All the rowdy friends receive an invitation north
By JONATHAN HUNTINGTON
The Edmonton Eskimos are now stuck playing an NFL-controlled waiting game.
The Green and Gold have formally applied to host a NFL Monday Night regular-season game at Commonwealth Stadium.
"We completed a proposal as requested by NFL Canada," said Eskimo president Rick LeLacheur.
"I know they sent out four of them. I am not sure how many they got back.
"They were filed by the end of April.
"I just touched base with them and they have not finished figuring out what they are going to do."
It's believed there are three other competing cities for the game: Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal.
It's unclear when the game would come to Canada, but there is some thought around the Eskimo office that it could be as soon as the 2008-09 season.
If the Eskimos are given the right to host the game, they will not be able to choose the specific teams.
"The NFL will decide," said Eskimo director of marketing Dave Jamieson.
"But we have a lot of Denver Bronco and Seattle Seahawk fans (in the city)."
At this stage of the application process, it is also uncertain how much money a CFL team could earn from hosting a primetime NFL tilt.
However, the Esks believe the work that has been done to apply for the game is worth it.
"The NFL's brand is the world's best, so we thought we would like to be part of that and thought people would enjoy that," said Jamieson.