. Canada loves the CFL and the rules. This will not change.
2. Canada loves the NFL and the rules. This will not change.
3. The CFL is not a corporation and cannot be bought unless the independent ownership agrees. There are no CFL share to be purchased.
4. You point is valid about men playing against men.
5. Any CFL team (even the worst) can beat the best NCAA football team (no contest). So to compare the CFL as a minor league is very insulting.
6. The CFL is a different league.
I don’t know about that joe burrow with 65 passing tds and going undefeated in a college season is pretty good cfl is about offense and passing really so I’d wager my money on them plus taller and more speed but I’d only put about 55% chance of winning
That ignorance is what leads to insult. Go Gord D! I mean most Americans just do not know the Canadian game....they are missing something! A shout out to all the Americans whose talents help the excitement along!
NCAA is not a minor league, it’s kids in school. Obvious any CFL team would beat an NCAA team. But CFL and NFL teams haven’t been close in talent since they held exhibitions 50 years ago. Regardless of rules used it’s hard to see any CFL team beating an NFL team…It has nothing to do with arrogance.
Cfl is ass nigga
Not enough eyes watching the CFL, point blank period.
It's comparable to division 1, it's so ironic that many Canadians look down on the CFL because it's not the NFL. They scoff at the idea of following both the big league and minor leagues. Yet it is entirely normal in the states to watch both NCAA and NFL. Granted this is mostly the posers in Toronto.
@@dixonhill1108 Honestly I'm from Alberta and people mostly like the CFL and football, maybe the sentiment is different out east because they have big teams but they're not gonna get an NFL team with that attitude.
@@vigilantgopher9563 yeah the dynamic is definitely different when comparing east and west
@@dixonhill1108 actually while an issue in TO it's not elsewhere, most Canadians like having both to view in fact tv ratings conclude that until Grey Cup is done that the CFL outdraws the NFL. After well the NFL is all the football available so we all watch that
which is unfortunate
Canadian Football is awesome and exciting, especially when playing in snow storms or on icy field at -30 celcius (-22 F) . If a player can play in these condition they can play anywhere after
The reason the CFL doesn't have the same money isn't because they aren't using NFL rules, it's because the NFL has massive TV contracts.
More people in the USA. That’s it.
BINGO! tv & sponsorships are the correct answer!
@@daerdevvyl4314 better excitement too as there’s a 4TH down and better defense and running too as with 3 downs ya gonna pass a lot more more teams more drama more skill too on average bigger dudes faster dudes.
The NFL plays in a country with nearly 10x the population. It's a lot easier to count the number of large metro areas of Canada vs the US.
@@Channel-23s Nope, absolutely nothing to do with that at all. It's not more exciting, there's actually less passing. It's only about population.
Up until the late 70’s the money wasn’t different, Joe Theismann signed with Toronto Argonauts for more money. The NFL tv deal is what makes the the NFL the juggernaut that it is.
They are two different sports. They have different rules. Making them out as a minor football league would be disrespectful. I'm a die-hard Detroit Lions fan, born and raised here in Michigan, so I can just imagine what a die-hard CFL fan feels about their team.
You're right. My issue is, and I love the CFL and don't follow the NFL until after Grey Cup, is not American fans loving the game but more Canadian fans loving the CFL. I was talking to someone the other who didn't watch CFL because of camera angles looks cheap, another person talking about high school football saying too bad it's 3 downs. It's horrible that a lot of Canadian Football fans compare CFL to NFl and buy into the hype. Both leagues are great but I don't think you'll find many Americans tuning into CFL and not NFL not because of quality but because it's not American. I wish Canadians would feel the same. Bud Grant said as much too. There's a lot of CFL alumni running sidelines in NFL
Go Roughriders, go Lions!
Andrew Hawkins is right. The CFL is a legit league. It's fun, explosive. No lead is safe in the CFL. Americans should give the Canadian Football a chance. You won't be disappointed. We might have a shortened season in September pending if we can flatten the pandemic curve
No lead is safe in nfl either lol. Search up falcons vs patriots
@@j-tundifanclub6565 That hardly ever happens in the NFL. Maybe once every 4 years. Comebacks always occurs weekly in the CFL Check out the last Grey Cup, the Canada Day game in 2010
@@j-tundifanclub6565 Oh please. I'll take the 97th Grey Cup game over ANY Super Bowl. Superbowl LI wasn't even all that exciting. The most exciting Super Bowl I've ever seen was Super Bowl XXV. Hell, if you do a poll, I'm willing to bet that even Super Bowl XLII would be rated as more exciting than LI.
@@j-tundifanclub6565 SBLI was a joke. The Falcons chose to blow their lead.
I love when players who have done both can give actual credit to the CFL. It's the furthest from Bush league,the player quality is very high and it is a very good game.
