BC Lions Thread

[AngeloV]

Mind boggling, Bobby Ackles name not on this list?

100%. What a huge oversight.

A couple of others... IMO, Glen Jackson should have been on their LB list over Adam Bighill. Bighill is a great player, but I think Jackson had a better Lions career.
Manny Arcenaux over Jim Young? I don't think so. Larry Key deserves at least an honourable mention at RB too. He was a great back.

[jerrym]

The following article reviews the recent history of Argo-Lions games including the two Argo Grey Cup wins in 1983 and 2004 against the Lions.

https://www.bclions.com/2020/10/02/l...story-boatmen/

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Ed Hervey has stepped down as GM for he says personal reasons, leaving HC Rick Campbell and Director of Football Operations Neil McEvoy to run the show for now.

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2020 third round draft pick DT Court Hammond has joined the Spring League that is playing in the Fall due to Covid-19. The American born Hammond was granted national status due to his parents being Canadian.

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A look at the Lions immediate future following David Braley's death. The long term future remains a question mark. Canucks owner Francesco Aquilini says he is not interested in buying the Lions at the moment.

In the immediate future, there will be no changes for the Lions. Operations will continue, just like they have since the unexpected resignation of general manager Ed Hervey. The Braley family will first have their time to mourn, and then the estate and probate will have to be calcified before any decisions about the team’s future can be made.

Team president Rick LeLacheur said the club is currently “well-funded” but didn’t know what time frame the team is looking at for concrete answers. The Lions have been for sale for what seems like a decade, and while Braley entertained offers, no deal was ever made.

“He knew it was time, but it wasn’t something he had to sell,” LeLacheur told a news conference Monday. “He never said this to me, but maybe that was the case — that he loved them too much that he didn’t want to let go.”

https://theprovince.com/sports/footb...ns-and-the-cfl

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Farhan Lalji says the Lions may not be sold until the pandemic is over. He also says he doesn't think the franchise is worth anything. The team has enough money for three regular seasons but of course Covid will eat that up more quickly.

https://www.tsn.ca/radio/vancouver-1...over-1.1548765

[jerrym]

It appears that GM Ed Hervey's leaving the Lions was not for personal reasons but, instead, was related to Mike Reilly's contract grievance over an agreement that was outside his registered contract that guaranteed Reilly $250,000 in salary.

“The league, the owner, and the president didn’t know this document existed until the agent put it forward to one of those two parties, so yes, I absolutely believe this was tied to Ed (Hervey)’s departure from the club,” said Lalji.

The document to which Lalji referred is an agreement that falls outside of Reilly’s registered contract. As Justin Dunk reported on Monday, this extra document guaranteed Reilly approximately $250,000 of his salary. ...

“Between the two parties (Reilly and the Lions), they’re trying to settle it before it gets to arbitration. The grievance has been filed. It’s in process, but as with any grievance, you can settle before it gets to arbitration.”

While many have been quick to criticize Hervey for his handling of Reilly’s contract, Lalji stresses that the arrangement wasn’t a form of salary cap circumvention.

“This was not new money. This was not, ‘OK, he’s due $725,000 and here’s an extra $250,000 that’s coming on the side in a brown paper bag.’ Ultimately, this was money that was going to be paid by the club legitimately to the player as part of his contract. Nobody could have predicted a pandemic and a cancelled season.”

This doesn’t mean that what Hervey did was completely above board.

“From the league perspective, this was outside the bounds of a contract. From the player’s perspective, this was signed off on by an individual who had the authority to sign on behalf of the club. And in the CBA, while side deals are theoretically prohibited, side deals can be dealt with in the form of grievances and arbitration, so there’s an acknowledgement that, while they’re prohibited, they still exist.” ...

It’s unlikely that an arbitrator will be available to hear Reilly’s grievance until 2021, which means a resolution to this conflict is far from imminent. The quarterback’s contract with B.C. runs through the 2023 season.

https://3downnation.com/2020/11/11/f...from-the-club/

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Ryan Rigmaiden has returned to the Lions in his old job as Director of US Scouting. He previously was with the club from 2012 to 2017 and spent the last three years as Director of College Scouting for the Bombers.

