‘Seeing how much the Winnipeg community gets around their football’

Bryce Perkins isn’t taking the easy route.

The 2025 United Football League MVP and Offensive Player of the Year could’ve stayed down south and started somewhere in the spring league, but instead, the 29-year-old quarterback is in Winnipeg starting from scratch.

“My dad (Bruce Perkins, a former fullback) played for Hamilton, so he was telling me about the CFL. They love their football up here and that’s kind of what you want to play for,” said Perkins after Day 1 of Blue Bombers rookie camp at Princess Auto Stadium.

“I just felt like where I’m at in my career, for a career-wise goal in whatever these next couple years hold, I want to be a part of a league, a team, an organization that really gets behind football. It’s a longstanding league that loves ball, the guys are great, and it’s a fun, new challenge for me as well.”

Bombers QB Elgersma not exactly your typical rookie

A little snowfall in May wasn’t going to spoil the opening day of Blue Bombers rookie camp for Taylor Elgersma.

“To be here for the first time looking around this place, it’s beautiful. What more can you ask for?” said the 24-year-old quarterback out of Wilfrid Laurier.

“You gotta love it, that’s what we play this game for. I think if you can play well in the cold, then you can take advantage of people and I think I do it well. It’s nice to get out here in the fresh air today and let it fly.”

He certainly did let it fly on Wednesday, showcasing why the Green Bay Packers went against the norm and brought the U Sports product to training camp a year ago.

More changes on the way for 2027 CFL season, including new playoff format

The CFL announced on Tuesday that they are making major changes to the playoff format that will see eight playoff games played across three rounds leading up to championship Sunday. Eight of the nine teams will also qualify for post-season action.

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.

Winnipeg’s Vaccaro first Bison to be drafted first overall

Over 250 people inside the Caboto Centre fell silent as Giordano Vaccaro’s phone started to ring.

Family, friends and members of the local football community sat on pins and needles, waiting to see who would be on the other end of a life-changing call to the Winnipeg offensive lineman.

As many had anticipated — and hoped — it was the team holding the first overall pick: the Ottawa Redblacks.

“You ready to be a Redblack?” asked Ottawa head coach and general manager Ryan Dinwiddie over FaceTime.

Rookie running back Smith on familiar ground at Toronto Argonauts rookie camp

GUELPH - Isaiah Smith has plenty to get acclimated to in his first pro football camp, but the Toronto Argonauts' training facility isn't one of them.

The six-foot-one, 230-pound running back was among 64 players at Toronto's rookie camp Wednesday. But Smith, of Burlington, Ont., had no trouble getting the lay of the land in and around Alumni Stadium after playing collegiately for the Guelph Gryphons (2022-25).

Knowing where the cafeteria is, and the quickest way to get there, are definite advantages.

"I know how to get there and get to the food first," Smith said with broad smile. "Familiarity is great. 

Star Bisons’ receiver Udoh headed to Alouettes camp

Dan Washnuk could see the potential in Nathan Udoh the first time he spotted him walking the hallways at Miles Macdonell Collegiate.

There was just one problem for the high school football coach: Udoh preferred futbol — and he was darn good at it.

The defensive midfielder for Bonivital Soccer Club even had a scholarship offer from the University of Alberta.

“I had been trying to get him to play football for at least a year. Most times when you have that high-level athlete you’re trying to recruit, and they tell you no because they’re playing at a provincial or national level in another sport, I’m usually pretty good about moving on and understanding,” said Washnuk.

Ottawa Redblacks take Purdue offensive lineman Vaccaro first overall in CFL draft

TORONTO - He came into the CFL draft as the projected first overall pick and Giordano Vaccaro lived up to that billing Tuesday night.

The Ottawa Redblacks used the No. 1 selection to take the six-foot-two, 307-pound Purdue offensive lineman. Vaccaro, of Winnipeg, appeared in all 12 games with the Boilermakers last season, seeing action on offence and special teams.

Vaccaro spent his first three collegiate campaigns at the University of Manitoba, cracking the Bisons' starting lineup as an 18-year-old freshman. Twice he was an all-Canadian (2023, '24) and in 2024 was U Sports football's top down lineman before transferring to Purdue.

"He has impressed us at every step of this process, from what he’s put on tape to getting to know him as a person and talking with his coaches at Purdue and the University of Manitoba," Ryan Dinwiddie, Ottawa's head coach/GM, said of Vaccaro. "We can’t wait to get him in the building and on the field next week and we’re excited to welcome Giordano and his family to the nation’s capital.”

