Are Americans familiar with the CFL?

I wonder, are any American who post on this forum know anything about the Canadian Football League? I'm just curious cause when I was in Denver there were quite a few American who knew a fair bit about the league, but only becuase one of their favorite players had once played in the league.

Sure, it's the NFL's farm league.

in a word...**** no.

I think our old punter played there once...I think.

Sure, it's the NFL's farm league.

Actually the NFL Europe is their farm league.

I wonder, are any American who post on this forum know anything about the Canadian Football League? I'm just curious cause when I was in Denver there were quite a few American who knew a fair bit about the league, but only becuase one of their favorite players had once played in the league.

I know of the league, mostly because of Flutie, and to a lesser extent Raghib Ismail back in the day.

Aren't there two teams with the same name?

Actually the NFL Europe is their farm league.

It was a joke.

Jokes are funny.

I know of the league, mostly because of Flutie, and to a lesser extent Raghib Ismail back in the day.

Aren't there two teams with the same name?

There used to be, the Saskatchewan Roughriders and the Ottawa Roughriders.

Ottawa folded, but are now back as the Ottawa Renegades. The Saskatchewan Roughriders remain.

The 2 Roughrider teams is the pun for every Canadian joke, just watch South Park and The Simpsons.

It was a joke.

Jokes are funny.

Not that one. ;)

The CFL is nowhere near a farm league. It is simply a professional league that is heavily overshadowed by the NFL. While plyers in the NFL make $10 million a year, players in the CFL make roughly about $200-$400 thousand a year.

Many people dont realize the the CFL is the second biggest football league in the world!

Not that one. ;)

It's funny if you're a CFL fan.

The CFL is nowhere near a farm league. It is simply a professional league that is heavily overshadowed by the NFL. While plyers in the NFL make $10 million a year, players in the CFL make roughly about $200-$400 thousand a year.

Many people dont realize the the CFL is the second biggest football league in the world!

The big name players make $400k a year. Your average player in the CFL makes maybe 10% of that figure. And they have another job in the offseason.

Funny thing is, the AFL gets better ratings...

The big name players make $400k a year. Your average player in the CFL makes maybe 10% of that figure. And they have another job in the offseason.

Funny thing is, the AFL gets better ratings...

AFL and NCAA football get better ratings.

Many people dont realize the the CFL is the second biggest football league in the world!

Which shows just how sad the state of football is outside the U.S. is.

Which shows just how sad the state of football is outside the U.S. is.

That's because real football is played with this:

That's because real football is played with this:

Stupid Europeans thinking football is played with a ball and kicked with their feet...

When my hubby and I were on our honeymoon, we had some drunk in the hotel try to explain the rules of Canadian football to us...I didn't have the heart to tell the guy I grew up watching it.

I didn't have the heart to tell the guy I grew up watching it.

smart move, I wouldn't admit it either.
as a yank I know of the toronto argos, but have never seen them play unless it was on cbc or ctv while I flipped past

That's because real football is played with this:

exactly, why do we/they call it football anyways. Can someone explain this?

To me football is well. .. football foot + ball The only time they kick the football is when punting or when kicking a field goal. :dunno:

smart move, I wouldn't admit it either.
as a yank I know of the toronto argos, but have never seen them play unless it was on cbc or ctv while I flipped past


that's interesting - so americans DO get CBC and CTV? or is it only if you get satelite?




Personally BTW - i'm not a fan of football........BUT if i had to choose between watching a random NFL game and a random CFL game I would choose the CFL game. Why? Because IN GENERAL, these are the way teams play in the NFL and the cfl:


NFL:
1st down
rush 2 yards
2nd down
rush 4 yards
3rd down
pass 5 yards
1st down


oh sure there's long passes, but they are mostly rare - for use for important game situations when teh clock is running out when it comes to most of the 32 teams.

