CFL’S top pick lands opportunity with NFL’S Panthers

CALGARY — His scrapbook is getting fatter by the day.

A week ago, he’d been picked first overall in the Canadian Football League draft by the Hamilton Tiger- Cats. Now? The Carolina Panthers of the National Football League have decided to sign him.

“It’s great,” Linden Gaydosh said Sunday afternoon from his hotel room in Charlotte, N. C. “Like, I’m so happy right now. I was at a loss for words when the CFL draft came — so I don’t know how to describe the feeling I have right now.

“The first thing I did was call my parents ( Lynn and Dave). They were so excited the day of the CFL draft, I can’t imagine what’s going through them right now.”

While nothing has been signed yet — the Panthers’ word is good enough for Gaydosh — the defensive lineman’s performance at this past weekend’s free- agent camp cannot be underestimated.

In tough with three dozen other unsigned/ undrafted hopefuls at Bank of America Stadium, the Calgary Dinos product simply did his thing. In five practices over the three days, he stood out.

Gaydosh returns home this week. But he turns right around. The Peace River native’s off- season features six more weeks of workouts in Charlotte. Leaving no time for the jilted Tiger- Cats or their camp. “I’ve got training activities with the Panthers,” said Gaydosh. “I’m excited to go through that.”