Canadian players push back on new ratio, question why CFL is trying to eliminate nationals (2024)

FAQs

Do Canadians care about the CFL? ›

But in recent years, and 2021 in particular, some concerns have emerged. “The fact 21 per cent of Canadians say they follow the CFL — on par with the NFL — but almost 50 per cent have thoughts about the NFL possibly coming to Canada suggests considerable interest in the issue,” Bibby said.

New poll shows Atlantic Canadians prefer NFL, sparking debate about CFL franchise viability.

Maximum of 20 American players (4 of which must be identified as designated Americans) Minimum of 21 National players. Minimum of 2 Global players.

Those numbers are interesting enough in their own right. First off, it's notable that only 45 per cent of the players on CFL rosters are nationals. Second, only 33 per cent of total players are coming from Canadian schools, and only 31 per cent are coming from CIS schools.

Among Canadian Football League (CFL) fans, most teams are evened out on their fan base. According to a survey from January 2021, the Toronto Argonauts and the Montreal Alouettes were among the most popular, while the Ottawa Redblacks and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats were the least popular by a small margin.

A study by the Angus Reid Institute has found the National Football League (NFL) to be more popular than the Canadian Football League (CFL) in Canada. Small minorities of Canadians say they watch the NFL (20%) or CFL (16%) closely or very closely.

Toronto Argonauts

Despite being located in Canada's largest city, the Toronto Argonauts have by far the worst fan base in the CFL, often struggling to draw 20,000 people a game as the team competes with three professional sports franchises, along with minor league hockey and MLS soccer.

While the CFL's presence on U.S. television has consistently been limited to cable TV networks and streaming services, its U.S. TV audience was enough to account for about 20% of the league's total North American viewership during the 2018 season.

The Canadian Football League (CFL) has seen a steady increase in viewership since its inception in 1958, while youth participation in organized football leagues continues to rise. It is estimated that 1.2 billion people play football globally, and enthusiasm for the sport is growing.

During the 1980s and 1990s, CFL attendance declined sharply, reaching its nadir by the mid 1990s due in large part to the league's unsuccessful attempt to expand to the United States. Since start of the 21st century, CFL attendance has stabilized.

What is the CFL minimum salary? ›

The league does not make teams publicize their player salaries as the NFL does. However, it is estimated that players make between $60,000 and $100,000. The minimum salary an American or National player can make is $65,000. For Global players, that floor is set at $54,000.

CFL roster sizes are 46 players (rather than 53 as in the NFL, though only 45 will dress for a game). A CFL team may dress up to 44 players, composed of 21 "nationals" (essentially, Canadians), 20 "internationals" (almost exclusively Americans), and 3 quarterbacks.

Joe Kapp. Kapp made the jump from CFL to NFL thanks to 4x Grey Cup winning head coach (and arguably best NFL coach to never win a Super Bowl) Bud Grant. Grant was hired by the Minnesota Vikings and it was Grant who lured Kapp to the NFL. Kapp is the only quarterback to appear in a Rose Bowl, a Grey Cup and a Super Bowl ...

But, with the average CFL playing career lasting just 3.2 years, Mike Morreale, president of the Canadian Football League Players' Association (CFLPA) knows it's important to get players to consider their future.

The draft is exclusively for Canadian-born athletes or players able to obtain “non-import” or national status. American born players are not eligible for this draft and must be signed via free agency. This is because in the CFL the ratio of national to internationals plays such an integral role in roster building.

A new report suggests the Hamilton Tiger-Cats received the highest valuation in CFL history. A new report from one of the most well-respected Canadian Football League insiders suggests the Hamilton Tiger-Cats received the highest valuation in league history.

For the 1982 season, with the demise of the Alouettes, the CFL granted a new franchise in Montreal with the nickname 'Concordes. ' The 1982 Grey Cup game attracted the largest television audience in the history of Canadian television. Edmonton won their record fifth consecutive Grey Cup before 7,862,000 viewers.