That's why i was cheering for indianpolis last year because they actually played football the way it's fun to watch. Which is the CFL way. ie:

CFL:
1st down
20 yard pass attempt
incomplete
2nd down
15 yard pass attempt
incomplete
3rd down
25 yard pass attempt
1st down.





Obviously I'm vastly generalizing and over-simplifying but you all get the Gyst - NFL is mostly a "safe" rushing league, and the CFL is mostly a passing league. And to ME - it's the long passes that i want to see. If i want to see people hold on to the ball and run around with it through a bunch of people i'll watch rugby - more violent, less protection. I'd watch football for the long passes tho.

I myself never watched the superbowl - but if the Colts made it last year AND the philadelphia eagles as well (cuz mcnabb also does that crazy thing) i would've watched the superbowl and i would've loved it. And i'm sure americans can confirm that had i watched the superbowl and loved it i would've probably become a full-time football fan come next year (ie the one coming up). Alas - both the colts and the eagles lost to two less-quaterback-oriented teams and i ignored the superbowl and won't become a football fan.




as for WHY it's called football - that always bothered me too. Someone told me it's because of the field i think? but that doesn't make sense - the field is measured in yards, and even tho there's 3 feet in a yard, it would still make more sense to call it yardball.

I know a bit. I know the field is 110 yards, you get 3 downs, and touchbacks are called rouges, and the scoring is wacked out, but that's all I know besides I think all the cities (Vancouver aka BC, Calgary, Edmonton, Saskachawan, Ottawa, Hamilton, Toronto, Montreal, Winnipeg). And the Grey Cup.

I know a bit. I know the field is 110 yards, you get 3 downs, and touchbacks are called rouges, and the scoring is wacked out, but that's all I know besides I think all the cities (Vancouver aka BC, Calgary, Edmonton, Saskachawan, Ottawa, Hamilton, Toronto, Montreal, Winnipeg). And the Grey Cup.

You know your ****. Nice.

It's a good league guys. Not as flashy as the NFL and not nearly as competitive but it is exciting. A lot of Canadians knock the league and watch the NFL instead but I have no trouble watching both and finding entertainment in each one. The CFL is a more exciting brand to me but the NFL has the star players and is exciting enough to watch.

I'd watch a CFL game over an NFL game nine times out of ten but I still love the NFL.

exactly, why do we/they call it football anyways. Can someone explain this?

To me football is well. .. football foot + ball The only time they kick the football is when punting or when kicking a field goal. :dunno:

No clue, but our football doesn't have another name, so I'm not going to be politically correct and call them both football because it's too damn confusing.

I find the CFL more exciting than the NFL. I don't know what it is, but it's more exciting product than the NFL even though the players aren't nearly as good. :dunno:

that's interesting - so americans DO get CBC and CTV? or is it only if you get satelite?
I get maybe 7 channels that bounce across lake ontario, that's it

Which shows just how sad the state of football is outside the U.S. is.
A lot of people in Canada LOVE the NFL. The CFL just gives people a bad image of Canadians and football.

CFL = :joker:

IMO The CFL is far more entertaining than the NFL.. granted I'm biased but I'd rather watch a hard hitting 45-38 game than a defensive 6-3 game. Someone mentioned the ratings for the CFL.. the CFL gets quite good ratings on TSN and CBC.. more people watch the AFL and NCAA in the states because there is just plain more people.

The CFL also lets there players be flashy.. if they want to cook up some big dance after a touch down they are allowed too.. they aren't chained and gagged like the NFL.

You know your ****. Nice.

It's a good league guys. Not as flashy as the NFL and not nearly as competitive but it is exciting. A lot of Canadians knock the league and watch the NFL instead but I have no trouble watching both and finding entertainment in each one. The CFL is a more exciting brand to me but the NFL has the star players and is exciting enough to watch.

I'd watch a CFL game over an NFL game nine times out of ten but I still love the NFL.

If it was ever on, I'd watch it. The only hilites I see all season on ESPN are the Grey Cup and if one of the conference final games are close (they showed hilites of I think Toronto/Montreal last season). CFL used to have a deal down here, when American teams were on the league...

