CFL (Canadian Football League)

[Golden Fox]

Any fans of the CFL on here??? (I think I've seen posts by @Jattdogg & @spacemunky on the NFL thread, but think it needs its own topic). 

 

Due to the the Canadian winters, the season starts at this time of year, and finishes in the autumn, so gives a bit of out of season football fix. It was week 1 last weekend, and after doing some digging, found that you can watch every game in the UK on CFL+ (https://www.cfl.ca/plus/) & it is available for 48 hours afterwards, and its absolutely free to watch!

 

I'd never seen any before, but watched a couple of games over the weekend - it is a different sport from the NFL and does have a very different feel - longer and wider pitch, 3 downs rather than 4, more men in motion pre-snap, teams able to recover their own ball on kicks, so as a result, there is more throwing, more space, and it is more athletic and less structured than the NFL (a bit closer to its rugby origins). So a bit weird at first, but the more I watched, the more I got it.

 

There are only 9 teams, so only 4 games a week - which makes a long season as they play 18 games with 3 byes, but will make it a lot easier to dip in and out of than the NFL where each week and the whole season can feel like an onslaught!

 

Having been to Toronto & Calgary & been to MLB/NHL games while there, I seem mainly find myself rooting for the Argonauts with a soft spot for the Stampeders in the West, but as the season goes on, I'm sure I'll get more invested and harden those allegiances. 

[spacemunky]

I've always lived in or just outside of Hamilton, so it's the TiCats for me.

 

I used to go to the games, but I haven't been for a couple of years.

 

I still watch the occasional game, although I missed the opener this weekend.

[Jattdogg]

I lived in Hamilton for 28 years and have always been a Ticats fan. Live about 40 minutes away now but always will back the cats. I have morphed to being a plastic though as my life as a parent doesn't give me the time to watch all these different sports games. I love city way more so of any sports, real football always wins for me! I do try to watch the classic Argos vs ticats matches though and of course playoffs. I'd love to go watch them again in person.

 

Fun fact, back in my highschool days we got to play football on that stadium turf. Not well suited for real football though!

 

I actually enjoy the CFL more than the NFL as it's a faster game. Sure, the level of the players isn't on par with the NFL but to each their own.

 

I absolute detest the Argos and Stamps btw! You are a massive wankstain!  Lol

 

 

Edited 9 June 2025 by Jattdogg

[Trav Le Bleu]

3 hours ago, spacemunky said:

I've always lived in or just outside of Hamilton, so it's the TiCats for me.

 

I used to go to the games, but I haven't been for a couple of years.

 

I still watch the occasional game, although I missed the opener this weekend.

The Tit Cats?

[spacemunky]

52 minutes ago, Trav Le Bleu said:

The Tit Cats?

At times they are 

 

Anyway...they are the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, which gets shortened to "Ti-Cats".

 

And on another note, there used to be two teams with the same nickname. Both Ottawa and Saskatchewan were the "Roughriders". The only difference was that one had it as one word and the other as two.

 

Saskatchewan are still the Roughriders, but Ottawa, who were gone from the league for awhile, but came back as the Redblacks.

[spacemunky]

3 hours ago, Jattdogg said:

Fun fact, back in my highschool days we got to play football on that stadium turf. Not well suited for real football though!

 

Back when it was Ivor Wynne! And before they rotated the stadium. Still strange to me when I'm there now with it facing in a different direction.

[Trav Le Bleu]

Please tell me there's the Banff Beaverbuggerers and the Manitoba Moosemounters.

[Craig]

Someone pick me a team and I'm in. I'm ready to commit my summer to this nonsense. 

[Jattdogg]

Interesting thing is that CFL players don't get paid well compared to NFL players. Some make more on NFL practise rosters than in the CFL.  I make more than the average CFL salary working in IT outside of the stars who get a decent cut. A star QB might make $300k to $500k CAD.

 

During my university days, if you went clubbing in downtown Hamilton you could sometimes meet ticat players as some doubled as bouncers for dance clubs to earn more cash (while in town). 

 

On a side note, I had a highschool friend that went on to play for Calgary Stampeders! Shit team!

Edited 9 June 2025 by Jattdogg

[OntarioFox]

3 hours ago, spacemunky said:

At times they are 

 

Anyway...they are the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, which gets shortened to "Ti-Cats".

 

And on another note, there used to be two teams with the same nickname. Both Ottawa and Saskatchewan were the "Roughriders". The only difference was that one had it as one word and the other as two.

 

Saskatchewan are still the Roughriders, but Ottawa, who were gone from the league for awhile, but came back as the Redblacks.

I remember that being a joke in South Park, didn't realise it was based in reality. Then again, knowing how mad Canada actually is for Kraft Dinner, i should have known better.

 

On that note, did Saddam Hussein ever really try to take over with the help of Scott the Dick?

[spacemunky]

1 hour ago, Craig said:

Someone pick me a team and I'm in. I'm ready to commit my summer to this nonsense. 

It's gotta be the British Columbia Lions, aka the BC Lions.

 

Or...the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

 

Edited 9 June 2025 by spacemunky

[Trav Le Bleu]

55 minutes ago, Jattdogg said:

Interesting thing is that CFL players don't get paid well compared to NFL players. Some make more on NFL practise rosters than in the CFL.  I make more than the average CFL salary working in IT outside of the stars who get a decent cut. A star QB might make $300k to $500k CAD.

