Ken Yon Rambo done for the year

[Zarathustra]

Originally Posted by Sowa

Okay I am not meaning to be an ass about this, but for all the CFL talent is just as good as NFL talent people out there. Seriously Rambo is a top receiver in your league? This guy was a complete scrub in the NFL. I am not bashing CFL in any way, I think it's entertaining although don't get to see it much down here. However, I don't see how anyone can think that a legit NFL star wouldn't dominate in the league. I mean Rambo couldn't get open against nickel backs in the NFL, but he dominates the CFL? This pretty much ends all arguments between the quality of talent in the leagues.

LOL. When Ricky Williams was at the top of his game and got suspended by the NFL and came to the CFL, he was terrible in Canada.

So a legit NFL star didn't dominate whatsoever in the CFL. Canadian football and the NFL are two completely different brands of football. Comparing the CFL to the NFL is like comparing rugby league to rugby union.

[SportsJunky]

(Elephan)Titus Ryan and Teyo Johnson should fill in nicely. Tough to lose Rambo this year of all years(Grey Cup).

[FlamingLonghorn]

Originally Posted by Zarathustra

LOL. When Ricky Williams was at the top of his game and got suspended by the NFL and came to the CFL, he was terrible in Canada.

So a legit NFL star didn't dominate whatsoever in the CFL. Canadian football and the NFL are two completely different brands of football. Comparing the CFL to the NFL is like comparing rugby league to rugby union.

Yeah teh Ricky Williams that played there was not the same Ricky Williams who played in the NFL in 02, he was out of shape and didn't even like football, he played because he had bills to pay. Now he does credit the CFL for reigniting his interest in football, but he has yet to return to that old form probably because of his years off.

[calgaryrocks]

Originally Posted by Sowa

Yeah teh Ricky Williams that played there was not the same Ricky Williams who played in the NFL in 02, he was out of shape and didn't even like football, he played because he had bills to pay. Now he does credit the CFL for reigniting his interest in football, but he has yet to return to that old form probably because of his years off.

right. anyways they are two different types of football. are all the guys in both leagues equal in talent? absolutely not, but the talent level is not that far off. many guys who have played in both leagues will say that. at the same time, because of the styles of games, players may be more suited to one type of game than the other, that doesn't mean they are better. a player might fit in well in the CFL because of one thing but that attribute is not as important in the NFL and the one that is important in the NFL (lets say size) is not as important and in the CFL.
remember, guys from both leagues were standouts in college, do they lose thier talent when they go to the CFL? no, they get better, some guys never make the switch as they don't want to run when they are having success, some guys do anyways, and some make it (Moon, Ryan, Garcia, Flutie, Wake etc). we can't look the other way becuase if a guy is having sucess in the NFL, why would he go to Canada and play for 1/10th the money. some guys like Ricky Williams get in trouble and come up here, not usually turning out here either.
saying a player didn't dominate because he was out of shape or didn't care, isn't a great argument, because if a player dominates, people would say he should, and if he doesn't then he mustve been out of shape, can't give credit to the players around him eh?
anyways the point is its a different game, and takes some time to learn, just as if Vick came up here, he has the scrambling ability that he could probably be successful, if given time, but at first he would be confused by the extra dman, maybe not manage the clock as well, and throw more picks because of the bigger field. but who knows, hes probably rusty from being in jail for two years so it would take awhile.
as for Rambo, i dont know that he was dominating the league, but he was certainly among the best for one season, maybe it helps to have an offensive system that is arguably the best in the league, with the second best qb in the league last year. i dont know what the situation was in the NFL with him, but its possible he got better? or that the offensive system was not good or some other issue. or he couldn't get open against that type of defense (maybe its a different defensive style in Canadian football). also keep in mind it was one good season, maybe a breakout season, maybe a career year.
also, not that this is Rambos situation, but sometimes the NFL passes on guys to early, or if they dont draft them and give them a big signing bonus, they are less likely to keep them (as compared to someone they have invested in with a bonus), or they dismiss them because of size.