It includes a team in Saskabush, doesn't it?
@@FischerFanRoughriders son!
@@scottthompson3493 ..or should that be Fluffriders? You people are forever reminding the world you have that football team.
You're the reason why I haven't been a fan of this league for more than a decade.
@@FischerFan that’s a shame, you’re missing out.😎
@@scottthompson3493 I have no regrets whatsoever. The only thing I am missing out on is the arrogance of Rider fans.
I lived in Edmonton in the Warren Moon days and watched him throw a football and he just wowed me how accurately and the speed he released it. He was a NFL top tier Quarterback at the time and unfortunately his skin colour prevented him from going their from University.
In a really weird way American {NFL} racism has really been a bonus for the CFL. Especially the Quarter back position.......Thanks{?} guys.
@@xanbex8324 There's also politics involved too in the NFL. If you didn't come from a big college, you won't even get a look even if you are really good. Cam Wake went undrafted. He came to the CFL and dominated. Then the NFL realized he was good enough to play.
Explaining the CFL to someone whose never seen the CFL is always pretty difficult. My advice WATCH THE CFL and you'll find out pretty quick why a lot of people love it.
It's not hard if they already understand NFL rules. Gridiron football is the most complicated team sport on the planet. Explaining either of them to someone who doesn't know either game is borderline impossible.
I watch both leagues but prefer Canadian football. Faster pace. Ball changes hands more often. There is a kicking game...no horrible fair catches, or non catches. Stop time in final three minutes. All much more exciting. Been that way for over a century. My favourite team, Toronto Argonauts are the oldest professional team in North America, playing football since 1873. Same name, same colours. Football was slightly different back then. More like rugby, but the game evolved.
thanks...who knew....I find some CFL games really exciting!
That's right, the Boatmen of TO are a great tradition, the oldest in NA. I loved the Ottawa Rough Riders (RIP), who dated to the 1890s.
@@britishamerican4321 actually the RR's date to 1876
@@alpearson9158 Thanks for reminding me. Yes, they're even older than I thought, though the RR name is not quite as old--it was changed from (just) "Ottawa Football Club" to "RR" in 1898 in solidarity, it seems, with Teddy Roosevelt's famed cavalry regiment that served in the Spanish-American War (accordingly too, the team colors were changed from whatever they had been to the black, red and white of Roosevelt's regiment).
Best argos games last 20 years?
The Taylor guy saying the CFL is something like triple A needs to actually watch the league
Sorry but Canadian Fans of CFL will not want NFL Rule changes
I am an American fan of the CFL that does not want it to adopt ANY NFL rule I can think of. I quit watching NFL football ten+ years ago but fell in love with the CFL when I finally got cable TV for the first time, about eight years ago. The NFL is just too big, too loud, too expensive and too boring for me.
Please, keep the CFL Canadian! and FUN!
I’m bout to really listen to this, I’m in Vancouver lol. Please take it easy on this league I’m sensitive lmao
I'm from the US but I think the CFL is more fun to watch. I hope they never change it to match the NFL.
CFL is way better than NFl. 3 downs way more interesting. Bigger end zone and field. I think Canadian fans would not like that if you changed it the rules and field and game. We have tons of NFL games on tv. I prefer CFL. More fun to watch. NFL is watched in Canada as well but our CFL teams are cherished and loved.
The Cfl and Nfl are two different games and always will be. Nobody's changing any rules for either league. I personally like both but a lot of people like one or the other. It's just nice to have two long standing traditional leagues to watch 8 months out of the year.
Thanks for the respect I would say the Saskatchewan Rough Riders and Hamilton Tiger Cats have crazy crowds As crazy as any NFL team
Lmao, sure man, have you watched Seahawks games.
@@MrFlamesFan12 Why would you laugh?? Yes I have seen a Seahawks game but I was talking out Hamilton and Saskatchewan fans
@@MrFlamesFan12 The video may be a bit corny but watch it CFL has a long history
ruclips.net/video/YcyMyvT-ulU/видео.html
@@MrFlamesFan12 Have you watched a Roughriders game is the question?
CFL all the way!
They announced a little while ago that they might go to 4 downs in the CFL and I replied I would never watch another CFL game if they did. I've been an Argonaut (best team name ever) season ticket holder for about 30 years and I'm confident that over half the fans would do as I would. Only trouble in Toronto is, too many people here are Jonesing for an NFL team. We are constantly wiping the drool from these people's mouths they want it so bad. If Toronto did get an NFL team, the CFL would basically cease to exist for all intents and purposes. It will come some day though and I hope I'm off to the happy hunting ground when it does happen.
Yeah the cfl did a survey with the cfl teams and they all refused to go to 4 downs
@@jhonathanmutombo8569 Glad to hear that, thank you.