 

During my university days, if you went clubbing in downtown Hamilton you could sometimes meet ticat players as some doubled as bouncers for dance clubs to earn more cash (while in town). 

 

On a side note, I had a highschool friend that went on to play for Calgary Stampeders! Shit team!

£5.85p?! 

[RobHawk]

I'll go for the Winnipeg blue bombers, just because that's where Neil young is from

[Golden Fox]

9 hours ago, Jattdogg said:

I absolute detest the Argos and Stamps btw! You are a massive wankstain!

That's it... if I'm already getting abuse, I've got to own it now! My best man actually lives in Ottawa now, and has been talking up the Redblacks, so I'm sure I'll get abuse from him as well, but the Redbacks is such a lame name. It feels weird supporting the Big City team, but not as weird as supporting a team from a place I've never been to and would have no idea where it was without looking on a map. Besides, years after my Houston Oilers broke my heart, it feels good to support a team on the gridiron in light blue again!

 

Maybe I'll go the whole hog and get an Argos shirt. They look good with the oar effect and "Argos" stamped across the front, so I can wear it out and about looking like I've been working in a catalogue shop...

 

 

[Jattdogg]

Let's see how long you all last before giving up hope. Lol

[spacemunky]

2 hours ago, Jattdogg said:

Let's see how long you all last before giving up hope. Lol

This will be the most active this topic will ever be 

[Craig]

20 hours ago, spacemunky said:

It's gotta be the British Columbia Lions, aka the BC Lions.

 

Or...the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

 

Winnipeg Blue Bombers sound like the ones for me.

 

Blue and gold. A KPFC dream.

[MPH]

I’ll only start watching if the Toronto Argonauts sign a player called Jason

[Golden Fox]

16 hours ago, MPH said:

I’ll only start watching if the Toronto Argonauts sign a player called Jason

Have just checked their roster, and they are overloaded with Js... They have 2 Johns, 2 Jarrets, a Jake, a Jonathan, a Jeremiah, a Jordan, a Jyran and of course, there is a Janarlon. They even have a Dejon. But no Jason.

Roster

As far as ex-players, it didn't take much digging to find a Jason Shivers played for them from 2007-2009, so does that mean you'll be tuning in to watch the Argos play the Stamps on Saturday night??? 

[MPH]

24 minutes ago, Golden Fox said:

Have just checked their roster, and they are overloaded with Js... They have 2 Johns, 2 Jarrets, a Jake, a Jonathan, a Jeremiah, a Jordan, a Jyran and of course, there is a Janarlon. They even have a Dejon. But no Jason.

Roster

As far as ex-players, it didn't take much digging to find a Jason Shivers played for them from 2007-2009, so does that mean you'll be tuning in to watch the Argos play the Stamps on Saturday night??? 

I bet he’s mustard.

 

 

Unfortunately it has to be a current player  called Jason, so I can then say I will be watching Jason and the Argonauts.

[Golden Fox]

On 09/06/2025 at 19:36, RobHawk said:

I'll go for the Winnipeg blue bombers, just because that's where Neil young is from

 

On 10/06/2025 at 15:50, Craig said:

Winnipeg Blue Bombers sound like the ones for me.

My evening's entertainment is watching last night's game: the Blue Bomber's opening game v's BC.

 

At half time now & has been some big plays, including my new favourite play: a single! The blue and gold is bringing back good memories of watching the London Monarchs & its easy to dislike BC after the years of NHL battles when the Canucks were in the same NHL division as my Sharks, so go Bombers!

 

Its available for 48 hours after the game, but is just the warm up for tomorrow's Argos game, which starts at 9pm UK time, so will be on live. I think I must have been starved of good live sport recently as really looking forward to it!!!

[EastAnglianFox]

I’m in for this actually 

 

Any team in or around the Edmonton area or Alberta in general?

 

Pretty much sacked off most English sport in general so I’m committed, buying the jersey and everything 

Edited 14 June 2025 by EastAnglianFox

[Golden Fox]

2 hours ago, EastAnglianFox said:

Any team in or around the Edmonton area or Alberta in general?

Not just one team, but 2. Calgary Stampeders and Edmonton Elks (formerly Eskimos until they recently changed the name as part of the move away from naming teams after other cultures)... but make sure you do pick a side, as there is a big rivalry between the 2 cities known as The Battle of Alberta.

 

Edmonton has a bye this week, but Calgary are playing tonight at 9pm - free on https://www.cfl.ca/plus/

[EastAnglianFox]

47 minutes ago, Golden Fox said:

Not just one team, but 2. Calgary Stampeders and Edmonton Elks (formerly Eskimos until they recently changed the name as part of the move away from naming teams after other cultures)... but make sure you do pick a side, as there is a big rivalry between the 2 cities known as The Battle of Alberta.

 

Edmonton has a bye this week, but Calgary are playing tonight at 9pm - free on https://www.cfl.ca/plus/

Brillant thanks mate.

 

Edmonton Elks it is, really like the Green and Yellow on the jersey and stadium.

 

Tre Ford will become my new favourite player that I’ve never heard of 

[spacemunky]

Not a great start to the season for your Argos @Golden Fox.