CFL rule changes about 'making a great game better': Riders CEO

Sweeping changes coming to Canadian Football League (CFL) over the next two years are part of an effort to make the game more "entertaining," according to Saskatchewan Roughriders CEO and president Craig Reynolds.

"The whole goal around today's announcement was to keep the game moving — transition from less fieldgoals, more touchdowns, more scoring, which, obviously leads to a better product for our fans," Reynolds said at a news conference Monday, a few hours after the changes were announced. "Just part of the evolution of the league and the commissioner's vision."

The league unveiled a two-part plan Monday that will be phased in over two years and not only alter the way the game is played, but also how it looks. Changes include shortening the field, moving the goal posts to the back of the end zone and restricting how single points are awarded.

"This is all about making our great game even more entertaining," CFL commissioner Stewart Johnston said in a statement. "We are trading field goals for touchdowns, while improving fan experience in stadiums and at home."

Reynolds said he's getting mixed reactions so far: support for trying to increase scoring, but concerns around trying to change the nature of the Canadian game.

"We'll pass that feedback on to the league and try to get back to our fans," he said.

He stressed that a lot of the things that make CFL unique will stay in place.

"Three downs, 12 players a side, the wide field, unlimited motion, those are uniquely Canadian and today wasn't about changing our game, it was around making a great game better," Reynolds said.

"The change of the goal posts — I think just opening up that field there, the end zone — the data the CFL provided sort of indicated there's going to