THE CFL: YOU ACTUALLY KNOW SOME OF THESE GUYS!

by E. Spencer Kyte, Bugs and Cranks

Following up on my fellow Canadian Bureau member Neate's post from yesterday where he pretty accurately linked all the CFL teams to their NFL counterparts, today brings another lesson in your Canadian Football League education.

Sure the CFL is littered with guys you've never heard of and French Canadians with names neither of us could pronounce properly, but it's also got some names you might remember and a couple you should get to learning now too.

No CFL'er is more famous than the Toronto Argonauts kicker Mike Vanderjagt. That's right, the Drunk Idiot is back in TO and back in the CFL after washing out South of the Border. Vandy returned this spring to the team where it all started and has been the same Mike Vanderjagt that washed out of the NFL. He missed a couple makable kicks during Week 1...

Toronto seems to be the destination of choice for the bulk of the big name former NFL imports to the Canadian game, as the Argos brought in both David Boston and Bethel Johnson at Wide Receiver this season. So far, they have both performed much the same as the did in the NFL - Boston is hurt and out for pretty much the whole year and Bethel Johnson still can't catch the ball.

As Neate mentioned in his piece, their are some quality former NFL receivers playing here in the Great White North who are quality contributors.

Jason Tucker has been outstanding in Edmonton since coming on board and Ken-Yon Rambo is part of a solid receiving corps in Calgary that could include former Tennessee Titans First Round Pick Tyrone Calico somewhere down the line.

Quarterback is the glamour position in the CFL too and there are a few names you might recognize doing their thing up here.

Kerry Joseph, last season's Most Outstanding Player, was a Safety with the Seattle Seahawks for a time before coming to Canada to Quarterback the now defunct Ottawa Renegades.

Michael Bishop finished second in the Heisman voting during his final season at Kansas State. Now, after an 11-1 season as a starter last year, he's serving as Joseph's backup in Toronto, a situation that is sure to be troublesome all season long.

Jarious Jackson played at THE Ohio State before coming to the CFL where his blend of speed and skill better translates. Same goes for Brad Banks, who has gotten to study under one of the greats in CFL history Anthony Calvillo in Montreal.

Don't forget my fair friends to the South, the CFL has delivered some quality talent to you in the South over the years, Drunken Idiot Kickers aside. Here are four more names to keep on your radars as possible additions to the NFL in the coming years:

Buck Pierce, QB
The porn-named quarterback has all the skills to be successful wherever he plays. All he has lacked thus far is health and a full season to prove his talents. He split time three ways last year in BC and is the #1 guy for the Lions right now. One great season bought Casey Printers two years holding a clipboard in Kansas City, so imagine what it could get a guy who can actually hit his receivers.

Jesse Lumsden, RB
He's been to training camps in Seattle and Washington and ended up back in Hamilton both times. The NFL's loss has been the Tabbies gain as Lumsden is one of the most dynamic talents in the league. Anyone who averages 7.6 yards per carry deserves attention.

Andy Fantuz, WR
Neate's either going to love me or hate me for this one. Suggesting that his Riders lose one of their best receivers could get me dropped or he could agree that over his brief CFL career - which followed a brilliant career at the University of Western Ontario here in London - Fantuz has been one of the best receivers in the league. At 6' tall, he might be considered a little small for the NFL, but the guy has an unbelievable set of hands. I know this first hand having watched him murder my Waterloo Warriors for years...

Cameron Wake, DE/DT/LB
When you win Most Outstanding Defensive Player in the same year you win Most Outstanding Rookie, you're at least worthy of a look. Wake, a tweener from Penn State who excelled at rushing the passer last year (16.5 sacks) is the CFL's version of Terrell Suggs and is sure to get an opportunity in the NFL sometime soon.