Why does the CFL suck so bad?

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by troutman

Can't one enjoy both the CFL and the NFL?

The athletes in the CFL are just an eyelash away from being in the NFL - still, very elite football players, when you consider how many men play NCAA football.

I also think the Canadian guys acquit themselves quite well when given a chance too. Javier Glatt of the Lions played with my brother at UBC and my brother always raved about how good he was and how well he would do if given a shot. When injuries forced him into the starting lineup and I'd say he's shown he's no slouch. Same with when the Ti-Cats actually use Jesse Lumsden to run the ball, he does as well or better than the American backs in the league. Top end Canadian guys don't measure up to NFL calibre players, but the gap isn't that much between them and the next tier of American players.

[JayP]

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

I don't understand how people can watch college football of any of the leagues.

Ooo, lets have a few teams kick the living crap out of everyone else because they are so stacked with talent, and then have them rarely play one another during the course of a season, if at all - or better yet, have some disputed bowl game selection and the two best teams never play eachother for the top prize. 95% of all college games are complete mismatches, another 2% rare upsets and another 3% teams on equal footing. The only way I could get into it is if I had an alum down in the states, otherwise, it just holds zero interest whatsoever.

To be a college football fan you have to be selective in the games you watch. Living in Canada it's pretty easy as most Canadian affiliates will pick up what is supposed to be the most competitive game.

The reason why I prefer college football is that has guys playing for the love of the game instead of fat paychecks. It's also nice to see different teams utilize different offensive/defensive strategies unlike the NFL (and CFL for that matter) where basically everything they run is very similar.

[Josh]

Originally Posted by calgaryrocks

ahh but i disagree
CFL>college football>NFL
real football starts in the summer and ends in the fall(right around november)

Have you been to an NFL game or an NCAA D1 football game?

To me the CFL feels gimmicky and cheap, its like watching a single-A baseball game.

I took my girlfriend last year to a college football game down here, she's from canada and completely did not understand my obsession for college football. We won the game (Oregon State vs. Oregon if anyone is curious) on a blocked field goal. Leaving the stadium her first comment was "Now I get it".

Having been to all three venues, neither comes close to the atmosphere to a college football game.

[HOOT]

Personally I find it hard to watch the CFL because the players make themselves look horrible, missing easy catches or being way off the mark on their throws. I do not think they are just an hair away from the NFL, they are a hair away from sitting on a NFL team bench is what they are.

However the biggest joke for me is the fact their are 8 teams and 6 make it to the post season. As of right now the 1-3 Montreal team is on pace to make it in the post season...WTF!? (Serious question) Has a 5th or 6th place team ever won the Grey Cup?

The only time I can pay attention to the CFL is when I put money on a game. For me I would rank it NCAA, NFL then CFL (pretty far behind.

[lifer]

I am by no means a football guy, but like a few others in this thread, the games that I can watch are CFL.

I'm sure this has been beaten to death somewhere else on this forum, but if the CFL guys are the glorified high schoolers that some here are comparing them to, why didn't Ricky Williams dominate those hacks last year?

[HOOT]

Originally Posted by lifer

I am by no means a football guy, but like a few others in this thread, the games that I can watch are CFL.

I'm sure this has been beaten to death somewhere else on this forum, but if the CFL guys are the glorified high schoolers that some here are comparing them to, why didn't Ricky Williams dominate those hacks last year?

Because he was too busy getting high...

But honestly he was off for how long before playing again from what I understand he was not training during that time off anf he didn't exactly come back in tip top shape. He is obviously an NFL wash ups, weird a NFL wash up in the CFL...

[lifer]

Originally Posted by HOOT

Because he was too busy getting high...

But honestly he was off for how long before playing again from what I understand he was not training during that time off anf he didn't exactly come back in tip top shape. He is obviously an NFL wash ups, weird a NFL wash up in the CFL...

As I said, I'm not a football guy, so I'm not going to argue with you about it. I was just reading his wikipedia page. Here's a fun fact about Williams:

He is currently residing in Grass Valley, California

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ricky_Williams

[Flames in 07]

I get that many people like the CFL because it is wide open, but in terms of excitement, the best 20 football games I have been to are all NCAA and NFL games. Show me someone who thinks US ball is boring and I'll show you someone who hasn't been to Mile High, Arrowhead, Knoxville Tennessee, Ann Arbour, Columbus, Gainsville, New Orleans etc...