We don't get Canadian channels down here, except on Center Ice and when ESPN gives its coverage to TSN for the draft, we get TSN coverage.

The NFL has the storylines and the hype that the CFL doesnt... add to the fact the amount of coverage it gets plus its connecting with the NCAA which results in a multi-million $ Draft Day, there is no reason for anybody not to watch the NFL...

CFL is minor league compared to NFL. No doubting that the NFL absolutely crushes the CFL in popularity (and money).

One of the reasons why CFL could be more exicting is the lack of talent. They get the guys who couldn't make an NFL team (some rare exceptions). A talented player is going to stand out more and be able to make more plays. Why? Because the level of compteition is lower.

By comparison, every guy on the NFL's starting roster was a star in college. Against college level competition, they stood out and dominated. Tougher to make those same flashy plays when everybody else is a star too.

As for the idea that NFL teams only play safe, that is partially true. It varies by team and scheme. Sure, the Ravens are going to run on 1st and 2nd down every time. However, a team like the Rams or Vikings are going to be much more aggressive in their play-calling, they could be going for the end zone on any given play.

To answer the question at hand, no. Generally speaking, Americans don't follow the CFL one iota. Heck, they barely follow hockey.

There used to be, the Saskatchewan Roughriders and the Ottawa Roughriders.




Actually, it was the Roughriders and the Rough Riders. ;)

I know we get a few games down here on Sunshine Network, a cable sports channel down here. It's a good league, I don't really follow it but whenever its on I watch. I like NFLEL better just so I can follow my team's lesser known players though.

I also know that Jaquez Green plays for Montreal and Reidel Anthony played for the Roughriders. Im hoping Green fairs the same as Anthony.

I like both the CFL and NFL and I watch both and find both exciting but in different ways.

While the CFL doesnt have near the hype of the NFL (but really what does?) it does have the history behind it. I believe the Toronto Argonauts are the oldest pro football team in North America having been around since 1873, Hamilton has had a team since 1883, Saskatchewan since 1910.

I wonder, are any American who post on this forum know anything about the Canadian Football League? I'm just curious cause when I was in Denver there were quite a few American who knew a fair bit about the league, but only becuase one of their favorite players had once played in the league.
AFL gets more coverage then the CFL here, and AFL is steadily growing


CFL gets no pub in the US nor should it with an already dominating football league well established

that's interesting - so americans DO get CBC and CTV? or is it only if you get satelite?


Depends on where you live and get your cable from. When I was in college on the Canadian border, we got all of the Canadian channels and maybe one or two bounced up from NYC or Burlington VT. However, back home in Boston I don't get them unless I pay tons of money for them.

Its hard to believe the CFL started its 92nd season yesterday! Its an old league.

ESPN will run a few CFL games during the season as a curiousity, but the game is know as a punch line. Lisa Simpson looking through the card catalouge "Football:Oddball canadian rules"

I know the teams, BC Loins (who were owned by a stock swindler no?,) Calgary Stampeeders (my faves,) Edmonton Eskimos (Warren Moon,) Saskatchewan Roughriders, Winnepeg Blue bombers, Ottawa Renegages (and before that roughriders,) Toronto Argos, and Montreal Auloettes. I'm sure I missed something.

Darcy Ham and Mike Pringle were players there too right.

I went to a San Antonio Texans vs Toronto Argonauts game back in '95. Yes, San Antonio had a CFL team, as well as Shreveport, (the Pirates, I believe).



Here's a Question: If Americans call it "Soccer", and eveyone else calls it "Football", do Canadians call it "Soccer" or "Football"? If they call it "Football", like everyone else, doesn't that get confusing calling two sports by the same name?

:dunno:

I became a fan of football by watching the NFL, and then since I moved to Vancouver (from a smaller town), I became a fan of the CFL because I could go to games.

