100% Canadian CFL?

Question

Hi Ho kids,

There is a grassroots movement about regarding making the CFL open to Canadian players only: no more imports. Let's have some answers; would this be a good thing or should the import rule stay in effect?

Answer 1

I am not sure we are ready for no imports but I would definitely like to see less imports.  Let's give more Canadian athletes a place to play after they play out their college or junior eligibility.  Remember the imports we get are the players who don't make it in the NFL for 1 of 2 reasons: (1) not good enough or (2) discipline problems the NFL teams don't want to put up with.  Let's give good Canadians an opportunity to play and support their efforts.

Answer 2

I think it would be a terrible idea. I think the import rule is pretty good the way it is. I think if we try and limit the amount of imports it would result in a lower quality of play.

There is always a number of good Canadian players on each team and in fact it would be nice to be able to develop enough quality players that teams would have trouble even getting close to the import maximum.

However, with the pure number of players in the U.S. college system there are always going to be guys deserving of getting a shot over Canadian guys.

Answer 3

We already have CIS football with %99 Canadian players. Why re-invent the wheel?

Answer 4

If you want good quality football, then that would be a stupid idea.

Answer 5

Why?  I like the game the way it is!   If you want good quality football, we have it already!

I don't want the CFL reduced to all star Canadian college football.   Why downgrade???

I feel sorry for linemen.  I think there should be no Canadian content rule except in skill jobs.

I'd love for each tean to carry one Canadian QB, and a percentage of Canadians at Receiver, RB, DB, Special Teams, Kicking and Linebacker.  

But let the "human demolition derby" on the front line be open to the best available, even if they're all Americans.  

They've got 10 times the number of giant line-men any way!  

I see unhealthily overweight steroid freaks on the NCAA lines, and they can have the line jobs!

It is pathetic how they line up and spit on each other.  Lord don't let my boy grow up to be a lineman.  

Mercenaries can have those unfortunate positions as far as I'm concerned!

Since the NFL hires Canadians to improve their product, why should we stop hiring American players to upgrade the CFL???

Imagine if you had to be Canadian to golf in the Canadian Open?  

Who would watch Mike Weir and just one other quality golfer?

Answer 6

No because a lot of players are from America you would lose a lot of peoples favourite players and we don't want to discriminate

Answer 7

There once was no import rule.  It was only added after the WFL tried to put a team in Canada and an act of parliament made it manditory that any football team here would have to hire a minimum number of Canadians.  The team in question, the Toronto Norsemen balked and moved to Memphis to become the Memphis Southmen.  The league eventually failed.

As far as 100% Canadian?  This would mean we would never see another Damon Allen or Doug Flutie.  I don't think so.

Answer 8

What for?  Canadians play in the NFL.

The US has almost ten times as many people, so of course we will have lots of US players in the CFL.

Answer 9

No,no,no.That is a stupid idea.The CFL would really suck if it was only Canadians who were eligible to play.The CFL needs American players who are good atheletes to give the CFL a good flavor.Hello Dave Dickenson,Gizmo Williams,Rocket Ishmail.Pinball Clemmons.

Answer 10

Bad rule. The NFL would probably retaliate and make a no import rule also. I disagree with the person who posted that many players aren't good enough to be in the NFL. There are plenty of high caliber players who COULD play in the NFL, but play in the CFL because there isn't a spot for them. The NFL is a much more competitive environment. The CFL is great in its own right. I think if they did that, Americans who don't even CARE about or WATCH CFL football would lobby the NFL to do the same. It makes for bad blood. The import rule is working fine the way it is--the vast majority of players are Canadian, as they should be.