Why does the CFL suck so bad?

[Flames in 07]

Originally Posted by lifer

Isn't that an indictment of the American game more than anything else? I mean, shouldn't it be considerably more fun to watch great plays and big hits?

What I'm saying is that the fans make a real difference in the game.

In terms of action, in the last 10 years the NFL has become a much better product and the CFL has taken a few steps back.

Like I've said before, show me someone who thinks the NFL is boring and I'll show you someone who has never been to Mile High, Arrowhead, Arlington, the Meadowlands etc...

[Hakan]

So what you are saying is that the NFL is only exciting live?

Fair enough because it's damn near stone boring on TV.

When it comes down to exciting games to watch on TV the CFL has the NFL beat badly.

[Sainters7]

Originally Posted by Flames in 07

Even my wife was telling people shut up!!!! It was really amazing the fans lost it for their own team.

yea Regina is a little better but the crowds aren't really big enough to make much of a difference. Some of the most fun at a NFL game is when the away team is backed up then the QB gets it from three sides, and the oline jumps or they have to call timeout. Fans can't really be a factor in other sports like they can in NFL ball.

And I have to say Edmonton ok, not great though.

Exactly, it makes you feel like you're almost part of the team. Obviously hence the "12th Man" slogans they have in Seattle and Texas A&M. I've been living in Edmonton the past two years going to school, and yeah theyre not bad, but they're still pretty dumb when it comes to cheering at the wrong time. I went to the Labour Day rematch last year and I heard some pretty loud "Go Esks Go!!" chants when Ricky was trying to drive the Eskimos down the field.

Its amazing when you're in that NFL atmosphere how much a rabid fanbase can get you into the game, even if you're not a huge fan. I'm a huge Saints fan and that game I went to was in Tampa between the Saints and the Bucs. The Bucs crowd got the Saints to jump offside a couple times, and even though I was upset about the offsides, I couldnt help but to have the initial split second feeling of excitement that the crowd noise actually caused the team to get a penalty(plus we were 3-12 at the time so its not like there was alot hinging on the outcome of the game. In fact I was hoping for a close Saints loss so we could hold onto the 2nd overall pick. Ohh how times have changed for us Saints fans) .

[Sainters7]

Originally Posted by Hakan

So what you are saying is that the NFL is only exciting live?

Fair enough because it's damn near stone boring on TV.

When it comes down to exciting games to watch on TV the CFL has the NFL beat badly.

If you're not really a fan and don't understand football that much I could see that, it's all matchups and schemes and strategy, and on the smaller field with bigger players, you have to be so precise. In the CFL when theres a broken play QB's can usually still make something happen, whereas in the NFL its alot harder, there's just not enough room out there to improvise. Its almost like watching a big chess match, I think it's great.

[Flames in 07]

Originally Posted by Sainters7

If you're not really a fan and don't understand football that much I could see that, it's all matchups and schemes and strategy, and on the smaller field with bigger players, you have to be so precise. In the CFL when theres a broken play QB's can usually still make something happen, whereas in the NFL its alot harder, there's just not enough room out there to improvise. Its almost like watching a big chess match, I think it's great.

I always compare NFL vs CFL to NHL vs WHL.

I'd call myself a huge football fan, but a casual hockey fan, and to me the WHL is more interesting to watch because the puck moves around a little better and the game seems more wide open. However I'm sure folks who played for 10 years, coached for 10 years and have seen a million games on TV can tell me how sloppy a WHL game is.

That's me with the CFL, the game is so simplistic that it gets boring. When I used to go to games I'd have seats behind the away bench and from watching the D coordinator and his signals I could figure out the defensive playbook ... for that game anyway ... by the 2nd quarter.

Timing doesn't really matter, rookie americans need several weeks to learn the rules and lately there has been a real dry spell on top QB's, which is everything in the CFL.

[burn_baby_burn]

Originally Posted by Hakan

So what you are saying is that the NFL is only exciting live?

Fair enough because it's damn near stone boring on TV.

When it comes down to exciting games to watch on TV the CFL has the NFL beat badly.

