A CFL fan’s guide to beating the off-season blues

It’s this time of the year that I start really missing the summer. Not only because it’s cold, dark, dreary and the days are short, but because we’re without CFL football.

Since we still have four months until football is officially back (sad face) I have a few pointers for you on how to kick the off-season blues.

MAKE YOUR ULTIMATE FREE AGENT TEAM

Free agency is right around the corner and a lot of players could hit the open market. Have a look at the pending free agent list and make up your ultimate CFL free agent team.

Do you take 2018’s MOP Bo Levi Mitchell or 2017’s MOP Mike Reilly at quarterback? Who fits in at receiver? Speedy B? DaVaris Daniels? Weston Dressler? What about running back? Do you take Alex Green, who racked up eight touchdowns in eight games last season? Or what about the league’s second-leading rusher William Powell?

Your options on defence are endless as well. Willie Jefferson or Micah Johnson? Perhaps you go with both. Don Unamba had a stellar season at SAM linebacker last season but who would you take to line up in the middle and at WILL with him? Delvin Breaux, Taylor Loffler and Jonathan Rose are all viable options for your secondary.

If you need any help with who’s who, check out CFL.ca’s Top 30 Pending Free Agent list. When you’re finished, tweet @CFL and @kcostabile1 and let us know your ultimate team!

WATCH HIGHLIGHTS 

This is the easiest way to get your football fix. Head over to CFL.ca/videos/highlights and check out all of the best videos from 2018. Perhaps you want to re-live Bryan Burnham’s incredible toe-tapping touchdown/two-point convert that led the Lions to an overtime victory over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Or maybe you want to catch all of Johnny Manziel’s snaps under centre in Montreal. How about rewatching the best plays from the 106th Grey Cup presented by Shaw?

Perhaps you want to watch all of Luke Tasker’s 11 touchdowns and count how many times Brandon Banks blocks for him. That happened a lot, trust me.

Whatever you’re looking for, you’ll find it here.

OFF-SEASON WORKOUTS

It’s been great seeing everyone participating in #TheCFLGrind and #GreyCupFitUp together. CFL players are doing their off-season training so I thought we could do our own.

Maybe check out last off-season’s The Grind series for inspiration or make up your own routines to stay active.

GO SHOPPING

Stock up on your favourite team’s gear before the season starts. Head to shop.cfl.ca or try each team’s store. Need some suggestions? I got you.

How about this Toronto Argonauts bomber jacket? Or some cozy Rider sweat pants? Maybe you want to celebrate the Stampeders Grey Cup victory by grabbing some championship gear?

STAY CONNECTED

Be sure to stay tuned in on Twitter and Instagram @CFL and CFL.ca for everything you need to know this off-season including free agency, combines, the draft and much, much more!