@@Oscar_Leroy I appreciate your argument; however, I don't want the NFL here regardless as I don't like that type of football. It's boring 90% of the time. On the other hand, there are individual players who I've admired over the years. I have to admit that.
But when the NFL did come for pre season games I heard many people say they priced thselves out of the market
@@wombatwilly1002 On the second round, yes. I actually went to the first game with the Bills (and the Cowboys, I think(?)) because my friends wanted to go. In the Skydome (now Rogers Centre), the field was dwarved by the size of the stadium; however, it was still fairly fun. I just object to trying to make the CFL game into a sad imitiation of the NFL. Also, I did watch the NFL for awhile; however, too many games are all defense and not exciting enough to be worth my time of which I never have enough anyway so I am just partial to the CFL. Also, my Dad tried out for The Argonauts back in 1947 (they won the Grey Cup that year) so there is that draw for me as well. Cheers!
Pretty sure the American field is smaller because Harvard didn't have a full sized field when they played McGill way back when they first wrote down the rules
That's how it went down. A Canadian football field is a standard rugby pitch and Harvard didn't have the space for one so they shrunk the field and dropped one player. Why they added a forth down is a mystery.
hmmm no canada metric system 100 metres=110 yards simple
@@djwchuckry The Metric System wasn't in use in the late 1800s
@@maccarr9923 rugby field same thing
This was really interesting. Lots of great points made, especially by Hawkins, who of course is the one with CFL experience.
I wonder how many players in the nfl started in the cfl . Cam wake and Jeff garcia and warren moon probably some of the more well known .
Joe theisman
Doug floutie
@@Channel-23s fluitie started in nfl then cfl then back to nfl
The CFL is a better game more exciting than the NFL, Andrew Hawkins I appreciated that you talked positive of Montreal.
Also so many guys from nfl come to cfl and love it and have tremendous success along their way. I’m from Hamilton Brandon banks from the Chicago redskins came here and became a household name within the Hamilton football community. Which is huge. And even though myself and many other ticats fans are heartbroken he went to the Argos of all teams (our mortal enemies for eternity in the cfl) we still recognize he was an absolute treat to have as a fan. Broke records, made a name for himself in a totally new country. He didn’t have an nfl shot and he came here and was beloved by everybody. If you live downtown you see a ticats players enjoying our city and you yell OSKEE WEE WEE, OSKEE WA WA, HOLY MACINAW, TIGERS, EAT ‘EM RAW. I’m from Hamilton and I really wish one day I can take the time and money to go see a game in Saskatchewan in their beloved stadium. I met someone at the last grey cup game that told me they have been to the least 30. I am 25. He was from Ottawa wearing his teams jersey proud at Hamilton’s grey cup hosted at home. I made a new friend that night. I believe that is what the game is about. But, the Argos still suck #hammertown #gotigercats #cfl #hamiltonishome #steelcity #brandonbanks #ivorwynnestadium #timhortonsfield
Really well said Andrew, Go Bombers
Agree from an American Bombers fan. Vikings too but they are letting me down, again.
@@Jefff72 I’m a Bombers and Steelers fan but I live in Winnipeg. Have you ever came to WPG to watch a game?
@@gotmilt8960 I grew up the Mpls-St. Paul Twin Cities. No, I have never been to, as I heard Canadians call it, Winterpeg. I adopted the Bombers due to proximity to Manitoba & our common history with Bud Grant.
@@gotmilt8960 For the NFL, at least you're not a Packers or Cowboys fan.
Technically, the CFL only dates back to the mid-1950s. The Grey Cup title game (and corresponding trophy) does have a history dating back to 1909.
The CFL was the result of a merger between two geographically separate leagues - one in Western Canada, one in Ontario and Quebec. Some of the teams have histories that pre-date the CFL itself by decades.
True. That's how the CFL ended up with two teams having the same name: Saskatchewan Roughriders (one word) from the West, and Ottawa Rough Riders (two words) from the East.
the CanadiaN GAME IS FROM AS FAR BACK AS 1861 . THE FIRST US GAME ( MODERN FOOTBALL) WAS PLAYED AT HARVARD IN 1883 WHEN MCGILL COLLEGE WENT DOWN TO TEACH THE NEW GAME .
The NFL as we know it now, came into existence in 1970, when the AFL and NFL merged.
Three downs forces teams to take risks throwing the ball because they really only have two chances to get a first down or at least close to it. And the bigger field encourages teams to acquire faster players who can outdistance opponents rather than packing the players into a small area where the only way through is sheer size running over each other. Honestly the average NFL game is just meat slamming against other meat for hours.
