You’ll never guess these CFL connections in Sunday’s Super Bowl
If you’re a CFL fan headed into Super Bowl Sunday without a team to cheer for (I sure am!), I’m here to help.
There are plenty of CFL connections on both the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles and hopefully that can help decide which team you’ll be siding with while you eat your wings and chili.
He won’t be playing in Sunday’s big game because of an injury, but if you see Patriots wideout Julian Edelman on the sidelines perhaps you should picture him in orange – BC Lions orange to be more specific.
Coming out of college in 2009, Edelman turned down a quarterback contract offer from the Lions. Yep, in some alternate universe, Manny Arceneaux and Bryan Burnham could have been catching passes from Julian Edelman.
The Pats receiver/return man decided against the deal and ended up a seventh-round pick (232nd overall) in the 2009 NFL Draft. He now holds the Patriots’ franchise record for longest punt return (94 yards) and the most punts returned for touchdowns (four). He’s also won two Super Bowls and has the potential to three-peat on Sunday.
DaVaris Daniels will be cheering on the Eagles, and his dad, on Sunday (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)
Calgary Stampeders fans, if you’re not sure which team to cheer for, maybe side with the Eagles.
Stampeders pending free agent DaVaris Daniels’ father, Phillip Daniels, is Philly’s defensive quality control and assistant defensive line coach.
DaVaris is, of course, going to be cheering on his dad from the stands in Minnesota and Stamps fans may have a reason now to join him.
Offensive lineman Isaac Seumalo is another member of the Eagles with a CFL connection.
His father, Joe, played seven games in the Canadian Football League as a defensive end in 1989 for Ottawa. He left the league for a few years and returned in 1994 where he played two more games for the Edmonton Eskimos.
Over those nine career games he tallied 11 defensive tackles, five quarterback sacks, one fumble recovery and one kickoff return (all of which were with Ottawa).
Former Roughrider Elie Bouka (a third-round pick in the 2016 CFL Draft) signed a reserve/futures contract with the Eagles earlier this January. He played four games in Saskatchewan in 2017 and collected three special teams tackles.
(Rider fans, you have to be cheering for the Eagles now, right??)
Still not sure who to side with? Maybe learning that Patriots special teams coach, Joe Judge, also has a CFL connection will help. His father, Joseph played with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
And if all else fails, you can just tune in for the halftime show because.. Justin Timberlake.
