The CFL hasn’t been pummelling the NFL in entertainment value this season.
And that has even the most vociferous three-down loyalists scratching their heads looking for answers and even pondering the thought of — gulp — changing some of the rules.
In weaker moments, some of us have even wondered quietly if changing the rules to look more like the American game so many across North America watch every Sunday could be the answer.
Not so fast, according to Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Cody Fajardo who sees no solution offered by conforming to the NFL.
“I don’t think so and I’m a CFL fan at heart,” Fajardo said.
And this is coming from a guy whose passes have been broken up by the crossbar at the front of the end zone not once but twice.
“I watch NFL Sunday every [week] and they might have some of the best superstars and most talented guys in the world making big-time plays, but at the end of it, the CFL is really hard,” Fajardo said.
“We have a lot of very talented players as well and I tell people that all the time. People don’t respect the talent that there is in the CFL.”
Leave it to the man from California who lives in Reno, Nevada to slap some sense into us all, reminding Canucks that we still have a far superior game compared to anything those unfortunate souls down south are stuck with. And Fajardo swears he isn’t the only American jealous of what we have, either.
“Most of the American friends or family members that I have that watch the CFL game, they find it incredibly fun to watch, even if it is a low scoring game because it always seems to come down to the last three minutes,” Fajardo said.
“It is fast-paced with the 20-second play-clock, no fair catches, there’s not a lot of TV commercials as much as in the NFL, so a lot of that plays into it being a lot more fun.”
Fajardo and his American friends are bringing up memories of those I AM CANADIAN beer commercials from the 1990’s that Molson successfully used to re-energize our patriotism of Canada and hockey still being our game despite losing international competitions and NHL franchises relocating to the south.
As for the low scoring games plaguing the CFL this season, Fajardo has an explanation for that, too.
“Everybody wants there to be a bunch of points scored but I think our game is in a great spot,” Fajardo said.
“We are just coming off a year with no football and guys are just trying to get back into the rhythm of things and trying to figure out reading defences.”
It is understood that most defensive playbooks have approximately 25 plays to learn whereas offences routinely have more than 100. The no pre-season thing has put offences at a distinct disadvantage and we’re seeing it every weekend on TSN.
And that’s where Fajardo’s blood really gets going.
“I’ll say this until the day I die: ‘As a quarterback in the CFL, it is extremely hard to perform at a high level and be consistent because of the three downs. You can’t be inaccurate, you can’t miss a throw, you can’t take a sack or else your drive is going to end.”
“I put on the NFL Sunday red zone, I’m watching quarterbacks throw the ball away on first down or second down or running the ball twice and still converting, going down the field and scoring so when you do have four downs, you should be able to score more points.”
So it’s harder to score in the CFL with the wider field? Go on.
“I don’t care if the field is bigger. There is an extra player and I think that’s why you don’t see many big-time runs where guys get the ball and they just go off for 70, 80 yards like you do in the NFL because there is that extra guy who can clog a gap or who can run a guy down and it’s just another block that you have to get,” Fajardo said.
“It feels good to get that off my chest because it’s hard as a quarterback to be in the CFL and be consistent.”
And to top off his love for Canadian football, unlike Calgary Stampeders QB Bo Levi Mitchell, Fajardo confesses he doesn’t hate the single point for the missed field goal.
“I think the rouge is really cool. You watch film on it and you see it and you understand that’s what makes the CFL game so special. If you are tied or you are up by one, you’re nervous because even if they miss the field goal, you still have a chance to go to overtime or win a game,” Fajardo explained.
“It makes this game very special and special to me. And like I’ve told you guys before, I wouldn’t be playing football if it wasn’t for the CFL and I’m extremely grateful for it. I don’t think very much needs to be changed because I love this game. It is hard and it’s a lot of fun to be with our brothers in that locker room, winning football games.”
Your Canadian passport is in the mail, Cody Fajardo.