As my self as a Canadian I would not like to see them change the rules. I find the CFL a faster, more entertaining. That's in my opinion. One thing you have to think about if the NFL buys the CFL and changes the rules, think about all the high school and college/university football stadiums, practice fields, that you have renovate or tear down and built new stadiums.
The talent in the NFL is simply better. Wideouts like Justin Jefferson, Deandre Hopkins, Stefon Diggs, Devontae Adams etc would eat CFL teams alive.
@@MrFlamesFan12 And we aren't comparing talent? Obviously NFL has more they pay them more. But the CFL rules are so superior especially in regards to special teams.
@@Rindiculousfun Bruh the rouge is the dumbest rule in sports. Also why the fuck are the end zones 30 yards long and why are the uprights not in the back of the end zone. CFL rules are wack af and make for a boring game. No star power in the CFL
@@MrFlamesFan12 lol so you're honestly telling me with a straight face that football teams should be rewarded for taking a knee in the endzone? Lol you really like boring games don't you. You do you, but I'd recommend you go to a few games before coming to predetermined conclusions. I like NFL, however many CFL rules are far superior in making a much more electrifying game
@@Rindiculousfun Lemme know when the CFL actually gets an exciting and electrifying prospect with some talent. CFL simply isnt on the same planet in terms of skill level as the NFL.
why doesn't the CFL play on a normal field? how about why doesn't the NFL play on a normal field, typical American mindset if it's not American it's not normal SMH
personally i think cfl players have to be faster than nfl players because there's a lot more field to cover and travel but nfl players have to be tougher because they are playing on a tighter smaller field
Yes great chat.. interesting how we in Canada are respected as grown men …a chance to mature and develop.
Great episode!
If anyone other than a Canadian changed a single cfl rule us Canadians would lose most of our fandom for the cfl. ANY talk of changing even a single rule in the cfl including that stupid rouge rule that even most of us don't like comes with instant rage from us. THIS IS OUR LEAGUE, OUR WAY. IF YOU CAN PLAY, YOUR WELCOME HERE! But join us, don't try to change us please.
if NFL did buy CFL and changed the rules to NFL id quit watching i think 3 down is way better compared to 4 feel like theres more urgency and competition and the games more enjoyable to watch when the players can have fun which the NFL is strongly opposed of for some reason, oh your wearing cleats that celebrate upcoming holiday that'll be 10,000$
I'm an American and I hate it when we think we can roll in and make things our way. BTW I live in Germany and I understand respecting how others do things.
Running backs get way more respect as well. Kory Sheets had one of the best seasons in CFL history when he won with the riders, went to the NFL and just sort of faded away.
Given the miniscule number of college players that make the NFL every year, there is a gold mine of talent available to the CFL. The CFL requires a little different skill set than the NFL. Americans think that any NFL player could easily make a CFL roster and I dispute that. Three words, longer, wider, faster. The NFL is a sprint while the CFL is a marathon. Being 6 foot 8 and 400 pounds and strong as an ox works in the NFL but you would be half dead by half time inaCFL game. Many an American comes up to Canada, but the bigger field, 12 men, motion, 3 downs etc. sends them home with their tail between their legs.
Just like Manziel lol
For defense probably but no 400 pound man is gonna do that but 300 yeah most likely as it’s a heavy offense game and small tweaks if you can catch and juke players you’ll dominate if you can throw boom in the NFL it’s not really a sprint as it’s bigger guys hitting each other and better defense and offense really more close and entertaining if you are a Pro Bowl or All Pro blocker in the NFL that giant One yard scrimmage is easy as hell to dominate since players are thinking pass players good at Running Back would kill that open middle after some practice it’s easy like living in a New place hot or cold.
@@Rindiculousfun Manziel may have actually been a decent CFL style QB but his personal demons destroyed his chances
@@Channel-23s in practice the one yard off actually really works in some defensive schemes as well as it does for the offense. At the same time slightly smaller and more agile O-linemen provide quicker blocks and well managed qb pockets. Seeing is believing. If the opportunity avails itself take in a CFL game. Ottawa Hamilton, and Saskatchewan have extremely knowledgable fans that are interactive and tend to enjoy their weekly party
Vince Ferragamo.
best part about being canadian is having 3 types of north american football to enjoy
As a long standing CFL fan, Andrew did a fantastic job.
CFL is Canadian rules football I think it's a different game, not an enormously different but still
different enough that success in the NFL doesn't guarantee success in the CFL. ie. Ricky Williams; but similar enough that the most talented players usually end up leaving for a shot in the NFL
Most Canadians would never stand for using NFL rules, but that's OK, the leagues can still work together to build the game. Here's a thought for the NFL. WHat can the NFL learn from CFL rules?
I'm not talking about 3 downs or your small field because you won't give them up anymore that we would.There is 1 aspect of the game that would improve the NFL game if it adopted style CFL rules and that is the kicking game.
