Brady Oliveira may not like the new CFL playoff format coming next year, but some of his new teammates are looking forward to it.
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers running back voiced his displeasure via social media soon after commissioner Stewart Johnson unveiled a plan to put eight of nine teams into the playoffs, beginning in 2027.
The move “takes away from what makes those games special,” Oliveira posted in late April. “Playoff football is supposed to be earned.”
Defensive lineman Jake Ceresna says he had a similar initial reaction.
“At first, my opinion was, ‘What is this?’ You can’t wrap your head around it,” Ceresna said as the Bombers kicked off training camp on Sunday.
The seven-year CFL vet has since opened his mind to it.
“You know what I like? That Stewart’s trying new things,” he said. “For a long time the thing about the CFL was always, ‘It’s a dying league. It’s just the same old thing.’ But now he’s trying new stuff and just throwing stuff at the wall. That’s better than just the same old song and dance and just letting it decline.”
A native of Connecticut, Ceresna realizes the move probably won’t do anything for the perception of the Canadian game south of the border.
But he’s intrigued by the idea of the top two teams in each division squaring off for a bye to the Grey Cup semifinals, with the loser getting a second chance.
“It still matters. You want to get into that first and second seed in your division,” Ceresna said. “You could lose the first week of the playoffs and then go on to win the Grey Cup. Which would be crazy. It’d be a hell of a story. And we get an extra week of playoffs, so it’s not really short.
“It gives more opportunity for fans around the league to come to playoff games.”
Higher playoff revenue and interest is the goal, regular-season relevancy the risk.
Offensive lineman Jarell Broxton, in his sixth CFL season, says he didn’t pay much attention to the news when it broke but is also keeping an open mind.
“Something new can be better,” Broxton said. “Different’s not always bad.”
Oliveira was asked to revisit the issue on Sunday, and while he didn’t back down, he says he’s willing to give it a chance.
“Optically… eight of the nine teams are going to be in the playoffs, that was the only thing that was a concern for me,” the Winnipegger said. “I was like, ‘You might as well put all nine teams in then.’ At the end of the day, we have to have belief and faith that the commissioner and the board of governors are all making the best decision, whatever’s going to grow this league.
“Let’s really hope they’re making the best decisions possible.”
So you think you’re in shape?
Some came out flying only to run out of gas, others handled it with relative ease and nobody threw up – as far as we could tell.
The Bombers’ first day of training camp included what the players call “the 300’s”: a series of runs from the goal line to the 30-yard-line and back. In all, 10 return trips totalling 300 yards.
It’s pro football’s version of hockey’s man-maker from back in the day. At least it is in Winnipeg.
“This is probably my first conditioning test since I’ve been in the league,” first-year Bomber Ceresna said. “It says there’s a standard here. You’ve got to come in shape and run and be ready to roll. I like it.”
Ceresna has played in Ottawa, Toronto and Edmonton, but says the last time he can recall a conditioning run was in college.
CFL veteran and first-year Blue Bomber Jake Ceresna says the outside perception of the league’s new playoff format, with eight of nine teams making it starting next year, might be iffy, but he thinks it has potential.
James Carey Lauder
Receiver Tim White, also experiencing his first Winnipeg camp, said Sunday’s run was his first in six CFL seasons. The last time he did it was with Baltimore in the NFL.
“You get guys going full-speed for the first three, and then they’ve got three more,” White said. “And they’re like, ‘Oh, man.’ Then we got a full practice after that.”
The run quickly exposes any players who came to camp in less than tip-top shape, at least aerobically.
“You have to be in shape to play the game,” head coach Mike O’Shea said. “And we need to have a good barometer as to where we’re at and who needs the extra work. They need to know where they’re at, too. You don’t want guys fooling themselves.”
The run typically involves one position group at a time, pitting relatively similar sizes and weights against each other.
There are, of course, the outliers. The thick and burly Ceresna running in the same group as lithe and lanky Willie Jefferson, for instance.
“He dusted me,” Ceresna said, laughing “He’s in great shape. I was trying to keep up with him, but I’m 290. He’s just a phenomenal athlete.”
About that Canadian arm…
Teammates getting their first camp look at rookie Canadian quarterback Taylor Elgersma continue to be impressed.
Here was Oliveira’s assessment on Sunday.
“He’s got a massive arm on him,” the tailback said. “The touch that he puts on the ball, it’s something that you can’t really teach. You’re gifted with that. And he throws a really pretty ball. Really excited to see what guys like that can do in a pre-season game. Are you built for game day? And I think he is.”
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