Bighill marches to the Saints
Lions’ star linebacker reportedly inks three-year NFL deal with New Orleans
Word that Adam Bighill was signing with the NFL’s New Orleans Saints had Wally Buono in a bittersweet mood Wednesday night.
TSN’s Farhan Lalji reported Bighill, 28, who formed the Team 100 linebacking duo with Solomon Elimimian with the B.C. Lions, had inked a three-year contract with the Saints.
“I’m happy for Biggie and I’m sad for our fans and our organization,” said Buono, the Lions’ general manager and coach. “Now it’s up to me to find us a player who will make us as proud as Biggie has.”
The Lions announced Dec. 9 that Bighill, through a clause in his contract, had until Jan. 27 to sign a deal with an NFL club or his rights reverted to the Lions through the 2018 season.
Size was the biggest factor going against Bighill. He checks in at 5-foot-10 and 230 pounds. Thirty-eight linebackers went to the 2016 NFL Draft combine and just two were less than 6-feet and 240 pounds.
“Adam has always beaten the odds. You have to respect him for that. You have to admire him for that,” said Buono.
“He was at a point where this was a last grasp (at the NFL). That’s why he asked for it and that’s why we gave it to him. He took a risk. It paid off. Now he’s going to get an opportunity to do what he probably wanted to do since he was eight years old.”
“Adam has always beaten the odds. You have to respect him for that. You have to admire him for that.” — Wally Buono
Elimimian and Bighill had the Team 100 tag since they wore jerseys No. 56 and No. 44, respectively. The Lions re-signed Elimimian in December. The 30-year-old was in line to become a CFL free agent in February.
The pair have won the past three CFL most outstanding defensive player of the year honours, with Elimimian triumphs sandwiching Bighill’s honour in 2015.
Elimimian (129) and Bighill (108) finished first and third, respectively, in the CFL in tackles last season. Bighill made the CFL all-star team for a fourth time and the West Division all-star side for the fifth straight campaign.
“It was inevitable. One day Adam Bighill wasn’t going to play linebacker for the B.C. Lions and now it’s today,” said Buono. “Our job is to go out and find good football players and luckily we’ve been able to do that before.
“Team 100 was tremendous. Good thing we have Solly lined up. Now we have to find a sidekick for him.”
Bighill has played 99 games for the Lions and has totalled 489 defensive tackles, 33 sacks, eight interceptions and eight forced fumbles.