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Below is a review of the Lions 2020 draft class which could be useful to those who have forgotten who they were thanks to the Covid non-season.

https://www.cfl.ca/2020/12/04/oleary...-will-like-no/

[jerrym]

After Mike Reilly filed a grievance over guaranteed money owed to him, co-GM Neil McEvoy says the Lions will do what it takes to make Reilly happy to stay with the team. The Reilly and Lions had agreed that around $250,000 was guaranteed to him when a contract was signed.

[jerrym]

The Lions have resigned Nationals LB Adrian Clarke, RB Wayne Moore, OL Andrew Peirson and FB Mario Villamizar, as well as American RB De'Veon Smith.

Clarke- The Toronto native most recently appeared in four games with the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2018. Drafted in round four (32nd overall) by the Lions in the 2015 CFL Draft, Clarke suited up in 50 games in orange over three seasons and was a force on special teams with 25 tackles. He had previously returned to the Lions as a free agent in January of 2020.

Moore- Since his arrival in 2018, Moore has been a reliable special teams player and contributed out of the backfield with 19 carries for 86 yards. He has also added nine receptions for 91 yards. A second-round draft pick of the Montreal Alouettes in 2017, Moore also spent time on the Ottawa REDBLACKS roster before moving west. Moore rushed for 1,515 yards and 13 touchdowns in four seasons at McMaster University.

Peirson- Will enter his third season in the Den after spending most of 2019 on the practice squad. Known for his countless hours giving back in the local community, Peirson was the Lions’ 2019 nominee for the Tom Pate Memorial Award. The native of Kingston, Ontario originally joined the Lions as a non-drafted free agent prior to 2018 camp and due to injuries, would serve as the starting centre for five regular season contests plus the Eastern Semi-Final in Hamilton.

Villamizar- The only Lions draft pick from 2019 to appear in all 18 regular season games, Villamizar saw most of his action on special teams before taking over starting fullback duties in September. He recorded two receptions for 13 yards. In four seasons at Wilfrid Laurier, Villamizar caught passes for 191 yards and five touchdowns in 38 games while also playing a big role in pass protection.

Smith (5’11, 228 lbs)- Spent the first part of 2020 with the XFL’s Tampa Bay Vipers and rushed for 365 yards on 90 carries in six games. Prior to his 2019 stint with the AAF Orlando Apollos, Smith had NFL practice squad stints with Miami and Washington. In 41 games four years at Michigan, Smith had 2,486 scrimmage yards and 23 touchdowns. His 107 yards led all rushers in the Wolverines’ 41-7 Citrus Bowl win over Florida to cap off the 2015 campaign.

https://www.bclions.com/2020/12/15/l...-quartet-2021/

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Mike Reilly has signed a new two year deal after obtaining the full $250,000 for the 2020 season that he filed a grievance over. In the new contract he gets a $375,000 signing bonus, as well as $525,000 in 2021 and $575,000 in 2022 in hard money.

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The top National Canadian pass receiver in 2019, Lemar Durant has extended through 2022 after an 810 yard 2019 season with the Lions.

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The Lions have re-signed QB Will Arndt through 2021, who played the Redblacks last four games of 2019 but did not look good then and signed for the 2020 cancelled Lions season. They also signed a two year extension with American DB Victor Gamboa, who played 7 games for the Lions in 2019. They have added three Americans to the roster: DL Ufomba Kamlu, who played 2 games in NE Patriots 2018 Super Bowl season; WR Jazmond Ferguson who had 119 yards in four Seattle Seahawk TC games; DL Dana Levine, who attend NY Giants TC.

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Four more players have signed with the Lions: Nationals David Makie and Jakeem Johnson, as well as Americans DL Lewis Neal, WR Jamal Custis.

Mackie (6’2, 252 lbs)– The versatile fullback returns for a third season in orange. In 28 career games, Mackie has caught seven passes for 65 yards and also played a solid role on special teams with ten tackles. Mackie was selected in round two (16th overall) by the Lions in 2018 after a solid career at Western University that included an OUA First-Team All-Star selection.