Five names the Blue Bombers could call at No. 4

The CFL Canadian Draft is as unpredictable as spring weather in Winnipeg.

There’s no shortage of curveballs in your average year, but tonight’s festivities — which start at 6 p.m. with the Ottawa Redblacks making the first pick — might be even wackier than anything we’ve seen in recent memory since there’s an abundance of talent that has garnered interest from the NFL.

Do you swing for the fences and take an intriguing prospect who might never play in the three-down loop? Or do you play it safe and stick to names that you know are committed to playing in the CFL?

Those are the questions that all nine clubs will be asking themselves, including the Winnipeg Blue Bombers who are slated to pick fourth.

No disguising motive in CFL playoff change

The CFL’s reasoning for changing its playoff format starting in 2027 boils down to one thing: money.

Saskatchewan Roughriders receiver Picton announces his CFL retirement

REGINA - Mitch Picton is calling it a career.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders receiver announced his retirement Friday. The 30-year-old Regina native played nine seasons with the CFL club.

Picton will go out as a champion, having helped the Riders down Montreal 25-17 in the 2025 Grey Cup game at Winnipeg's Princess Auto Stadium.

Saskatchewan selected Picton in the fifth round, No. 37 overall, out of Regina in the 2017 CFL draft. He appeared in 94 career regular-season games, registering 96 catches for 1,081 yards and six touchdowns.

CFL, member clubs donate over $4.6 million to amateur football programs across Canada

TORONTO - The CFL and its nine member clubs donated over $4.6 million to amateur football programming last season.

The league said Tuesday its players, coaches, mascots and team personnel spent 9,131 hours in their respective community events. And in addition to the $4.6 million in donations, 3,020 hours were spent sharing the game with youth, women and girls, Indigenous communities and more.

A total of 728 school visits were conducted, collectively reaching 233,700 youth throughout the year.

"Football has the power to shape character, create belonging and open doors for young people," CFL commissioner Stewart Johnston said in a release. "The CFL and our clubs are proud to deepen our support for community programs and to strengthen the path from amateur football to high performance.

Backup quarterback P.J. Walker tells Stampeders he’s retiring from football

CALGARY - Quarterback P.J. Walker has informed the Calgary Stampeders he's retiring from football, the CFL club announced Thursday.

Walker signed with Calgary in October 2024 and spent his time with the club on the practice roster. The 31-year-old American served as the Stampeders backup quarterback last season behind starter Vernon Adams Jr., making one start in the 13 games he suited up for.

Walker also spent time with the NFL's Indianapolis Colts (2017-19), Carolina Panthers (2020-22), Chicago Bears (2023), Cleveland Browns (2023) and Seattle Seahawks (2024) as well as the XFL's Houston Roughnecks (2019) before coming to Canada.

The Stampeders also released Canadian linebacker Nicky Farinaccio. American defensive backs Brady Breeze and Lance Robinson both retired.

Veteran CFL receiver DaVaris Daniels announces retirement

TORONTO - DaVaris Daniels has called it a career. 

The veteran CFL receiver announced his retirement Tuesday night via social media. The 33-year-old native of Vernon Hills, Ill., played nine seasons with the Calgary Stampeders (2016-18), Edmonton Elks (2019) and Toronto Argonauts (2021-25), winning three Grey Cups.

"I have felt the highest this game has to offer and I have felt what it’s like to lose it all," Daniels wrote “But through every setback I found perseverance. I found gratitude.

"Nothing in life is ever promised. And through my faith I can see clearly now that God was preparing me for what was about to come. Things may not always happen when or the way you want them to — but he is always right and he is always right on time. I came out the other side grateful. Grateful to be on a team. Grateful to compete. Grateful for every single day I got to play this game."

B.C. Lions add American offensive lineman Joshua Coker to roster

VANCOUVER - The B.C. Lions added experience and flexibility to their roster on Monday with the signing of American offensive lineman Joshua Coker.

The six-foot-two, 336-pound Coker joined the Lions after playing 43 regular-season games for the Calgary Stampeders from 2021-25.

The Chicago native made 11 starts at right tackle in 2023 with the Stamps, who that season allowed only 24 sacks, which was third lowest in the CFL. He made his CFL playoff debut in the 2023 West Division semifinal against the Lions.

He then started 29 more games over the past two seasons, seeing action at both tackle positions.