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The Super Bowl took place February 13 and wasn't it a grand spectacle? Even the game was exhilarating. As a Canadian, I'm fascinated by the exuberance Americans display for football in general and the Super Bowl in particular. It's taken very seriously south of the border, much like ice hockey is 'Number One' in Canada. But back to football. What's the difference between the Canadian Football League (CFL) and the National Football League (NFL)? Here's my list of almost-everything-you-wanted-to-know-but-were-afraid-to-ask.
Teams
CFL: There are 9 Canadian teams divided into Western and Eastern Divisions.
There are 32 US teams divided into two 'conferences' - the National Football Conference and the American Football Conference.
Longevity
CFL is entering its 109th season since forming. However, modern-day rules and regulations began in 1958 (64 years ago).
NFL held its 56th Super Bowl (LVI) but was officially founded in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association (APFA), though renamed National Football League (NFL) in 1922. After merging with rival American Football League (AFL) in 1966, the first Super Bowl was held in 1967.
Halftime shows
Grey Cup performers since 1991 include: Shania Twain, Keith Urban, Justin Bieber, Nickelback, Blue Rodeo, Gordon Lightfoot, Bryan Adams and Celine Dion. Prior to 1991, the halftime show typically featured marching bands.
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| CFL Grey Cup halftime show in 2017, with a Canadian entrance on a dog-sled - Shania Twain |
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| LVI Super Bowl halftime show featuring Eminem, Mary J. Blige, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, 50 Cent and Kendrick Lemar |
Super Bowl performers since 1993 include: Michael Jackson in 1993 who revolutionized the format and turned the halftime show into a 'must watch' feature, Prince, U2, Shania Twain, Justin Timberlake, Maroon 5, Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, Bruno Mars, Beyoncé, Jennifer Lopez and Lada Gaga.
Season Length
CFL plays 18 games prior to playoffs, from mid-June to early November.
NFL plays 17 games prior to playoffs, from September to January.
Field Size
CFL field is 150 yards (450 ft.) long. Each end zone is 20 yards and the neutral playing field is 110 yards. Field width is 65 yards (195 ft.)
NFL field is 120 yards long (360 ft.) End zones are 10 yards and neutral playing field is 100 yards. Field width is 53 yards (160 ft.)
Downs
CFL has three downs (attempts) to gain 10 yards in order to retain possession of the ball. Canadian teams favour long, 'passing' plays as a result, and teams tend to select 'running' athletes over bulk.
NFL has four downs to gain 10 yards.
Players on field
CFL allows 12 players, with one additional 'receiver' due to the larger field area.
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| CFL 12 player field format |
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| NFL 11 players field format |
NFL allows 11 players.
Salary
CFL - average annual salary is $80,000 (US) and highest paid quarterback receives approximately $600,000 US.
NFL - minimum contract is $660,000 and highest paid quarterback receives $45 million per season (Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes).
Out-of-bounds catch rule
CFL requires player to have one foot on the ground, within the playing field, after catching the ball.
NFL rules dictate two feet on the ground after the catch.
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| Pass complete as Pittsburg Steelers player manages to keep both feet in-bound (photo not from LVI Super Bowl) |
Grey Cup vs Lombardi Trophy
CFL awards the Grey Cup to the game-winning team. In 1909, the cup was donated by Earl Grey, then the Governor General of Canada.
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| Canadian Football League Championship trophy: The Grey Cup |
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| NFL Super Bowl Champion team receives the Lombardi Trophy |
NFL awards the Lombardi Trophy to the winning Super Bowl team. It was named after the late Vince Lombardi, a player with five NFL championships and two Super Bowl wins. Mr. Lombardi passed in 1970 after a battle with cancer and the NFL board voted to name the Super Bowl trophy in his memory.
Trivia: In case you were wondering, it's estimated that 1.42 billion, yes billion, chicken wings were consumed on Super Bowl Sunday in the U.S.
(All numbers and stats courtesy of Wikipedia, NFL and CFL official websites.)
Until next time, stay safe everyone.
The Twisted Climb - Darkness Descends (Book 2)
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The Twisted Climb, voted BEST Young Adult Book 2016, P&E Readers Poll
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