Every kickoff and punt is an opportunity for a skilled and talented athlete to make a big play, sometimes game changing. The NFL faircatch rule, and the kickoff rule that sees kicking team players circle the bouncing ball,are lost opportunities for exciting and possibly game changing plays.Both rules need to go, and changes made to ensure there is a return attempt on every punt or kicoff.
The CFL solution on the punt is requiring a 5 yard "cushion" around the returner until he has touched the ball. The receiver gets a "fair catch" and an opportunity to "break one" should a coverage error occur. The rule doesn't guarantee an exciting play, but does guarantee an opportunity and who knows when that opportunity will make a difference. Don't like the 5 years rules? Fine, figure out another way to get a return on every punt.
BTW, former CFL QB's that succeded in the NFL:
Warren Moon
Doug F
Flutie
Joe Theismann
Jeff Garcia
Vince Ferragamo
Andre Ware
Joe Kapp
Danny McManus
Excellent insights, Andrew. Glad to see the Mahomes jersey, too. Shawn R., Mo-Mutt Music/Sacred & Secular (and KC Chiefs fan)
From what I read on social media sites, you mess with Canadian rules at your peril!
They seem hostile to people trying to change CFL rules. Fact is, I dont blame them! It's a much faster and far more exciting game than the NFL.
In fact, I can think of a couple of Canadian rules the NFL should adopt to improve their game! (Hopefully, the upcoming XFL and/or USFL adopt some of them).
Yah for sure as a big CFL fan I agree. First a no yards rule instead of fair catch is far superior to the excitement of the game similar to being onside for punts instead of the ball just being dead after it leaves the kickers foot. I don't know if this would ever work or fly in the NFL, but why do you get free field position on a touchback? If you don't return the ball out of the endzone, get the ball on the 25, however you also give up a point therefore no free field position making touchbacks less boring. Those two would greatly improve special teams that is severely lacking in the NFL.
three downs forces offences to go for the big play more often, and the rouge and lack of fair catch means players receiving kicks always have to make a strategic decision to attempt a return
@@Rindiculousfun fair catch for safety and the field is longer and end zone bigger too touchbacks are basically a oh shit the kicker fucked up and hit it too hard and boom better field position it makes kickers hone there skill but why would a kicker score a point for missing a XP in the CFL if it goes outta bounds
@@aidanwotherspoon905 it forces more offense but defense sucks at that point and it’s just passing if a score is close that is intense but blowouts are well over and just a highlight clip.
@@Channel-23s no yards is way safer a rule than a fair catch. Usually, because of the 5 yard halo the players are standing around waiting for the ball to drop rather than trucking as hard as they can down the field in case the fair catch isn't caught. I've seen many more injuries due to the fair catch rule, and never one due to the no yards rule.
Also, why would you award a team free field position? That's so stupid. Also, teams rarely want to score a single point. Teams would much rather have the ball at the 35 yard line giving up a single point rather than getting tackled at the 10 bringing it out of the end zone. I watch a lot of NFL and CFL, however every NFL game there's at least one thing that I have to go on about their rulebook that is completely stupid. For example, the onside kick rule. Due to the stupid implementations in recent years onside kicks are recovered about 1% of the time. How does that make the game any fun to watch in the last 6 or so minutes when the opposing team is down by more than 8 points? The Seahawks actually recovered one of those a few weeks ago but apparently there's this super dumb rule that you can only line up players in a certain formation that was penalized. In the CFL, onside kicks are recovered about 35% of the time due to any players allowed to be positioned anywhere with a running start. That is much more fun to watch, and one team this year actually went a perfect 5 for 5 with onside kicks this year. Yah, I get it is about safety, however I don't think I've ever seen an injury on an onside kick attempt. If it's that rare, what injuries are you trying to mitigate? Is it worth the game being unwatchable because the game is so freaking boring? CFL rulebook is superior in almost every rule in my opinion for making the game more fun, but Americans just didn't grow up with that rulebook, so they don't really give it a chance and call it stupid. I grew up watching both games, and I can make a sort of unbiased opinion because I do watch both games.
Canadian government will not permit US ownership and rule changing in the CFL. Just to help your speculation along.
I think it already kind of is a developmental league imo NFL teams should be looking at players from the CFL rather than undrafted college players because CFL players are still playing pro football
NFL is the best at pushing the mantra that they are the best so it has become engrained. NFL may have better players BUT when you compare the actual games the CFL is better
America the brainwashed...say something enough times and it becomes the truth. Best at everything them peeps!
Andrew is a smart Cookie!
