[browna]

Well before we put too much creedance into this blowhard who's got the same gig in the Chuk that Stampede Wrestling color guy Jim Davies once held, and the beloved Eric Francis graduated from here in the past, lets break this down.

a)Fairly certain there's been no official announcement that its Canada's turn in 2008.

b) Best looking stadium? Maybe of the 6 outdoor stadiums in this country, but the Skydome is still a landmark that's instantly more recgonizable, if thats what the writer is basing this argument on. In comparison to the stadiums that American viewers see week in and week out, Old Three Rivers/Riverfont/Veterans Stadium are about as attractive as Commenwealth...there's no TV factor at all here.

Add in the fact that temporary seats will likely have to be put in the 25 yard CFL odd shaped endzone in Commenwealth (and anywhere else) anyways to prevent the crowd in the endzone from being 40 yards away from the play, I really don't this aesthics on what the stadium form factor will look like from the Goodyear Blimp, are a big plus going for Edmonton. Unless the idea of having a IAAF legal track surrounding the field and changing sightlines for the crowd and more importantly the TV camera shots is what the NFL is looking for, again, not a big plus in Edmonton's favour.

c)The NFL would sell out anywhere in Canada..BC Place, Skydome, and generate just as much revenue. Plus, with the week long fanfest surely to follow, Vancouver and Toronto provide a more natural marketing environment for the NFL marketing machine.

d)As Ken said, there are much more "utilitarian" stadiums in Canada then McMahon. McMahon serves its purpose for an outdoor stadium in Canada. Its gets used what, a few days a week from June to November? Commenwealth gets the odd soccer game in the summer and maybe a bigger concert once every couple years, but otherwise, utilized the same amount. As for amenities/facilities its not that much better then McMahon, and far behind the almost as old BC Place, and, behind the now destroyed Kingdome in Seattle. By no means is Commenwealth any sort of shining jewel rising from the prarie landscape. It wouln't cut it as an NFL stadium either. All this line was was a frustrated pot shot at Calgary.

e)Bob Kraft's plane was parked at the airport? This ranks up there in credibility with the "Forsberg is in the air as we speak, ready to sign in Edmonton" and the "Iginla Cellphone-gate" drama a couple years ago, on the credibility scale. Why was he there? Even if it was his plane, Bob Kraft had lots of business dealings and assets, for all we know he was on his way back from fishing in Anchorage and had to empty the jets' bathroom facilities and/or refuel. And Calgary's on the flight path back to Boston, he could've flown over McMahon and checked it out too. Bunk.

The only thing that holds credibility is Pat Bowlen's ties. But him and Bob Kraft and the NFL aren't going to pass up likely a better business opportunity that Toronto would provide, for senitment's sake of putting a game in his old hometown.

One thing forgotten here, that turf in Edmonton. If its at all near or below zero a the time, or for a few weeks before, Tom Brady, NFLPA boss Gene Upshaw and Ralph Goodell will have serious reservations about strapping on the blades and playing on that ice rink that attempts to pass as grass in cold weather. Kraft pulled out the natural turf in Foxboro middle of last season, replaced it with McMahon-style field turf because of injury issues there when the ground gets cold...and that grass in December was tropical compared to how bad the Commenwealth turf gets by mid October.

I am not saying it won't happen. If the NFL wants a more unique outdoor kitchy experience, maybe Edmonton has a chance. To pull out the RCMP's trotting around the field, Harper doing a ceremonial kickoff wearing a Bay Blanket jacket and presenting Belechik and Shanahan with beaver hats, then likely crisp Edmonton would be a possible choice.

But big business of the NFL dictates that Toronto's market, and retractable Dome, would have an inside track over everyone else in Canada for multiple reasons.