Your right. Look at how the CFL beats the NFL badly in TV ratings and revenue.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by burn_baby_burn

Your right. Look at how the CFL beats the NFL badly in TV ratings and revenue.

Well, seeing as we are skewing statistics to prove points- the CFL is obviously better because more Canadians attend CFL games than they do NFL games.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by ken0042

Well, seeing as we are skewing statistics to prove points- the CFL is obviously better because more Canadians attend CFL games than they do NFL games.

Well, except in Ontario where they actually have NFL teams within the area.

[burn_baby_burn]

Originally Posted by ken0042

Well, seeing as we are skewing statistics to prove points- the CFL is obviously better because more Canadians attend CFL games than they do NFL games.

Obviously. But I wonder how many canadians have season tickets to NFL teams? I know four guys who have Seahawks season tickets. And they don't get them in a group and they all don't know each other. Thats in Alberta. How many people in BC are Seahawks season ticket holders? In Ontario, one would think there would be numerous season ticket holders for the Bills and even the Lions.

Also ken0042. I really wonder what the canadian tv ratings for the CFL are vs the canadian tv ratings for the NFL. I'm not assuming anything. Just really curious.

[ken0042]

The other skewed thing with the ratings; there are more NFL games on TV per week than CFL games. That was what I was really trying to get at. (And obviously I didn't communicate that well- sorry. ) On any given week you have the MNF game, Sunday night, then the two daytime games. Add Thursdays in November, plus the games available on other channels (Fox vs CBS vs Global)- that will beat the 4 CFL games in number of games. Then add the total revenue from the US vs Canada, you can see why I didn't think it was a fair comparison.

But yeah, after posting my comment I tried to find info on CFL ratings and couldn't.

And don't get me wrong, between watching a good NFL game on Sunday vs a CFL game that has EDM vs Sask, the NFL game will win hands down on my TV.

[burn_baby_burn]

Originally Posted by ken0042

The other skewed thing with the ratings; there are more NFL games on TV per week than CFL games. That was what I was really trying to get at. (And obviously I didn't communicate that well- sorry. ) On any given week you have the MNF game, Sunday night, then the two daytime games. Add Thursdays in November, plus the games available on other channels (Fox vs CBS vs Global)- that will beat the 4 CFL games in number of games. Then add the total revenue from the US vs Canada, you can see why I didn't think it was a fair comparison.

But yeah, after posting my comment I tried to find info on CFL ratings and couldn't.

And don't get me wrong, between watching a good NFL game on Sunday vs a CFL game that has EDM vs Sask, the NFL game will win hands down on my TV.

True. But you could go by a per game average. Personally, I don't know many people who watch the CFL. Not sure if that is a coincidence or an indication of the popularity of the NFL over the CFL here in Canada. Anyone I know that is a CFL fan is originally from Saskatchewan.

[ken0042]

The one number that sticks in my head for CFL's Friday Night Football is 300,000 to 700,000. Now a few factors with that:

- I could be on crack and that number is just some Tetris high score lodged in my memory.
- If not, that number is several years old, and likely for late fall games when they mean more, and fewer people are out at cottages, etc.

[Sainters7]

I think as time goes on the NFL may begin to eclipse the CFL more and more in Canada, as alot of the younger generation seems to be more geared to the American game. As these older CFL fans disappear, there doesn't seem to be enough younger fans to replace them with. I can't remember where I read this, but last year one CFL exec. mentioned he felt the league has lost an entire generation of fans to the NFL game. I believe it.

[moon]

Originally Posted by burn_baby_burn

Your right. Look at how the CFL beats the NFL badly in TV ratings and revenue.

Because that is the definitive way to decide which is best.

I love both the CFL and NFL, but the way the NFL supporters are acting in this thread has me against the NFL.

The arrogance, ignorance and pure stupdity that I have seen from these posters is beyond belief.

The fact that you believe that the NFL is better does not make it so.

Both leagues are great in my view. Both leagues have positives and negatives. It is possible to like one and not the other and it is possible to like both.

Liking certainly does not mean you know more or less about football. Enjoying one over the other does not mean that you know more or less about football.