The NFL wants the CFL to exist because it is a springboard league where you can see players play at the pro level. The NFL also bailed the CFL out in the mid 90’s with an interest free loan to keep them afloat.
they didnt bail them out it was a 3 million dollar interest free loan lol after american teams couldnt cut it not that big of a deal lol
It kept the league alive
I love our game, go tiger cats ✌️🇨🇦❤️🔨🔨🔨🔨
Does anyone remember when the NFL was on strike (the officials, I think) and they televised CFL games in the States?
It was brutal. The Americans called it every nasty name in the book except football!
From the fans to sports media, they never gave the CFL a chance.
So, I think it would be wrong to incorporate the two.
Sure do,Merlin Olsen called Commonwealth stadium the nicest he had ever seen
The Canadian content rule (19players) is vitally important for the longevity of "Our Game"...Most Canadian kids have grown up with their local team being their source for heroes and inspiration. Similar to our hockey heroes, our football heroes like Rollie Miles or Joe Kapp, Pinball Clements or Doug Flutie...We grow up thinking that one day, we might play for our hometown team....Gawsh...Shucks, I'd never be able to make it to the NFL but maybe (because we already have 19 Canadians-all local heroes in Canada-playing on our team...Every high school player in Canada knows somebody who is playing in the CFL because of that Canadian Content rule...That is a lifelong fanbase and the best opportunity for this league to survive. Once we've "Gone Amerikkkan" that would be the end of the CFL...Covid over the last 2 years has disrupted the CFL tradition but here's hoping we can get this league back to where we were....
Jackie Parker,Normie Kwong😊
We aren't anyone's minor league dude! And exactly what is a regular field! We gave you our rule book! We played the game first! Yes I get guys want to get to the NFL because $$$ and I bet for most that is the only reason. Canada has a much better quality of life and many players stay in Canada after their careers end. Our game if you gave it a try is way more entertaining and lots of guys do leave the CFL and become great NFL player, very few NFL guys ever succeed in the CFL. Ignorant American response, You all think your the best but sorry far from it.
I wouldn't say ignorant American response, just a response from 1 guy who happens to be from the USA.
Don't throw the entire country into it.
I love both the CFL and NFL . Americans always seem unable to understand how the CFL and the Grey cup are a part of Canadian culture. In particular, Americans don’t seem to understand that a big part of the definition of “Canadian cultural identity” is “we are not Americans”. To change the rules of Canadian football would be another move towards Americanization and that is considered a bad thing.
College football is the minor league of the NFL
CFL is just different. Different rules, different field. It's hard to describe until you see it in person, but I like the bigger field because it means more scoring usually, more showcase of athleticism and skill. No one the NFL buys it, changes the rules and succeeds. If they do they completely mis understand what makes the CFL great.
The one thing I disagree was when he said that they do not show many NFL games in Canada? We have all the US channels up here and honestly the NFL is huge in Canada NFL has a division called NFL Canada and they make a ton of money on NFL jerseys swag etc. CFL fans are awesome and die hard but honestly I would say there are more NFL fans in Canada in comparison to CFL
I would dispute that
must be from TO. Actually as said before until Grey Cup is done Canadians seem to prefer the CFL afterwards it's the only football around. Sure I like NFL but I much prefer our game and the CFL usually avoids Sundays for most of the year so ...............................
@@alpearson9158 I’m from Hamilton. Tiger Cats are my team always. What I was trying to say was there are more NFL fans than he made it sound. I have a lot of friends that bust my balls because I’m a die hard CFL fan. I’m not a fan of the NFL. Don’t assume I’m from Toronto
0:14 What does he mean by there's "no offseason"? He says later after the season is over, you're done until June. Isn't that the offseason?
0:33 4-hour days is the max. Done by 1pm. Like a summer job.
2:32 Shit, I didn't even know that the CFL is older than the NFL. And I'm Canadian.
3:45 “We got our own big white guys.”
6:31 Learning to play against grown men.
Growing up in eastern Canada I was a moderate CFL fan. Then at 19, me & some buddies watched the Bills / Giants SB in ‘90 and I was hooked - I’ve been a Bills fan ever since (I know, I know, you don’t have to tell me lol). I’ve been an avid NFL fan ever since.
HOWEVER
I’m now starting to get into and watch the CFL again because -
1) more than ever, for the last decade the NFL seems more like WWE sports entertainment rather than a real sport - the athletes are the real deal, the game is legit but the refereeing is horrendous and makes the games seem rigged much like a WWE match. The holding calls, the pass interference just ruins the game for me. It’s maddening to see ridiculous game deciding calls be so impactful. The teams and players should decide the game NOT the refs.
