Nice article reference i found on riderfans CFL vs NFL

[sectionu2]

McConnell weighs on in the CFL-NFL debate

By Murray McCormick Wed, Dec 22 2010 COMMENTS(0) Rider Rumblings


Reader Matt McConnell sent us his thoughts on the CFL vs. NFL. It’s too long for the paper, but fits in nicely with Rider Rumblings.

The CFL vs NFL debate has been going strong for many decades. The leanings of the media are clear as they have a definite inclination to associate hype with quality. Amid the many fallacies and assumptions, occasionally a voice of reason will cry out, "We are talking about two different games".
Yet, we human beings are raised in a world of ratings. We ourselves are rated beginning in pre-school. Graded on virtually everything. Out of this, we have developed a need to impose a hierarchy in all things. Sine this is the case, let’s look at this matter critically. Here we go.
NFL players are better. First, theoretically, let’s assume that this statement is accurate. US colleges graduate 10,000 football players every year. Canada has in the neighbourhood of 50 junior and college programs graduating players each year as well. If 8-10 new players are added to NFL rosters yearly, only 300 of that 10,000 will find employment in the NFL. If the CFL has access to the next 50 best players that means only 350 of those 10,000 players will play football professionally. Can the drop off between player number 300 and player number 350 really be so dramatic? No, of course not. Such a fine line would bring many other factors into play. Maybe we should think about those factors.
The CFL is a different type of game played by different types of players at positions with different responsibilities. The NFL is the most marketed sports product in the world. There is a lot of money involved creating a very risk averse climate. Decision makers want prototype players executing rigid game plans. The NFL game is very, very structured. They require players who can play a highly structured game. There is not a lot of improvisation. Frankly, there is no room for it. It’s like what we saw from the NHL a few years back. I’m sure we all remember.
Beginning in the early to mid nineties, the NHL game became dominated by big men dedicated to positional play. Neutral zone trap and left wing lock were words that invaded the vocabularies of hockey fans everywhere. The NHL of the recent past was about the denial of improvisational play.
In the NFL, there are huge bodies on a relatively small field. There is no separation between down lineman making athleticism secondary to size in line play. Running backs, linebackers and even quarterbacks need to be of a certain body type in order to succeed.
The entire NFL game is about controlling as many variables as possible. When the NHL instituted changes designed to deny the ability of players to obstruct, we saw a change the personnel choices around the league. No one debated or denied that the NHL rule enforcement changed the types of players who could be successful. Moreover, when a North American team prepares to play a tournament on an international sized ice surface, once again personnel choices are affected. The actions and choices in hockey are clear and accepted, no one denies them. If on one hand we accept that rule changes and the size of the playing surface affect personnel decisions, why on the other hand do so many feel the need to degrade the amazing athletes we have in the CFL?
Think about that. We have seen in other sports how rules and playing surface change the dynamic of the game. Here, we have a great game. The CFL field is more than 50% larger than the NFL field. There are also two more players on the field at all times. More bodies, more surface - there is a mathematical certainty that there are more variables in play every single snap of the ball in Canadian football. There is no argument against that. In fact, anti-CFL arguments tend to be cliché and are more recited than considered. I think we have all heard samples.
The single point on a missed field goal rewards failure. We have all heard this droned from the anti-CFL crowd. First, the single point is yet another facet of the CFL game that creates even more variables. Variables and uncertainty are a huge part of the magic of sports. What is going to happen? What can happen? What just happened?!?! A field goal is missed, does the opposition attempt to run the ball out or give up the single point? Are we going to see an amazing return? Will that point play a role in the outcome of the game? So many possibilities! In the NFL, a missed field goal is a dead play more than 99% of the time.
There is no mystery, no drama. There are few possibilities going on. Maybe it will be blocked but beyond that it will either be good or a dead play. So, apparently, according to CFL critics, a dead play is a better outcome? That is the way it should be? Well, I can handle more possibilities than that so long live the rouge!
CFL players are the best, most versatile and improvisational football players in the world. That is what CFL teams look for. For the most part, CFL and NFL teams are seeking a different style of athlete. NFL teams have a term, "measurables" - they seek players who fit the measurables. We have seen players who are successful in one league, fail in the other. We have also seen players do well in both. One thing, however, is certain. Players who have played in both leagues have the utmost respect for both. Unlike many talking heads, men who actually played in both say as one that the CFL does not take a back seat when it comes to talent. In fact, quite the contrary.
If a player does fit the measurables and lands on an NFL roster, the financial rewards are generally greater than the CFL can offer. There are many players on CFL rosters who dream of the NFL and have the talent, but perhaps not the measurables.
This is not a reflection of their quality as football players. The NFL is just not their genre just as I am sure that Diana Krall wishes that jazz had the same notoriety and financial success as the pop charts. Pop has a formula that works.
Jazz has a depth and soul that gimmick song and dance routines lack. Is Britney Spears a better artist than Diana Krall because she has sold millions more albums, made millions more dollars and is far more famous? Or, is there a better barometer available to us?
Every summer we are treated to a great game played by athletes of the highest caliber. The CFL is second to none. It’s a game the embraces chaos. If we can get over the need to impose a hierarchy based on superficialities, more and more people will see what we have right in front of us.

[LeStaf]

Voilà une réflexion bien articulée.

Je crois que tous les supporteurs de la LCF ont suivi cette voie, consciemment ou non.

La meilleure comparaison vient de l'exercice de regarder les deux genres. On voit que les stratégies gagnantes ne sont pas les mêmes, justement parce que le jeu n'est pas le même.

Tant que le jeu se situe dans les ligues mineures, collégiales et universitaires, le style de football joué importe peu (sauf peut-être pour les quarts-arrières, qui reçoivent beaucoup plus de support chez nos voisins du sud) : le talent s'y exprimera et se fera remarquer ou non. Une fois chez les professionnels, le talent en suffit plus. Les détails comptent plus, et ça vaut tant dans la NFL que dans la LCF. C'est là que les athlètes se répartissent, par la force des choses, entre les ligues professionelles. Les habiletés des uns les font cadrer dans les gabarits rigides de la NFL, où la chance a autant d'importance que le talent et le travail réunis dans ce qui fait qu'un joueur devient un partant ou pas. Les habiletés des autres font que certains peuvent mieux se faire valoir dans la version un peu peu libre du football de la LCF.

Je crois que le cas de Ricky Williams est assez éloquent. Voilà un gars qui a fait de très belles choses dans la NFL, mais qui a peiné dans la LCF. Nombre de joueurs ont montré que les deux ligues ne pratiquent pas exactement le même sport. Dans un passé plus près de nous, il y a Darrell Campbell et Marcus Smith. Des gars au gabarit moulé pour la NFL qui se pointent ici et sont surpris de manquer de vitesse pour jouer cette version du football. L'inverse est aussi vrai, et les exemples sont nombreux.

En terminant, les amateurs de football canadien ont cet avantage de pouvoir regarder ces deux styles de football sans condescendance, les apprécier à leur juste valeur, et sonder plus profondément dans les détails des deux styles de jeu pour saisir ce qui fait la qualité chez l'un et chez l'autre. Mais avouons-le, des jeux comme celui qui a mené au touché de Diedrick contre Toronto, on ne peut pas voir ça dans la NFL!

[sectionu2]

bien dit.

[ro1313]

So, apparently, according to CFL critics.........

I dont mean to take this offtopic but
From the rouge to the fact they play on Thursday. CFL critics will find anything to critize
Anything different from the NFL is a reason the CFL is no good.

A good article none the less