Brady Oliveira eyes NFL as Blue Bombers clean out lockers, reflect on lingering Grey Cup ache

The clang of empty hangers in empty stalls was loud enough to be heard in the Winnipeg Blue Bombers dressing room on Tuesday morning as downcast players packed up their belongings, still hurting from Sunday's Grey Cup defeat.

"Still sad. That ain't going to change for a while," said linebacker Adam Bighill, who played limited time with an injury.

"It's just frustrating I didn't have the ability to be in every single down throughout the game, playing like I normally play."

Bighill suffered a calf injury in the western final on Nov. 11 and didn't finish that game. He said Tuesday that the typical recovery time for the injury is four to six weeks.

It wasn't until Saturday that he figured he might be able to see some action in the big game, which the Montreal Alouettes ultimately won 28-24 thanks to a last-minute touchdown drive.

"The plan wasn't to go in there and play every single snap. The plan was to go in there and play a role, so I think we executed that," he said.

The decision to play was the right one, he said, even through he was beat by a receiver in the third quarter for a Montreal TD that narrowed Winnipeg's lead to three points.

Bighill called that play a miscommunication on the Bombers defence, noting it's unusual for a linebacker to cover a receiver down the field.

"Let's just say I was trying to cover up and help out," he said.

Mistakes. The Bombers beat themselves by committing too many of them, said running back Brady Oliveira.

He buried his face in his hands and was unable to speak to reporters immediately following Sunday's loss, but found some words Tuesday, enough to say the pain is still deep.

"I'll feel like this for quite a while. This one definitely stings a lot more than the last one."

The reason