The CFL product is really improving. A lot of the players in the CFL are good enough to play in the NFL, but not big enough, and didn't get the luck of being with teh right team at the right time. The NFL is very harsh when it comes to giving players a second chance. If you were drafted after the 4th round, you basically get one shot to prove yourself. If you are injured or have a bad year or the team doesn't utilize your strengths, you may never get another shot.

Not sure if the americans here know this, but the field is 10 yards wider than the NFL field and there are 12 players a side, not 11.

I'm a fan of the NFL first, but the CFL gets me for the summer. Not to mention I can go to games for $20.

CFL....all I know is that the Rock used to be on the Calgary practice squad and that you are only allowed 2 Americans on the practice squad.CFL players usually make 35 K and practice squad players 400 dollars a week....(Or atleast that's what The Rock said,I read his book :))

I watched a few CFL games after I got my Canadian satellite system. I prefer the NFL, but I find it to be an entertaining product. Certainly beats your average 14-11 Colorado Rockies loss :shakehead

This Bostonian sayeth: GO TIGERCATS GO!!!

My horror story is that when I wanted to go to a local pub to watch the Grey Cup when I was living in Toronto in 1995 that the "CANADIANS" there wouldn't let me because they were watching a regular season Steelers game.

Bloody Toronto :blush:

Don't confuse Toronto with a CFL-supporting city.

Granted, the SkyDome is a horrible stadium for a CFL team, and the Argos are getting a new, smaller outdoor stadium....but they have a hard time getting 20,000 people in for an Argos game...whereas an NFL exhibition game will sell the place out.

You're not wrong, but that attitude is slowly changing with the new ownership and new stadium on the way. 26,800 were at the Argo game this week.

You're not wrong, but that attitude is slowly changing with the new ownership and new stadium on the way. 26,800 were at the Argo game this week.

Keep in mind that it was the opening game of the season and Saskatchewan was in town. That's a big draw. I wouldn't expect that to happen even twice more this season.

Our balls are bigger, too!

Yes, San Antonio had a CFL team, as well as Shreveport, (the Pirates, I believe).


Baltimore had a team too before the Ravens came in.

That whole CFL American expansion was an absolute mess. What a screw up that was.

Another thing about the CFL, the bigger field and the 3 down system makes the game emphasize speed more, and the NFL emphasizes power more. So a lot of guys that had the talent to play in the NFL but weren't big enough play in the CFL, especially in the front defensive positions, wide recievers and running backs.

Also a lot of players who don't fit the NFL 'mold' for certain positions may get a shot in the CFL but not in the NFL, especially QB's and WR's.

That whole CFL American expansion was an absolute mess. What a screw up that was.

Another thing about the CFL, the bigger field and the 3 down system makes the game emphasize speed more, and the NFL emphasizes power more. So a lot of guys that had the talent to play in the NFL but weren't big enough play in the CFL, especially in the front defensive positions, wide recievers and running backs.

Also a lot of players who don't fit the NFL 'mold' for certain positions may get a shot in the CFL but not in the NFL, especially QB's and WR's.
Good points.

Not all the players in the CFL are there because they aren't talented enough to make it in the NFL. Some of the guys are there because for one reason or another they were overlooked, usually because of size. There are numerous examples of players proving themselves in the CFL and going on to have successful careers in the NFL, off the top of my head Warren Moon, Rahib Ismail, Doug Flutie.

That whole CFL American expansion was an absolute mess. What a screw up that was.

Why did they even do that? What happened to the teams, did they just fold? (and what US cities were involved besides San Antonio, Baltimore and Shrieveport?, IMO, not great cities to start at)

It's funny if you're a CFL fan.

yeah I live in Canada, and i cant stand the CFL. Even though ill probably play in the league in a few years. My dream has always been to make the NFL. Because im Canadian, that dream will be hard to come true, anyway, the NFL is the real deal

Why did they even do that? What happened to the teams, did they just fold? (and what US cities were involved besides San Antonio, Baltimore and Shrieveport?, IMO, not great cities to start at)

San Antonio
Baltimore
Las Vegas
Birmingham
Memphis

I have no idea why they did this. It started with San Antonio and I guess it was failry successful there so they went with it.