The CFL is wide open, but it is also simplistic, each team as half a dozen defences and a couple dozen plays, attendance is very low, the fans are generally unknowledable so you have to spend 3 hours listening to rediculous comments and the game day promotion is at a WHL level.

I used to like all three, until about 5 or 6 years ago at the labour day game the Stamps fans went out of their way to ensure that their own team would lose and didn't even know it.

Calgary was first and goal at the one, and everyone was standing making as much noise as they could, the players were waving their hands down to say be quiet and everyone thought it meant make more noise.

The Edmonton fans in the area just laughed. And predicably everyone on both sides knew that Cgy couldn't audible, So the esks clogged the middle and Calgary couldn't punch it in. That was embarassing, and I gave up on the CFL as rinky dink from that point on.

Edit: actually one CFL game is in my top 20. Labor day rematch in Edmonton. Edm scores with about 25 seconds left to go up by 1. They go for 2, Cgy pics and takes it the other way for 2. Cgy wins by one. That was fun.

[FlamingLonghorn]

CFL players are not a hair away from the NFL they are a hair away from an NFL practice squad. There are a few elite college players in the CFL who couldn't cut it in the NFL. I would put any major college program (top ten) up against a CFL team in terms of talent. I don't think the CFL is boring I really am not too familiar with it only watched a handful of games, but to say that CFL players are only a hair away from being NFL players is not truthful.

[KTown]

I have this argument with everyone, people are going to like what they like.

But as soon as someone tells me they like the sport because there is more talented athletes, I know there on crack and I immediately leave the conversation because arguing with a guy on crack is like talking to a wall.

Yah the CFL may be a tad quicker, but in reality its not all that quicker, you have 3 downs so you have to open up the game more, because running majority of the time is a waste of a down. In the NFL you got 4 downs so you can take more time to get a first down, hence why running is a more important factor.

I consider the CFL the pass, punt and fumble league. because thats what happens everytime I watch, but I don't watch much, so who knows I miss the odd good play.

I only watch sports with the beset athletes in the world, if I want to would never watch the AHL, i would never watch D league basketball, I would never watch AAA baseball.

I find most people love the CFL because its a sport us canadians can call our own. But I can tell you this if the NFL brought a team to Toronto, you can say goodbye to Hamilton and Toronto in the CFL. I hope it does one day, I'd love for an NFL team in Canada.

I don't get the CFL, but if one wants to love it, than love it, just don't tell me the athletes are better because no athlete would take less money to play in the CFL than the NFL. I guess since I grew up out East we got more exposure to the NFL and going to NFL games because I've been to a CFL game here in Calgary and I've been to NFL games and the NFL games live are 10 times better than the CFL game.

[KTown]

Originally Posted by lifer

I am by no means a football guy, but like a few others in this thread, the games that I can watch are CFL.

I'm sure this has been beaten to death somewhere else on this forum, but if the CFL guys are the glorified high schoolers that some here are comparing them to, why didn't Ricky Williams dominate those hacks last year?

This means your not super knowledgable about the game of football, a running back is as only as good as his offensive line. Sure a good unning back can break a tackle or two more often than not, but if he doesn't get good blocking he's not going anywhere.

[FlamingLonghorn]

Originally Posted by KTown

This means your not super knowledgable about the game of football, a running back is as only as good as his offensive line. Sure a good unning back can break a tackle or two more often than not, but if he doesn't get good blocking he's not going anywhere.

Notable Exceptions.....
Sayers
Sanders
Campbell

[soulchoice]

Originally Posted by lifer

I am by no means a football guy, but like a few others in this thread, the games that I can watch are CFL.

I'm sure this has been beaten to death somewhere else on this forum, but if the CFL guys are the glorified high schoolers that some here are comparing them to, why didn't Ricky Williams dominate those hacks last year?

Being your not a football guy, here is a minor tip. As a running back, you are only as good as your offensive line and play calling. Put Ricky on a team with a good O line and I assure you, his stats would have been alot better, even with his time away from the game.

Thats why I always appreciated Barry Sanders more than Emmit Smith. Barry never had a good Oline, whereas Emmit was a benefactor of a solid offensive unit.

CFL players are far from being an eyelash away from the NFL. Even the best CFL players would have trouble cracking an NFL lineup. The CFL is what it is, a way for us Canadians to watch football. I just cant get that excited for a league with 8 teams. Winning a grey cup is not a big deal or that much of an accomplishment in my opinion.