2) hate me all you want but I miss the old hard-nosed, hard-hitting NFL - players like Steve Atwater, Lawrence Taylor, Bruce Smith - they hit you, now so many tackles are missed, so many questionable calls on the tacklers extending drives that should’ve ended etc etc
3) the NFL has transitioned from 60/40 pass or run to 75 / 25 pass or run - that’s EXACTLY what the CFL is! 75 pass / 25 run and the CFL is more challenging because they only have 3 downs and a bigger ball. The defences have all transitioned to a perma-nickel 4 down lineman zone style. THAT’S the CFL!! So many receivers are open now with no defenders within 10 yards, they all play soft zone in a prevent scenario.
4) the biggest difference between the NFL & CFL is the hype - the NFL has so much more hype and media than the CFL. Like watching Taylor Swift watch Travis Kelce, star-watching at the SB, the NFL Network, the commercials. The superstar musicians. It’s a lot of hype. Much like the WWE again.
They Will Be Worried
Doug Flutie and Warren Moon loved the Canadian rules....I would never support changing them to be more like the NFL. I love the NFL too, but as a CFL fan, in part because of the rules that make it a different game, I would never support it.
I much prefer the #CFL - game is superior in every way over NoFunLeague
On the notion that the NFL might buy the CFL... why change anything if they did? The MLB exists with 2 leagues, though the rule differences at this stage are very minor. It would be pretty cool to see 2 different rule sets and the home-team rules being applied. But the issue there is the schedule, too hot in much of the US for when the CFL typically starts, too cold in much of Canada for when the NFL typically ends.
I'm Canadian and love the CFL and NFL equally. My favourite teams are the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (My hometown team) and the Green Bay Packers (Most Canadians are Packers or Bills fans). Keep them separate.They are each their own entity, no need to mix. Guys who just aren't ready for the NFL or are a step behind can come here and continue playing the game they love, and the NFL can continue being the elite monster that it is. My only problem with Canadian football is the field size. I want to see the CFL keep its rules and everything, I just want to see them play on a 53 yard field in width. Keep it at 110 yards length but with the rule set they have with a 53 yard field things would be much better in my opinion.
The CFL field is a full rugby pitch. It is what it is. The US would be playing on the same size field if Harvard had room for one. True fact. They shrunk the field and reduced the team size by one man. Why they added an extra down makes no sense to me. American football started as Canadian football with some weird tweeks.
boy he's sharp CFL and NFL were closer til 1982 the strike made the NFL separate further....
Hate hate hate the boys’ dismissal of the CFL... sorry if you two didn’t mean it that way, but it just sounded like typical Americans who can’t understand anything but american culture. The CFL is by far a better game, it’s only the money that keeps us on the down-low compared to other pro sports, and we Canadians are ok with that... you guys keep your ego-driven millionaires down south where they belong... we want real men to play our game 😉
Pfft! Talk about a self-righteous view of North American football!
The rules are actually more similar than they were before, except the goal posts.
Fans would for sure hate if they changed the rules to American, honestly tho if we had the nfl running our league it would be a huge honour, us Canadians would be thankful like usual. shoutout Hawkins and the dawg pound baby. #NoFreeShoutOuts
On May 23rd, they Will Be Worried
A merger would destroy the Canadian Football, the CFL players couldn’t compete size wise, and the rules unlikenesses while subtle, make for a much different game.
Making the rules the same destroys the game, CFL and NFL are at their core different yet alike games, but the small differences are more striking, because you don’t expect it.
NFL Draft 2022 Followed By CFL 2022 Draft
I would not like losing the CFL at all. I think Canadians prefer our rules, lol, maybe the NFL should change their rules. 😊
🙏
The Hawk rules!🙂
You can't just send professional football players back to college for development the way baseball players do
you are crazy bro
They could totally keep cfl rules. Even college rules don't fully line up with NFL rules. TDS with 1 foot in. Hashmark placement. And the ot rules are way different.
I am not certain that there are not laws preventing the NFL from taking over the CFL. I am fairly certain something like this has been discussed in Parliament, but it would have been decades ago... i.e. in the 1980s or about then.
Actually in the 80's when discussed it was poopooed by NFL lawyers as the antitrust laws in the US would not have reacted well
Ok Canadians, I see you guys love you're cfl and hate our nfl but here's one for you even though I'm pretty sure I know the answer. Hockey or cfl?
for me i prefer the CFL over Hockey
NFL should go to 3 downs , no fair catch, and a rouge for failing to return a kick out of the end zone !
they should also play on a bigger field
Montréal is without a doubt one of North America's finest cities.
we got all the nfl games on tv bro
So True
Football are Canadian
To paraphrase Patric Henry.... Give me a unique and independent CFL, or give me death!
CFL is awesome
There is a lot of ignorance of the Canadian brand of football by Americans who haven't watched the game. Of course preferences are understandable, but the CFL has a different set of rules and size of field that give a fan and player experience that is different, and many people love that brand. And there are NFL fans that enjoy the CFL game too because it is different and gives a nice enjoyable variation to enjoy simply because it is a change of pace. Of course there will be die hard NFL fans who have known only that brand all their lives so change can be difficult for them...we get it.
