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EDMONTON - The recent addition of Canadian football to the NFL Network's schedule has been well received south of the border, CFL commissioner Mark Cohon said Sunday.
Speaking to media before the game between the Eskimos and Alouettes, Cohon said reaction to the two games that have already aired on the U.S. sports channel has been positive, especially the season-opening overtime thriller between Montreal and Saskatchewan.
"I know they are very pleased with it," he said, adding that firm ratings numbers are not yet available. "They are going to do a lot more promotion leading up to the next few games.
"We did the deal on a Wednesday and our first game aired on Thursday. But they were very happy with the results. They are very happy with the relationship."
Cohon added that there are benefits to the CFL that extend far beyond any money netted from the NFL deal.
"Going around the league and talking to the GMs and the coaches, they think it is a great recruitment tool for us," he said. "It allows the families of the players who are here to see them down in the States. It also allows players who might not know that much about the CFL to watch it and get excited about it."
Americans exposed to the CFL brand will also find the game entertaining, Cohon added.
"Last year 43 per cent of our games were decided in the last three minutes," he said. "If it's close, that what we care about."
The commissioner also said he was impressed with the job done by Edmonton's Grey Cup committee, which sold out the 2010 title game before the pre-season had even begun.
"That was amazing," Cohon said. "This league has tremendous momentum happening right now. I think the Grey Cup selling out as fast as it did is a great indication of that. Selling out five and a half months beforehand, that's something that we are very proud of."
http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/cfl/news;_yl ... rk-3916737
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