Oliveira: “This is a unique game and we’ve got to keep the uniqueness.”

It was teased as a ‘major announcement on game changes’ and the Canadian Football League delivered as promised with significant changes to the three-down game which will impact its look and feel as they are rolled out over the next two seasons.

And the reverberations from those were big, bold steps were still being felt across CFL locker rooms two days later — including here in Winnipeg with the Blue Bombers — as players did a deeper dive on the rule changes.

Granted, no one in Bomberland had a visceral reaction similar to that of B.C. Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke — he called the changes ‘garbage’ on Monday afternoon, not long after the announcement — but there was both acceptance of the moves and criticism in the process.

Brady Oliveira, the Winnipeg product and one of the faces of the CFL, said he is putting his trust in commissioner Stewart Johnston and the league’s board of governors adding, “I am a very passionate Canadian who grew up watching this amazing league. I just want this league to continue to grow and if that’s what they think is going to happen by making these decisions then I’m for it.”

Oliveira said he was hopeful the major announcement would have been a new television deal in international markets and in the U.S. to augment the coverage of the league on TSN. He was also surprised at some of the rule changes, specifically shrinking the field by 10 years by dumping the 55-yard line.

At the same time, he was encouraged the changes did not touch some of the key characteristics of the Canadian game.

“We still have all the other great things with 12 men on the field, the Waggle, all those great things,” he said. “The ratio makes this great game with so many Canadian products on the field that so many Canadians are proud to watch week in and week out. We still have that close to our heart but hopefully this isn’t one small change that will continue to get bigger as the years go on because this is a unique game and we’ve got to keep the uniqueness.”

Veteran defensive end Willie Jefferson also wasn’t in favour of shortening the field but was also not against the idea of changing and tinkering with some aspects of the game. What he did question was the league’s decision not to involve the players in some of the discussions.

“That was wild to me, just to not have a say-so in the changes to the league — especially when it’s a player-driven league, just for the commissioner to come in and make some rule changes and not see how the players felt about it and where we want to go with it… that’s his decision,” said Jefferson. “I have no say-so about it but talking to the guys in the locker room and talking to the guys around the league, it’s not a good look.

“… Shortening (the field), to make the end zones shorter and to move the goalposts to the back of the end zone, that’s changing the (Canadian players’) whole dynamic. Most definitely the Canadians should have had a say-so, especially the guys who have been in the league and then the young guys in the league, I feel like they could have had somewhat of a say-so as to how they wanted the game to develop in the future.”

Oliveira, for one, felt Rourke’s passion and how it came from his heart.

“I see a guy that is a Canadian, just like me, a face of this entire league, a quarterback who is in a pivotal position on a football team… guys like that and maybe Canadian coaches who are passionate about this league, owners, GMs that are Canadian — they want to take out some of these rules that make it unique, I think certain individuals, this should have been brought to their attention to see how others are feeling and just have a discussion.

“I feel for the people that are upset about this,” Oliveira added, “but I think it just shows how passionate and proud they are about this amazing league.”

One of the key talking points since the announcement is how one of the Canadian game’s most unique plays — one that was prominent on the weekend — will be all but eliminated with the decision to move the goalposts to the back of the end zone. In Saturday’s win in Ottawa, Trey Vaval set a CFL record with 199 yards on two missed field goal returns, including a 128-yarder for a TD that established a new Blue Bombers record.

Just for the record, there have been 33 missed field goals returned this year, three of them for touchdowns. A year ago there were 31 across the CFL, with just one returned for a score and in 2023 there were 42 misses returned, none of them for touchdowns.

“I’m pretty sad,” said Vaval of the news. “As a returner, this league is unique. (Returning a missed field goal) is something we never really got to do back in the United States. So that’s pretty cool.

“I’m just here to play football, so whatever happens, happens. We’ve still got punts and kick returns, so we can’t complain about that.”

OUCH REPORT: The Blue Bombers held a closed practice on Wednesday, but QB Zach Collaros is listed on the daily injury report as being a full participant.

The official depth chart for Saturday’s game against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats won’t be released until Friday morning. Asked for an update on Collaros after practice, head coach Mike O’Shea said: “He was out there running around. Same as yesterday.”

Injury Report: September 24, 2025 #ForTheW | @DoctorsManitoba pic.twitter.com/rV6wl4UrtZ

— Winnipeg Blue Bombers (@Wpg_BlueBombers) September 24, 2025

CALLED SHOT: Vaval, who is roommates with safety Cam Allen in Winnipeg and on the road, told the media he called it before Saturday’s win that his buddy would pick off two passes — which he did.

“Cam’s a baller, man,” said Vaval. “That’s my roommate so I was super proud of him doing that. It was actually super crazy because before the game I said, ‘Cam is going to have two picks today.’ I swear. Ask Jaiden Woodbey. We were on the bus on the way to the game and I said, ‘Cam is going to have two picks today.’ It happened. I’m super happy about him getting that. That was dope.”