{"id":167839,"date":"2025-09-25T06:40:08","date_gmt":"2025-09-25T06:40:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/167839\/"},"modified":"2025-09-25T06:40:08","modified_gmt":"2025-09-25T06:40:08","slug":"the-cody-fajardo-rule-former-riders-qb-wants-new-cfl-goalposts-named-after-his-infamous-2019-west-final-crossbar-doink","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/167839\/","title":{"rendered":"The Cody Fajardo rule: former Riders QB wants new CFL goalposts named after his infamous 2019 West Final crossbar doink"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Photo courtesy: Matt Smith CFL.ca<\/p>\n

Cody Fajardo was deeply triggered by Monday\u2019s announcement that the CFL would be making significant rule changes<\/a>, but not for the reasons you might think.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I think the thing I\u2019m most pissed off about is I got to watch that damn 2019 clip over and over and over again,\u201d the current Edmonton Elks quarterback laughed when asked about the announcement<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Fajardo was the unwitting poster boy for one of the biggest changes unveiled, which will see the goalposts moved from the goal line to the back of the end zone in 2027. The league\u2019s slick marketing video justified the new rule by showing off the final play of the 2019 West Final \u2014 arguably the most famous doink in CFL history.<\/p>\n

Then at the helm of the Saskatchewan Roughriders, Fajardo had the ball in position to score a game-tying touchdown as time expired. Instead, his final shot at the end zone was drilled off the crossbar, which caused the quarterback to fall to the ground in disbelief.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t see this often:
Cody Fajardo final play passed ball deflected on goalpost crossbar
Winnipeg 20 Saskatchewan 13
Blue Bombers beat Roughriders win West face Hamilton Tiger Cats in Grey Cup #CFL<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/3XS8ltzY8v<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 John Tharp (@JohnPTharp) November 18, 2019<\/a><\/p>\n

Fajardo wasn\u2019t the first or the last quarterback to fall victim to that obstruction \u2014 in fact, he hit the post again on a key drive in the 2021 Labour Day Classic. However, his memorable encounter with the upright has haunted the CFL\u2019s most passionate fan base for half a decade and sent the rival Winnipeg Blue Bombers to the first of what would be five straight Grey Cup games.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m going to try and petition to make that the \u2018Cody Fajardo rule\u2019 to get the goalpost put back in the end zone,\u201d Fajardo joked. \u201cIf I could get my name attached to that somehow, maybe that\u2019s the legacy I leave on the CFL.\u201d<\/p>\n

While plays like Fajardo\u2019s are part of the reasoning behind the CFL\u2019s movement of the goal posts, it wasn\u2019t the primary motivation. Leaning on recent data showing that comparatively few passes are thrown to the middle of the end zone compared to either side, the league believes they can add 10 percent more completions and 60 more touchdowns annually with the change.<\/p>\n

While he is in favour of the league\u2019s decision, Fajardo says the reality of scheming around the goalpost is different than most people expect.<\/p>\n

\u201cOffensively, we use it more than I think people realize,\u201d he said. \u201cObviously, if you look in terms of targets, we don\u2019t target over the middle as much because there is the iron cross there. But we use it in picks, in ways to run meshes down there. When we get a lot of man coverage and a defender\u2019s got to run around a big goalpost, it just opens up and creates space.\u201d<\/p>\n

He believes that the change will be far more impactful in the reverse scenario: when teams are pinned deep in their own end and are forced to operate with the posts behind them.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur backed-up call sheet is attack the boundary, attack the boundary, attack the boundary. You\u2019ll see sometimes on film, the field DBs just kind of take a play off,\u201d Fajardo explained. \u201cI know Coach Maas and I did a huge study on where we can take shots to the field. How far out can we be to take a three-step, to take a five-step? And with that being changed, I think it just opens up the whole field, and now you\u2019re able to attack the entire field.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know everyone\u2019s talking about the red zone changes, but I think backed up, which happens a lot in this league \u2014 we\u2019ve got good punters, we\u2019ve got people that can pin teams deep \u2014 I think that\u2019s what\u2019s where it\u2019s going to see the most benefit.\u201d<\/p>\n

The 33-year-old also believes the league will benefit from the other rule changes set to be rolled out over the next two years<\/a>. Most notably, he believes the move to place opposing benches on opposite sides in all stadiums next year will be a boon for quick substitutions and help eliminate a number of \u201cbush league\u201d penalties.<\/p>\n

He hopes the league works to ensure that the change from a 20-second play clock to a 35-second running clock doesn\u2019t adversely affect teams\u2019 ability to stage dramatic comebacks in the final three minutes. However, Fajardo sees any other potential changes to that rule as tinkering on the road to modernization.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think changing and evolutionizing the game, you have to do that to stay competitive,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m really excited about some of those rules.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Edmonton Elks (5-9) will host the Saskatchewan Roughriders (10-3) on Saturday, September 27 with kickoff slated for 7:00 p.m. EDT. The Roughriders were on a bye this past week, while the Elks suffered a heartbreaking walk-off loss to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.<\/p>\n

The weather forecast in Edmonton calls for a high of 18 degrees with a mix of sun and cloud. The game will be broadcast on TSN in Canada and CFL+ internationally. Radio listeners can tune-in on 620 CKRM in Regina and 880 CHED in Edmonton.<\/p>\n