major announcement - big changes to cfl playoff and season start

[Tecno]

So how is the venue chosen with all of these new rules?  Higher seed always gets the home game?

Could this not result in the East losing a playoff game venue?  Even with the crossover, the old system always balanced the venues between E and W.

Might this result in teams trying to finagle their final 2-4 games to maybe get lower in the overall standings?  Let's say you're a weak but "best of the rest" #2 in the W... might you throw your last couple of games to become "5th seed"?  You get a home playoff game (Prez will like that) PLUS to don't have to play the #1 in your div who whooped your butt all season -- until maybe the GC!

[Tecno]

- While it's a little comical that 8/9 teams make the playoffs, it was already viewed as that way anyway so nbd.

"They laughed at us already because 6/9 made the playoffs."

"So they won't laugh at us much more because 8/9 make the the playoffs!"

Winning!

[BlueInCgy]

Sweet Jeezus, I'm going to agree with Tecno.  Another reason to dislike Stewjo.....

This is such a stupid GTA centric idea.  Of the options available, this was the worst choice.  5-13 record will get into the playoffs.  Embarrassing. One division, top 6 teams make it, 1 and 2 get buys.  Way better.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

How are we "keeping the divisional structure".  Now it's only team 1 & 2 in each division that get in and 3rd place teams (who used to stay in-division -- mostly) go to any random division?  That's how I read it.

Totally agree.  That's the worst aspect.  They are steamrolling everyone all the time, and it's questionable the way they time & group "CFL happenings" to split our attention spans.

If they maintain the divisional rivalries it's not quite fair, for example the Bombers could play the Riders 3 times and the Ti-Cats could face the RedBlacks 4 times and come out ahead in the end ranking.

[jets4life]

I don't see how letting another bottom feeding team into the playoffs makes the games more exciting, meaningful or competitive. Teams are going to be doing more injury prevention management than anything down the stretch once they can't get #1 or #2 spots in the division, then rest player until the playoffs. Good luck trying to get fans to the last games of the season when games are meaningless.

I really don't like anything i've heard since Stu came in as Commissioner.

Just wait until we hear the next "improvement" Johnston makes to the game.

The Grey Cup may be renamed the "Stewart Johnston Trophy for Athletic Excellence."

[jets4life]

if the raptors or leafs make noise in their playoffs - good luck selling tickets in toronto. 

I have a feeling that it would not make any difference, whether the Leafs or Raptors make a post season run. Toronto has over 7 million people in their metro area. Its at the point where it should not matter how other teams do. I don't think the Raptors run in 2019 hindered the Blue Jays at all.

People in Toronto just don't care about the CFL. If that idiot Johnston thinks the new changes are going to win over fans in Southern Ontario, he may want to get in touch with reality.

[Jesse]

Doubt it.  Usually 1 or 2 teams pull way ahead in divisional rankings by Sept.  Once it's clear you're not 1 or 2, I think teams will totally put the brakes on and just try to not be #9.  I'm talking resting starters, easing wear & tear on everyone, reps for rookies/backups, getting as fresh as possible for the "play-ins".

This will be doubly so if there's a clear crap team, like OTT last year or EDM the year before.  If the 9th can be identified early it takes all the pressure off the middle 4 teams.

I see this making teams try LESS, and having more "garbage season" games -- maybe an entire month (or 2!) of them!  The only way it would work is if almost every team was pretty equal, which basically never happens.

Looking back at the final standings over the last few years, that's just not true. This will keep more teams in the mix because you're not just fighting for the top spot, you're fighting for the top 2 spots. And there's usually 2-3 teams near the bottom that can't give up because they won't want to be the odd team out.

[Waffler]

Have training camp in Texas. Below zero too many mornings in April here.

This morning's weather: 7am, -1°, Feels -4
warming up by 9am, the traditional starting time for practice: 2°,Feels -2

We are supposed to pick a team under these conditions?