Saskatchewan Roughriders vs Winnipeg Blue Bombers

The highest-rated CFL rivalry, and highest-rated non-hockey rivalry (spoiler), Riders vs Bombers might perhaps be the most iconic rivalry in Canadian football, especially in the west!

NFL.com reports that merchandise sales and fan engagement surveys show that the New England Patriots are the most popular team in Canada and QB Tom Brady is the favourite player. Following the Patriots in the top-five list of teams in Canada are the New York Giants, Dallas Cowboys, New Orleans Saints and Buffalo Bills.

It has been suggested that one of the reasons the NFL would not want to put a franchise in Canada and risk putting the CFL out of business is that the CFL offers antitrust protection as a competing league.

What is the most unpopular football team? ›

Ahead of Super Bowl, poll ranks Dallas Cowboys America's most loved, hated NFL team. Super Bowl Sunday is one of the biggest events of the year, and while the Dallas Cowboys aren't making an appearance in 2023, a new poll identifies the team as the most divisive NFL franchise.

Players have taken the slogan to mean that the CFL 's football is bigger than the NFL's. Although that was true for decades, the dimensions of both footballs are now essentially the same.

David Holmes, 51, a lifelong fan of Vancouver's CFL team, the BC Lions, happily points out that the first recorded game of Canadian football took place in 1861, eight years before the first documented American football match.

The CFL had even more hurdles to overcome. Although similar, American and Canadian football are different games with different rules. This made it difficult for players and coaches to adjust and for fans to follow along. The cities where CFL teams were based are not markets big enough to sustain a team.

The league does not make teams publicize their player salaries as the NFL does. However, it is estimated that players make between $60,000 and $100,000. The minimum salary an American or National player can make is $65,000. For Global players, that floor is set at $54,000.

All CFL salaries are paid in Canadian dollars, which fluctuates in value on the foreign currency exchange.

A majority (55%) say they are fans of the National Hockey League (NHL). The National Football League (NFL) is a distant second with 36%, ahead of the Canadian Football League (CFL) (32%), the National Basketball Association (31%), Major League Baseball (MLB) (also 31%) and Major League Soccer (22%).

The Seahawks specifically mention playing a game in Canada in their release. They say they have 3,300 Canadian season-ticket holders and have averaged 13,300 Canadian single-game ticket buyers over the last several years.

Concussion-related issues exist both in the CFL and for those playing in the National Football League. Grown men bang heads in both leagues, though anecdotally the CFL game appears home to fewer violent hits and a smaller percentage of former players suffering the effects of traumatic brain injuries.

There's no question these are tough times for the CFL. Since the 2019 season, a lot has happened and not a lot of it has been good. An entire season has been missed due to a global pandemic greatly hurting the finances of the league.

What is the average age of a CFL football player? ›

The average CFL player is … 27.2 years of age (exactly the same as at June 2014). Of the 102 first-year players, 34 came from the 2015 Canadian Draft (34 of the 63 players chosen).

Players who have been in the CFL for one year received $525 per week in 2018 for preseason play and training for a minimum of three weeks. Two-year veterans were paid $625 per week, while players who have been in the CFL for three or more years received $725 per week.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders have signed top CFL free agent receiver D'Haquille (Duke) Williams to an extension, making him the highest paid reciever in the league. The one year contract is reported to be $260,000, according to TSN insider Dave Naylor.

Western Division Champion – Winnipeg Blue Bombers

The highest-paid player for the Blue Bombers is two-time CFL champion quarterback Zach Collaros. Winnipeg paid Collaros $550,000 to be the leader of their offence in 2022.

A player is always entitled to his own pension contributions, so by playing a single game in the CFL, the player's pension deduction and all earnings is owed to him. In 2021, the annual player and team pension contribution was $4,100 each, for a total of $8,200 per season.

