Oliveira not a fan of new playoff format

Brady Oliveira is not a fan of the CFL’s expanded playoff format that will come into effect in 2027.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers star running back took to X on Wednesday to voice his displeasure.

“Eight out of nine teams in the Canadian Football League playoffs takes away from what makes those games special,” wrote Oliveira. “Playoff football is supposed to be earned. If anything, grow the league by adding more teams, not the number of automatic spots.”

Oliveira’s post was in response to one that was made by Milt Stegall, the Bombers legend/CFL on TSN media personality on Tuesday when the announcement was made.

“Ask CFL players how they feel about this new era of playoff football,” Stegall said. “Eight out of nine teams making it starting in 2027 instead of six? I guarantee 100 per cent of them love it. More games, more exposure, more chances to put extra coins in their pockets.”

Stegall shared a lengthy response to Oliveira on Wednesday.

“I respect your opinion, but ‘earned’ doesn’t disappear, it just shifts to seeding. You still have 18 games to prove who belongs where. And if expanding the league was that simple, it would’ve happened years ago. The reality is there aren’t many cities with ready stadiums and ownership groups willing to invest millions to bring in a new franchise.

“So this isn’t really about lowering the standard, it’s about working within the league’s current structure and keeping more teams and fanbases engaged deeper into the season.”

Starting in 2027, the playoff format will include eight teams and three rounds to decide which two sides make it to the Grey Cup.

Home teams have won 16 out of the last 20 CFL playoff games.

BOMBERS ON PAVIA

Heisman Trophy runner-up Diego Pavia went undrafted in last week’s NFL Draft.

That got a lot of people talking about the potential of the star quarterback from Vanderbilt — the first Heisman Trophy finalist to go undrafted since 2014 — shifting his attention to the three-down game and joining the team that holds his CFL rights: the Bombers.

The chatter didn’t last long.

The Baltimore Ravens swooped in and invited Pavia in for a workout before inking him to an undrafted free agent deal ahead of rookie mini-camp.

Bombers GM Kyle Walters was asked on Wednesday if he’s had conversations with Pavia’s camp.

“He’s dialed in on the NFL, and we understand that. It’s not the right time to educate players on the CFL when they’re so dialed in on the NFL, but he is an interesting prospect and yes, we’ve been in contact with the agent, but it’s just very early,” said Walters.

“And now that he’s signed with Baltimore, I don’t think it’s much of a conversation moving forward at this point.”

Pavia measured in at the NFL Scouting Combine at 5-foot-9 ⅞ inches which would make him the shortest QB in the NFL. He’s also a polarizing personality, posting an image on social media after losing out on the Heisman to Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the caption, “F—- ALL THE VOTERS, BUT … FAMILY FOR LIFE.”

The Bombers have had Pavia on their negotiation list since 2024.

“He’s an interesting young man that competes and is confident in himself, which at that position, is not a bad thing,” said Walters.

“We would love to have him up here, and I think he would be a very interesting prospect if he ever makes his way up here.”

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