Published Oct 02, 2025 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 5 minute read<\/p>\n
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I love the field position strategy, the rouge and the wider field and deeper end zones. I also love that the entire salary cap is around $6 million per team.\u201d<\/p>\n That email came before first-year CFL commissioner Stewart Johnston announced three changes that will make the game more American: Shortening the field to 100 yards, moving the goal posts to the back of the end zone and trimming the end zones to 15 yards.<\/p>\n Advertisement 3<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u201cI agree with Nathan Rourke and coach O\u2019Shea,\u201d Tom said in a subsequent message, referring to the B.C. Lions quarterback and coach of the Bombers, both of whom spoke out against the changes. \u201cThe reason I watch the CFL is for the field position, the strategy and the kicking game. I think it makes the CFL look like three-dimensional chess to the NFL game of checkers.\u201d<\/p>\n Tom went on to acknowledge seven of the CFL\u2019s nine teams are probably losing money and need more bums in the seats, but he\u2019s not sure this is the way to do it.<\/p>\n \u201cThe conspiracy theorist in me agrees that it might be a way to develop a farm club for the NFL, which would be the most awful thing to happen to the CFL.\u201d<\/p>\n Tom isn\u2019t the only one worried the CFL has ulterior motives in kowtowing to its bigger, brasher brother down south.<\/p>\n The Winnipeg Sun’s Daily Headline News<\/p>\n Thanks for signing up!<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Advertisement 4<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u201cMark my words, the new CFL rules are because of a more grand plan to expand to the U.S. or even to have a more seamless merger with another league,\u201d wrote Carlos Galante, a former quarterback on the Manitoba amateur scene. \u201cThe motive is to get more TV $$, but at the expense of tradition.\u201d<\/p>\n We apologize, but this video has failed to load.<\/p>\n Play Video<\/p>\n Tradition is what it\u2019s all about for Mary McDowell.<\/p>\n Mary grew up near Toronto, moved to Ottawa in the late 1960s and has been a loyal season-ticket holder there since the late 1980s.<\/p>\n She\u2019s been taking her youngest son to games since he was 10.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I learned of the proposed changes to the CFL, I was and remain very distraught,\u201d Mary wrote. \u201cWe do not want our unique league turned into a \u2018copy\u2019 of the league south of the border. To us, they are unnecessary changes, unrequested by true fans of the league.\u201d<\/p>\n Advertisement 5<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Mary wasn\u2019t shy about the patriotic part of this, too<\/p>\n Canada is being bullied, threatened and insulted \u2014 and we want to Americanize the game now? It\u2019s as baffling to her as it is to me.<\/p>\n Mary vowed to wear black to the remaining games and carry a sign that expressed her feelings.<\/p>\n Her email ended with this: \u201cIf these changes go through, with tremendous sadness, felt more deeply than these mere words convey, we will not renew our seats.\u201d<\/p>\n Mary\u2019s decision to wear black came from an online petition started by Matthew Campbell, a former Canadian and long-time CFL fan living in Houston.<\/p>\n Campbell\u2019s petition drew thousands of supporters within days of its launch, yet it hardly got any attention outside of this space.<\/p>\n CFL fan Tyler Hopson in Regina took note of that.<\/p>\n Advertisement 6<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u201cThanks for your story on the CFL petition,\u201d Tyler emailed. \u201cI\u2019ve hardly seen any coverage of it, which struck me as odd. Some of the media seem almost afraid to speak up or at least fully cover the varying views.<\/p>\n \u201cSure hope that the Commissioner is listening \u2014 too little, but maybe not too late.\u201d<\/p>\n Rick Horner hopes it\u2019s not.<\/p>\n A coach in amateur football, Horner echoed Mary\u2019s concerns, calling this an \u201cattack on a uniquely Canadian institution.\u201d He even wrote a letter to Minister of Heritage Steven Guilbeault.<\/p>\n What he wrote to me: \u201cAt a time when Canadians are incensed by the threats from the U.S. President and are reacting by rejecting those things American, it seems like a betrayal to all Canadian football fans and all Canadians.\u201d<\/p>\n Advertisement 7<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Like me, Horner is far from convinced the changes will even increase scoring, as the mucky-mucks predict.<\/p>\n A couple of angry fans from B.C. aren\u2019t, either, including Barry, a 14-year Lions season-ticket holder.<\/p>\n Read More<\/p>\n Because of my colour’: Bombers’ Castillo troubled by shift in U.S.<\/p>\n![\"Bombers](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/WS20240531CP02.WP-e1759453250144.jpg\")
Bombers fans don’t seem to be happy with the new CFL rules coming. Photo by Chris Procaylo \/Winnipeg SunArticle content<\/p>\n![\"Winnipeg](\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/19.6.0\/websites\/images\/identity\/logo-identity-wsun-new.svg\"){kind=logo}
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