There are people that put down the skill level of CFL players even relative to the NCAA. There are 100+ college football programs all having rosters 100+ players, and new players come and go every two to four years in those programs. There are probably 10,000 players in college every season. The absolute best players with skills that translate to the NFL of course go on to play pro ball for 32 teams with rosters of 53 players (32 x 53 = 1696 players) but every year very few college players actually make NFL rosters because they already have established veterans that are the best of the best. And then there are also outstanding college football players whose skills don't translate to the NFL even though they dominated college ball...even against players that get drafted by the NFL because the metrics are different. The players often move on to the CFL. The CFL gets all the outstanding college ball players that don't make the NFL...the skill level of players in the CFL far exceeds that of college because it is getting the NEXT BEST of the best of college players.
As Hawk said the CFL takes college players, and elevates their play because it is literally grown men playing against grown men in a professional environment. Some college players are ready to play men when they're done school, but not all are ready and still need developing whether it be the NFL or CFL.
The rule set difference means that player requirements are very different. The huge field and 3 down play means that offensive linemen are pass blocking far more, and defensive lines are pass rushing far more. The skills required for a running back are less about size and strength and more about speed and pass catching and pass blocking. Quarterbacks must have very strong arms to deal not just with a 110 yard field, but a very wide field too. Being a defensive back in the CFL is a nightmare and being a slot or wide receiver is any American wide receiver's dream because of the pre-snap motion that is permitted as well as the size of the field. The type of athlete required for the CFL game is very very different to the NFL and there has been many a former NFL star whose crossed over and has had a rude awakening. Many former NFL stars or newly signed NCAA stars have busted in the CFL either due to ignorance and taking the game lightly, or just not having quite the right skill set to translate to a different game. Former NFL running backs tend to have the most difficult transition.
*- The Canadian game is much more fun game to play.*
*- The orient of this commentary is not about the game.*
*- It is about being a stimulus stimulus to self-importance: "I am special and my social/interaction with people gives me a chance to show off how self-important I am".*
*- The only better more fun game is Australian Football/"rugby". They don't wear any pads or helmets at all and play a game similar to the CFL on an Olympic sized soccer pitch. {most of the players are lanky and well over 6 foot tall}*
As a Canadian cfl sucks I’d hope we’d merge with nfl that’d be really cool
The CFL isn't meant to be compared to the NFL. It's supposed to be a different style of football, and it's fun if you look at it that way. When people try and rip on canadian football for not measuring up to the NFL they miss the point. It's like saying nascar is garbage because you prefer formula 1 instead. When football fans realize that, they enjoy the CFL a lot more.
I’ve tried watching the NFL but I can’t get into it. I prefer the CFL rules and game play. If the CFL changed to be like the NFL I’d stop watching. I love the CFL, I watch every game. I have my team of course (Edmonton) but I watch every game, every team. I watched the Super Bowl today and was honestly kind of bored. Except for that one kick return that was almost returned for a touchdown (felt like I was watching the CFL for a sec haha). CFL doesn’t need to change.
Wish the players, coaches and staff got paid more of course but besides that it’s perfect how it is.
People need to stop comparing the CFL and NFL. Football teams have massive rosters, more than most sports. Not to mention the NFL is the biggest (most profitable) sports league in the world. Of course ANY league will look small compared to it. Especially a sport only 2 countries play, not to mention Canada is 10x smaller than America.
Canadian and American Football
CFL. fan... I liked the positive comments by andrew, but the commentators clearly couldn't be bothered to do ANY reading on the CFL. If you guys want the right to add your input get off your couch and prepare for your subject. I bet you couldn't name half the teams or even identify the province's with teams. Lazy and it is a disservice to your viewers. Andrew's comments might have led to a very interest conversation. CFL older than the NFL there is an easy 10 minutes of very interesting discovery for your viewers. But zero prep really?
The Canadian University Football system is better than people think.
so is the CJFL
Yes lol
Give it 80 years cfl will be huge
It’s a no to the NFL rules here.
Only reason cfl isn’t as popular is bc a lot of Canadians r hockey fans I’m Atlanta born grew up an nfl fan but I believe the Cfl when it comes to entertainment it’s better by a long shot I can get bored of 100 games in the nfl but I can watch 200 cfl games consecutively
CFL Longer and wider field, 3 downs, defense must line up one yard off the football Punts and field goals ball is live. No fair catch Movement in the back field (offense) Single point called a rouge if a field goal is missed the defensive team has to run the ball out of the end zone. If not its a single point for the offense. I could go on and on :)