The Bull Pen

If I hear one more person complain about the CFL's playoff format, I'm going to make him or her walk through downtown Regina in Blue Bombers jersey.

Yeah, I understand the griping.  There are eight teams in the league.  Six of them make the playoffs.  For those of you who constantly shriek, "That's 75 percent!!!" thanks, I'm aware of the math.

I'll grant you that the six-team format keeps some poor teams in the playoff race.  With four weeks to go in the 2012 season, all eight teams are still mathematically alive for a post-season berth.

Let's go with the argument that only four teams should get in.  (By the way, that's 50 percent of the league.)  If that were the format, then.... all eight teams would still be mathematically alive for a post-season berth.  That's right, at 4-10, Winnipeg would still have a shot.

I understand that the six-team format gives a team with a poor record a chance to catch fire and win the Grey Cup.  But it rarely happens.  Only twice in history has a team with a sub-.500 record won the Grey Cup (B.C. in 2000 and Calgary in 2001).  

When it comes down to it, no one remembers the regular season record of the champion.  Quick, what was Edmonton's record in 2005?  Toronto in 1997?  Winnipeg in 1990?  Ottawa in 1976?  Do you even remember B.C.'s regular season record last year?

Keep it the way it is.  The playoffs will decide the best team.  Remember long shots rarely come through.  And wear a coat over your Bombers jersey when in Saskatchewan.