This thread hasn't done anything to convince me that one is better or that one sucks, but it sure has shown me that on this board, anyways, the CFL fans have a lot more class than the NFL only guys.

[moon]

Originally Posted by Sainters7

I think as time goes on the NFL may begin to eclipse the CFL more and more in Canada, as alot of the younger generation seems to be more geared to the American game. As these older CFL fans disappear, there doesn't seem to be enough younger fans to replace them with. I can't remember where I read this, but last year one CFL exec. mentioned he felt the league has lost an entire generation of fans to the NFL game. I believe it.

Attendance around the league doesn't seem to agree with you. Montreal is astronger than ever. Toronto is doing better than it was in the past. BC is strong right now as well, although it probably helps that they have the best team in the league.

Calgary, Edmonton and Saskatchewan are all around the same levels they have been for awhile and Calagary is doing better than it was in the late 80's.

[burn_baby_burn]

Originally Posted by moon

Because that is the definitive way to decide which is best.

I love both the CFL and NFL, but the way the NFL supporters are acting in this thread has me against the NFL.

The arrogance, ignorance and pure stupdity that I have seen from these posters is beyond belief.

The fact that you believe that the NFL is better does not make it so.

Both leagues are great in my view. Both leagues have positives and negatives. It is possible to like one and not the other and it is possible to like both.

Liking certainly does not mean you know more or less about football. Enjoying one over the other does not mean that you know more or less about football.

This thread hasn't done anything to convince me that one is better or that one sucks, but it sure has shown me that on this board, anyways, the CFL fans have a lot more class than the NFL only guys.

Before you fly off the handle Moon. Read the post I quoted by Haken. I was responding to that. Like I stated in my original post, I like what I like. If people like something else I don't have a problem with it. But if someone is going to say that the CFL has the NFL beat badly. I might take offense to that.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by burn_baby_burn

But if someone is going to say that the CFL has the NFL beat badly. I might take offense to that.

True, but I think what Haken was getting at was this: There is more excitement for the sports fan (as opposed to the football fan) on a random CFL game than a random NFL game. Let me explain what I mean:

- There's more of the "any given Sunday" factor in the CFL. The Ti-cats play the Bombers and the Cats still have a chance. Even with 5 minutes left and down by 2 TDs they still have a chance. I've seen NFL broadcasters write off a game when a team is down by 17 points 1/2 way through the 2nd quarter.

- The pro-NFL crowd here has mentioned that the NFL is more like a chess game. I would agree. To me, the word I use for that is drama; not excitement. That would make the CFL more "Dukes of Hazzard" and the NFL more "Law & Order."

[burn_baby_burn]

Originally Posted by ken0042

True, but I think what Haken was getting at was this: There is more excitement for the sports fan (as opposed to the football fan) on a random CFL game than a random NFL game. Let me explain what I mean:

- There's more of the "any given Sunday" factor in the CFL. The Ti-cats play the Bombers and the Cats still have a chance. Even with 5 minutes left and down by 2 TDs they still have a chance. I've seen NFL broadcasters write off a game when a team is down by 17 points 1/2 way through the 2nd quarter.

- The pro-NFL crowd here has mentioned that the NFL is more like a chess game. I would agree. To me, the word I use for that is drama; not excitement. That would make the CFL more "Dukes of Hazzard" and the NFL more "Law & Order."

They still have a chance in the NFL as well. I was in the stands in Sun Devil Stadium when the lowly Cardinals came back from a 2 TD's down to knock the Vikings out of the playoffs on Fourth & 28 with 2 seconds left on the clock. That was after scoring a TD and recovering the onside kick.

That type of thing doesn't happen every day in the NFL. But if it did happen every day. How exciting would it be? The fact that it is rare and that it is hard to accomplish makes it even more amazing when it does happen.

[OILFAN #81]

Why does the CFL suck so bad? Because their balls are bigger.

I like NFL and CFL but NFL definately has more skill and imo is the better game. However, I still watch CFL and am a fan of it as well. The skill in CFL is what lacks imo. There are alot of good players but alot of poor ones too.

[HOOT]

The CFL will get more good players soon, once the NFL suspends them all they will have no choice