[soulchoice]

Originally Posted by KTown

I have this argument with everyone, people are going to like what they like.

But as soon as someone tells me they like the sport because there is more talented athletes, I know there on crack and I immediately leave the conversation because arguing with a guy on crack is like talking to a wall.

Yah the CFL may be a tad quicker, but in reality its not all that quicker, you have 3 downs so you have to open up the game more, because running majority of the time is a waste of a down. In the NFL you got 4 downs so you can take more time to get a first down, hence why running is a more important factor.

I consider the CFL the pass, punt and fumble league. because thats what happens everytime I watch, but I don't watch much, so who knows I miss the odd good play.

I only watch sports with the beset athletes in the world, if I want to would never watch the AHL, i would never watch D league basketball, I would never watch AAA baseball.

I find most people love the CFL because its a sport us canadians can call our own. But I can tell you this if the NFL brought a team to Toronto, you can say goodbye to Hamilton and Toronto in the CFL. I hope it does one day, I'd love for an NFL team in Canada.

I don't get the CFL, but if one wants to love it, than love it, just don't tell me the athletes are better because no athlete would take less money to play in the CFL than the NFL. I guess since I grew up out East we got more exposure to the NFL and going to NFL games because I've been to a CFL game here in Calgary and I've been to NFL games and the NFL games live are 10 times better than the CFL game.

CLAP CLAP, great post. I didnt read others post till after I typed a response to this thread, but i agree with everything you have said.

[JiriHrdina]

One reason the CFL sucks is the refs consistently blow calls. Exhibit A - Stamps/Args tonight. How is that not a catch?

[Dogbert]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

One reason the CFL sucks is the refs consistently blow calls. Exhibit A - Stamps/Args tonight. How is that not a catch?

The same way that Belli being two feet across the line of scrimmage when the ball was hiked isn't offsides.

[OzSome]

I would pick CFL over NFL anytime. In the CFL, a game is not over until the ref blow the whistle. I love the passing and some occassional running plays. I can a whole CFL game even if I am watching the team that I support without turning off the TV. Watching NFL, I can't even watch a full game even when I am watching my favorite team plays. With all those high-priced talents in the NFL, you figured you will see an exciting all the time. One thing I hate is having to watch running plays 3-5 consecutive plays. Yes the players in the NFL are much much better athletes than the CFL players, but come on you have to check how much money are these are making compare to the highest paid CFL players. You figured with all those moneys, NFL players SHOULD be motivated enough to play 100% effort on their play. You can't even talk to some of the NFL players on the street because of their ego. At least with CFL players, when I see a high-calibre players like Dave Dickerson, Milt Stegall, Damon Allen and others on the streets, I would be able to chat with them without worrying about a gun in my face.
Oh by the way, ever noticed how much more NFL players gets in trouble with the laws compare to CFL players?

[flamingpoo]

NFL games are so slow...the players are way better, but who cares when theres so much time between plays

CFL is a fun league...the games have been pretty boring as of late, but there working on it...CFL has been around 100+ years so they must be doing something right

[Daradon]

I agree I'd rather watch CFL over NFL.

Sure the players are better in the NFL, but it's gone the way of baseball andother popular U.S. sports with too much strategy, too much time beween plays, too many 'safe' plays.

I just wish the CFL could get it's act together with the actual LEAGUE. it's got a lot to offer.

[lifer]

Originally Posted by KTown

This means your not super knowledgable about the game of football, a running back is as only as good as his offensive line. Sure a good unning back can break a tackle or two more often than not, but if he doesn't get good blocking he's not going anywhere.

but of the 3 guys on the Argos last year with more than 50 carries, Williams wasn't the best. He averaged 4.8 yards per carry, and scored 2 touchdowns on 109 carries. Avery averaged 5.3 yards per carry, and also scored 2 touchdowns on 82 carries. Johnson carried the ball 54 times and averaged 4.2 yards and scored 2 touchdowns.

Of course the career CFL guys have an advantage in using the bigger field, being more knoweldgeable about the opponents and stuff like that, but I was still suprised that Williams didn't perform better compared to the other backs on his team. I am sure there are explanations for this occurance, and I don't really intend on arguing with you guys about it. I just thought this could be ONE good case study to compare the talent in the leagues.

There is no doubt that NFL players are better than CFL guys, I just think fans on each side of the fence tend to overstate or understate the difference. CFL fans will say it's really close, NFL fans will say it's not even remotely close.