Current temps in western Canada:

Regina, -4, Calgary -3, Edm -2

[Jesse]

This morning's weather: 7am, -1°, Feels -4
warming up by 9am, the traditional starting time for practice: 2°,Feels -2

We are supposed to pick a team under these conditions?

Current temps in western Canada:

Regina, -4, Calgary -3, Edm -2

I will never stop ranting about having the year start on Canada Day weekend. It was perfect.

But I accept that I'm mostly in the minority on that one. Almost everyone agrees that moving up the season is a good idea as the single digit temps (whether they are above are below zero) feel much warmer now than they do in October.

The League makes a good point in making long weekends "events" and throwing more branding at them. It's a good idea.

As to the temps, the guys will obviously have use of the soccer complex as well as the field, so the prospects will have to deal with the conditions. It's part of being up here.

[bluengold204]

So how is the venue chosen with all of these new rules?  Higher seed always gets the home game?

Could this not result in the East losing a playoff game venue?  Even with the crossover, the old system always balanced the venues between E and W.

Might this result in teams trying to finagle their final 2-4 games to maybe get lower in the overall standings?  Let's say you're a weak but "best of the rest" #2 in the W... might you throw your last couple of games to become "5th seed"?  You get a home playoff game (Prez will like that) PLUS to don't have to play the #1 in your div who whooped your butt all season -- until maybe the GC!

It's already highlighted as to who hosts which games.

Round 1:  1st in each division will host 2nd in each division.  5th will host 8th, and 6th will host 7th seeds.

Round 2:  Loser of the 1st vs 2nd games will host the winners of the other games.

Round 3:  Winners of round 1 will host the winners of round 2.

If you finish 1 or 2 on the regular season you are guaranteed to host at least 1 playoff game.  So I don't see your throwing games to host a playoff game theory playing out.

[Jesse]

It's already highlighted as to who hosts which games.

Round 1:  1st in each division will host 2nd in each division.  5th will host 8th, and 6th will host 7th seeds.

Round 2:  Loser of the 1st vs 2nd games will host the winners of the other games.

Round 3:  Winners of round 1 will host the winners of round 2.

If you finish 1 or 2 on the regular season you are guaranteed to host at least 1 playoff game.  So I don't see your throwing games to host a playoff game theory playing out.

Another point is that these are not segmented into divisions anymore. Teams will be reseeded after each round.

So you're not just competing to be the top two in your own division, you're also trying to have better records than the top 2 in the other division to ensure the best match-ups.

[Waffler]

It's already highlighted as to who hosts which games.

Round 1:  1st in each division will host 2nd in each division.  5th will host 8th, and 6th will host 7th seeds.

Round 2:  Loser of the 1st vs 2nd games will host the winners of the other games.

Round 3:  Winners of round 1 will host the winners of round 2.

If you finish 1 or 2 on the regular season you are guaranteed to host at least 1 playoff game.  So I don't see your throwing games to host a playoff game theory playing out.

What is going to happen a lot is the first place team will have to beat the 2nd place team twice (1st round and 3rd round). Hard to win back to backs. Advantages are that the 2nd place team will be on their 3rd playoff game by then and 1st place team is coming off a bye week.

[bluengold204]

Well I agree it's kinda of lame that every team except one will have a shot at winning it all I actually don't mind the format and don't feel there will too much tanking or resting of players as seeding matters more now.

[blue_gold_84]

Just wait until we hear the next "improvement" Johnston makes to the game.

The Grey Cup may be renamed the "Stewart Johnston Trophy for Athletic Excellence in 'Canadian' Football."

FTFY

[Jesse]

What is going to happen a lot is the first place team will have to beat the 2nd place team twice (1st round and 3rd round). Hard to win back to backs. Advantages are that the 2nd place team will be on their 3rd playoff game by then and 1st place team is coming off a bye week.

Unless the records switch them up and suddenly you're playing the 2nd team out of the East.

This format is going to create new matchups. You're all assuming teams are staying in the East and west. Except the first round for the top 2 teams, that's is not the case.