Recently XFL co-owner Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson responded to a tweet about the CFL and mentioned something about a ‘smart season’. The full quote was.
“We’ll figure out a smart season that’ll create phenomenal opportunities for players and be the best experience for fans.”
TSN’s Jim Mullin tweeted about comparing a potential XFL/CFL schedule to ones used by soccer.
“If the soccer world can play for different national and continental competitions at the same time, why can’t two football leagues? Leave the rule discussion on the side for a second. Is this achievable? #CFL #XFL. For discussion purposes only, please no wagering.”
If the soccer world can play for different national and continental competitions at the same time, why can’t two football leagues? Leave the rule discussion on the side for a second. Is this achievable? #CFL #XFL. For discussion purposes only, please no wagering. pic.twitter.com/Tfa6HzTVF0
— Jim Mullin (@Jim_MullinTSN) March 27, 2021
Could something like this be what Johnson was referring too when he said ‘smart season’?
As Mullin said, taking out the rules discussion this could work. This type of schedule would solve a host of problems for both sides and create excitement for both leagues.
Assuming that July was playoff month for the XFL. This would be flex scheduling for the CFL and games won in the playoffs could count towards the CFL’s regular season. CFL teams not in the playoffs could use this time as bye weeks.
CFL teams performing well in the XFL/CFL playoffs would get their bye weeks in August. For CFL players, this could mean extra money not part of their regular salary.
The XFL and CFL could play a handfull of games against each other during the April through June months. With the XFL season stopping in August, just before the college football and NFL season.
The CFL, with a new interest in their league from US fans, could continue as they normally do, with the Grey Cup in November.
This would be a win-win for both sides, without having a full-blown merger. Package this deal to a TV partner and you have a full football schedule during the spring and summer months. This would occur right after March Madness in the US and that US TV money would flow into Canada.
Would this idea fit the criteria mentioned in The Rock’s tweet?
“that’ll create phenomenal opportunities for players” – players will get paid extra for playing in the playoffs on top of their salaries. Both CFL and XFL players would get exposure to US TV with primetime playoff games.
“be the best experience for fans.” – the fan buzz and betting around a CFL vs XFL playoffs would be huge. This would also keep the XFL a US property and CFL a Canadian property.
This, of course, is all just speculation. The question is, Do We Smell What The Rock’s Got Cookin?
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