Oh, and the CFL just announced that they signed a US Television agreement, and the CFL will show weekly games on NESN and ESN in the US. Imagine the ratings!

yeah I live in Canada, and i cant stand the CFL. Even though ill probably play in the league in a few years. My dream has always been to make the NFL. Because im Canadian, that dream will be hard to come true, anyway, the NFL is the real deal

Yup, I'm sure you'll 'probably play a couple years' in the CFL with that attitude.

I know it exists.

San Antonio
Baltimore
Las Vegas
Birmingham
Memphis

I have no idea why they did this. It started with San Antonio and I guess it was failry successful there so they went with it.

Oh, and the CFL just announced that they signed a US Television agreement, and the CFL will show weekly games on NESN and ESN in the US. Imagine the ratings!

I read that too but I can't for the life of me remember the source. They said they would be showing games on NESN, ESN, MSG network, and possibly YES if I recall, but I'm not exactly sure on that last one. Either way, more Americans will be able to watch the CFL.

One question, even though I am a fan of the CFL, why the heck did they name two teams the same name(Roughriders and Rough Riders)? Seems odd.

I read that too but I can't for the life of me remember the source. They said they would be showing games on NESN, ESN, MSG network, and possibly YES if I recall, but I'm not exactly sure on that last one. Either way, more Americans will be able to watch the CFL.

One question, even though I am a fan of the CFL, why the heck did they name two teams the same name(Roughriders and Rough Riders)? Seems odd.

www.cfl.ca has the press release.

The roughrider thing is beyond me too. Canadians aren't smarta**es all the time.

Then again, New York has a team named after underwear, so...

www.cfl.ca has the press release.

The roughrider thing is beyond me too. Canadians aren't smarta**es all the time.

Then again, New York has a team named after underwear, so...

They do? Maybe I'm having a brain cramp...

Rangers, don't think so, umm..Giants, unless the person naming the team was looking at his incredibly large wang and wanted something named after it, hmm...the Jets? They play in Jersey...the Knicks maybe? I don't know that is?

And thanks for the link btw, I don't know how I didn't remember that.

Knickerbockers are another word for underwear.

One question, even though I am a fan of the CFL, why the heck did they name two teams the same name(Roughriders and Rough Riders)? Seems odd.
Both were in different leagues at one point and when those two leagues came together to form the CFL neither one wanted to change it's name. Thankfully Ottawa folded for a couple years and when they re-incarnated they chose to go with the name Renegades instead (allowing them to keep the "R" symbol but no longer having the same name as Sask).

The Sask Roughriders were in reference to riding wild horses.
The Ottawa Rough Riders were in reference to the lumberjacks who would ride the rough waters while driving the logs down the rivers.

Have none of you ever seen the Log Driver's Waltz?

I wonder, are any American who post on this forum know anything about the Canadian Football League? I'm just curious cause when I was in Denver there were quite a few American who knew a fair bit about the league, but only becuase one of their favorite players had once played in the league.

Yes. I've been to two games: Edmonton Eskimos (Go Esks!) vs. the Saskatchewan Roughriders at Commonwealth a few years back and the BC Lions vs. Calgary Stampeders at GM Place Stadium(?) more recently about 4 years ago.

GM Place Stadium(?)

BC Place is the football stadium.

BC Place is the football stadium.

Thanks for the correction, I knew it was something like that.

Yup, I'm sure you'll 'probably play a couple years' in the CFL with that attitude.

what attitude? just because i said the NFL is the real deal. Ill try my best to make the NFL, but if i cant, then CFL is fine, im not trashing the CFl, this is just my opinion buddy, mind your own business

A station here said that they will now show CFL games every now and then. I've followed the CFL for three years now, or since I grew tired of the NFL and how lame it is now.

That's because real football is played with this:
Isnt that a soccer ball?