[North East Goon]

Tough loss for the Stamps. Is there a more overrated WR than Copeland?

[Gozer]

Edit: ok, looks like I didn't check the next page, didn't mean to pile on here Sowa!

Originally Posted by Sowa

Okay I am not meaning to be an ass about this, but for all the CFL talent is just as good as NFL talent people out there. Seriously Rambo is a top receiver in your league? This guy was a complete scrub in the NFL.....I mean Rambo couldn't get open against nickel backs in the NFL, but he dominates the CFL? This pretty much ends all arguments between the quality of talent in the leagues.

It's a different game. For instance Robyn Regher would be less effective in Euro-sized rinks - not a worse player or less talented, just less effective because footspeed has (relatively) more value than positioning.

Originally Posted by Sowa

However, I don't see how anyone can think that a legit NFL star wouldn't dominate in the league.

I remember being on finheaven.com - a Miami Dolphins message board, when Ricky Williams came to the CFL and they were trumpeting that he would shatter everything resembling rushing records in the league. He turned out to be an average back. Personally, I don't think he "lost it" (although some might make that case), I think he is ill-suited to the CFL and was much better in the NFL.

If I framed that as "Ricky can't beat an outside linebacker to the edge in the CFL, what chance does he have in the NFL" - it would sound sensible but it's just not true.

Now that's not universally true, a guy like Westbrook would destroy the CFL and a guy like Peterson would dominate any game with any rules, but I consider the biggest difference between the leagues to be player-type and not player-talent.

[browna]

Is a horse collar tackle even technically illegal in the CFL? Not so sure...it only became illegal in the NFL a couple years back.
As soon as it happened it was pretty clear that only a minor miracle would have him playing anytime soon.

Regardless, still a big blow, thankfully the Stamps have a pretty deep receiving corps.

[FlamingLonghorn]

Originally Posted by calgaryrocks

right. anyways they are two different types of football. are all the guys in both leagues equal in talent? absolutely not, but the talent level is not that far off. many guys who have played in both leagues will say that. at the same time, because of the styles of games, players may be more suited to one type of game than the other, that doesn't mean they are better. a player might fit in well in the CFL because of one thing but that attribute is not as important in the NFL and the one that is important in the NFL (lets say size) is not as important and in the CFL.
remember, guys from both leagues were standouts in college, do they lose thier talent when they go to the CFL? no, they get better, some guys never make the switch as they don't want to run when they are having success, some guys do anyways, and some make it (Moon, Ryan, Garcia, Flutie, Wake etc). we can't look the other way becuase if a guy is having sucess in the NFL, why would he go to Canada and play for 1/10th the money. some guys like Ricky Williams get in trouble and come up here, not usually turning out here either.
saying a player didn't dominate because he was out of shape or didn't care, isn't a great argument, because if a player dominates, people would say he should, and if he doesn't then he mustve been out of shape, can't give credit to the players around him eh?
anyways the point is its a different game, and takes some time to learn, just as if Vick came up here, he has the scrambling ability that he could probably be successful, if given time, but at first he would be confused by the extra dman, maybe not manage the clock as well, and throw more picks because of the bigger field. but who knows, hes probably rusty from being in jail for two years so it would take awhile.
as for Rambo, i dont know that he was dominating the league, but he was certainly among the best for one season, maybe it helps to have an offensive system that is arguably the best in the league, with the second best qb in the league last year. i dont know what the situation was in the NFL with him, but its possible he got better? or that the offensive system was not good or some other issue. or he couldn't get open against that type of defense (maybe its a different defensive style in Canadian football). also keep in mind it was one good season, maybe a breakout season, maybe a career year.
also, not that this is Rambos situation, but sometimes the NFL passes on guys to early, or if they dont draft them and give them a big signing bonus, they are less likely to keep them (as compared to someone they have invested in with a bonus), or they dismiss them because of size.

Let's just say I followed Ricky's career a lot closer than anyone on this board. After 2002 he was not the same... He had lost a step and he still isn't the same, maybe it was the injuries maybe it was the lack of desire but he was never the same back again.