The CFL field is longer and wider. The CFL allows for teams to have 12 players on the field as opposed to 11 in the NFL. The CFL offers three downs per possession as opposed to the four downs allowed in the NFL. There are different rules regarding the play clock and timeouts.

It's like I'm the EPCOT Center of quarterbacks. It was really fun to be a part of it. I think the fact that I'm undefeated outside the U.S., I'm hoping I get to go play in the CFL at some point and really see what I can make of myself up there. Things have gone pretty well outside the country."

Warren Moon – player (QB), 2001 (Edmonton Eskimos 1978–83). As of 2010, the only player to be a member of both the Canadian Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame (NFL).

According to the new collective bargaining agreement, the 2023 salary cap will be set at $5,510,000. As per the agreement, the cap is fixed and will not vary with league revenue performance.

What will CFL salaries be in 2023? ›

The 2023 minimum base salary for CFL players is $70,000. That does not include some additional forms of compensation that many athletes receive, including singing bonuses, playtime or statistical incentives, housing payments, per diems, and playoff bonus money.

U.S. dual nationals are required by law to register with the Selective Service System within 30 days of their 18th birthday, regardless of whether they live inside or outside of the United States. NOTE: Registering with Selective Service is not signing up for the Armed Services.

Veterans, generally exempt from service in peacetime draft. Immigrants and dual nationals in some cases may be exempt from U.S. military service depending upon their place of residence and country of citizenship.

Present - The U.S. currently operates under an all-volunteer armed forces policy. All male citizens between the ages of 18 and 26 are required to register for the draft and are liable for training and service until the age of 35.

NFL.com reports that merchandise sales and fan engagement surveys show that the New England Patriots are the most popular team in Canada and QB Tom Brady is the favourite player. Following the Patriots in the top-five list of teams in Canada are the New York Giants, Dallas Cowboys, New Orleans Saints and Buffalo Bills.

Overall, 16 per cent of Canadians say they follow the CFL closely or very closely, while 20 per cent say this of the NFL.

Super Bowl favoured over Grey Cup in most of Canada: poll | CTV News.

However, as this map shows, the most popular football teams in many nations have no rhyme, or reason. Here's the map from TSN: Note that based on merchandise sales, Seattle and Minnesota are the most popular NFL teams in Canada. However, Buffalo also gets lots of love, and inexplicably, Detroit is also in the running.

The study found that, unsurprisingly, the National Hockey League (NHL), which includes seven Canadian teams, is the most popular professional sport in Canada, followed closely or very closely by 36% of Canadians.

Ice hockey is considered to be the most popular sport in Canada, as the sport has been named as the official national sport in Canada. The Canadian Ice hockey league, “National Hockey League (NHL)” is established both in Canada and the United States.

Can Americans watch CFL? ›

Every game of the 2022 CFL season will air on ESPN2, ESPNews, and ESPN+ in the US. You can also watch occasional full-game replays on ESPN3. While most CFL games stream exclusively on ESPN+, you'll need ESPN2 to watch the Grey Cup championship game in November.

The following is a list of most watched television broadcasts in Canada based on average viewership of the broadcasts. In recent years, the Super Bowl has frequently been the most watched television broadcast of the year in Canada.

Bobby Singh (born November 21, 1975) is a retired professional American and Canadian football guard. He was drafted by the Calgary Stampeders in the first round of the 1999 CFL Draft. Singh has the distinction of being the only player in football history to have won an XFL Championship, a Super Bowl, and a Grey Cup.

According to Shaw Direct, the reason why Canadians won't be able to see American Super Bowl commercials on live TV is due to a Supreme Court of Canada ruling “which aims to protect the rights of Canadian broadcasters and keep advertising dollars in the Canadian market.”

The CFL field is longer and wider

An NFL field is 100 x 53 1/3 yards, with the midfield line slated at the 50-yard line. However, a CFL field is 110 x 65 yards with the midfield line at 55 yards. In addition, the end zones differ as well.