Johnson (6’1, 190 lbs)– Drafted in round four (33rd overall) by the Lions in 2019, Johnson began his rookie season on the practice squad before making his professional debut on September 6th of that year against Montreal. He would register three defensive tackles and one special teams stop in eight total games. Johnson is also a product of Western University and recorded 22 defensive tackles and three interceptions in two seasons before a knee injury kept him out of action for 2018.

Neal ( 6’0, 280 lbs)- Was a member of the Dallas Cowboys for parts of two seasons (2017-18) and recorded eight solo tackles in seven games. Neal previously enjoyed a productive four years at Louisiana State University where he suited up in 47 games and registered 118 combined tackles, 12 sacks, seven pass knockdowns, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. Was named SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week after a career-best 11 tackles against Alabama in 2016.

Custis (6’5, 213 lbs)- Most recently spent time on the Pittsburgh Steelers practice roster in December of 2019 after attending training camp with the Kansas City Chiefs earlier that year. Suited up for Syracuse University (2014-18) and exploded onto the scene in his senior season with 51 receptions for 906 yards and six touchdowns while earning an All-ACC Second Team selection.

https://www.bclions.com/2021/01/07/l...akeem-johnson/

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BC has signed three more players: former Winnipeg Bomber DB and 2019 West All-Star Marcus Sayles; QB Gage Gubrud; and LB Jake Carlock.

Sayles (5-9, 176 lbs) spent most of 2020 on the Minnesota Vikings practice squad after signing with the team last January. In 34 games over two seasons (2018-19) with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, the native of Alpharetta, Georgia recorded 136 tackles, six interceptions, five forced fumbles, two sacks plus a pair of defensive touchdowns. Along with earning a West Division All-Star nod in 2019, Sayles also made his mark with a team-leading six defensive tackles in the Bombers’ victory over Hamilton in the 107th Grey Cup.

Gubrud (6’2, 204 lbs, pronounced goo-brood)- Set multiple career and single-season records in four years at Eastern Washington. Gubrud completed 753 passes for 9,984 yards- including a Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) single-season record 5,160 yards in 2016-, and 87 touchdowns in 32 contests. Shared Big Sky Conference MVP with teammate Cooper Kupp in 2016 and was also a two-time nominee for the Walter Payton Award given annually to the top offensive player in FCS. He transferred to Washington State University in 2019 and appeared in two contests.

Carlock (6’2, 238 lbs)- Attended 2019 training camp with the New York Giants where he returned an interception for a touchdown in pre-season action against the New York Jets. He was later assigned to the Giants practice squad until his release in October of that year. Carlock transferred from Stony Brook University to Long Island for his final two years of college. He led the Pioneers in combined tackles in both of his seasons while also recording six interceptions and four sacks in 21 games.

https://www.bclions.com/2021/01/11/l...arlock-roster/

[jerrym]

The Lions continue to re-sign players with the addition of several Americans: DL J.R. Tavai, who played two years in Ottawa where he had 7 sacks and 49 DTs before signing with BC in 2020; OL Phillip Norman, who played 13 games in 2019; four year veteran DL Darius Allen, who played in only four games in 2019 due to a knee injury; and Dyshawn Davis, who had played three years with BC before signing with the Riders in 2019 only to return in 2020 for the cancelled season.

The team also signed Canadian RB Jamel Lyles, an 8th round 2019 draft pick, who had 86 yards on 11 carries in 7 games in 2019 and American DB/LB Anthony Cioffi, who spent two years with Ottawa, where he had 97 DT and 13 ST tackles, 4 sacks, 3 FF, and 2 interceptions in 2018-19.

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DB Kenny Ladler, who signed with the Lions in 2020 after two years in the NFL that followed two years in Edmonton, has re-signed with BC, as has seven year veteran OL Joel Figueroa, who first signed with the Lions in 2018 after playing for Edmonton and Hamilton.

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Shaq Johnson, one of the best Canadian WRs in the CFL, has resigned with BC. In 2019 he had 597 receiving yards and many believe he has still not lived up to his full potential.

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WR Bryan Burnham is not close to a deal with the Lions, so he could be heading to free agency after four consecutive 1000+ receiving yards seasons.