BC Lions Thread

[KCargosfan]

Kudos to Wally Buono for paying up for a star player and Solomon for staying put in BC. The revolving door for players in the CFL where talented players move around frequently diminishes the fan experience. Too many favourites don't hang around long enough.

I actually think he's taking a cut in pay from his last contract.

[jerrym]

Former Argo RB Jeremiah Johnson has resigned with BC after a fine year.

Running back Jeremiah Johnson signed a contract extension through the 2018 season with the B.C. Lions on Friday.
Johnson was scheduled to become a free agent in February.
“Jeremiah gave us good production from the running back position last year and this is great news for our offence,” Wally Buono, the Lions head coach and GM, said in a statement.
Johnson made 11 starts last season, running for 809 yards on 138 carries (5.9-yard average) with seven touchdowns. He rushed for a career-high 159 yards in a 38-27 win over Montreal on Sept. 9.
“I’m thrilled to be part of this team moving forward,” said Johnson, who plans to spend the off-season in Vancouver. “We have a very good opportunity to achieve great things with the team we’re putting together in 2017.”

http://vancouversun.com/sports/footb...with-b-c-lions

[1971GreyCup]

I actually think he's taking a cut in pay from his last contract.

Perhaps lower base and performance based incentives. Based on his performance when he's healthy, he should very well. I imagine Wally's has a great culture to play in. Always puts on a competitive product. Manny, Solomon, to name a few stars that the fans have an opportunity to follow. Good for them!

[Argo57]

Perhaps lower base and performance based incentives. Based on his performance when he's healthy, he should very well. I imagine Wally's has a great culture to play in. Always puts on a competitive product. Manny, Solomon, to name a few stars that the fans have an opportunity to follow. Good for them!

Buono and Hufnagel are still the gold standard in running a CFL franchise, Desjardins isn't bad either.

[AngeloV]

Buono and Hufnagel are still the gold standard in running a CFL franchise, Desjardins isn't bad either.

Funny, most didn't feel that way about Wally when he stepped away from coaching to just be GM. Amazing how being given another chance sometimes works out.

[ArgoRavi]

Funny, most didn't feel that way about Wally when he stepped away from coaching to just be GM. Amazing how being given another chance sometimes works out.

Desjardins too had struggles in Hamilton - I can recall at least one member on here writing him off after that - and then a tough first season (understandably) in Ottawa. Even this past season, the RedBlacks had only one more point than the 2014 Argos who missed the playoffs.

[Argo57]

Desjardins too had struggles in Hamilton - I can recall at least one member on here writing him off after that - and then a tough first season (understandably) in Ottawa. Even this past season, the RedBlacks had only one more point than the 2014 Argos who missed the playoffs.

And won the Grey Cup.
2 Grey Cup appearances and 1 championship in 3 seasons, pretty impressive.

[jerrym]

A review of the entire BC Lion 2016 year by date is found at the url below:

http://www.bclions.com/2016/12/30/20...year-that-was/

[Argo]

Desjardins too had struggles in Hamilton - I can recall at least one member on here writing him off after that - and then a tough first season (understandably) in Ottawa. Even this past season, the RedBlacks had only one more point than the 2014 Argos who missed the playoffs.

Yes, he was unimpressive in Hamilton.

[jerrym]

Richie Leone has been given early free agency. While leading the league in punting, his struggles with FGs and converts may have played a role in the decision. With the greater degree of specialization in the larger rosters of the NFL, he might make it as a punter only.

The B.C. Lions announced Tuesday they have granted punter Richie Leone early free-agent status to pursue a contract in the NFL.
The 24-year-old, who joined the Lions in 2015, was a CFL West Division all-star the last two seasons.
Leone led the league with a 49.3-yard punt average in 2016, often flipping field position with his towering boots. He also finished sixth in kickoff average at 65.0 yards. ...

"We thank Richie for his contributions to our team over the past two years," Lions head coach and general manager Wally Buono said in statement. "He brought excitement to our kicking game and we wish him the very best in his future football endeavours."
While Leone was lights out as a punter for B.C., he struggled while trying to learn the intricacies of place kicking on the job. The University of Houston product was just 35-for-51 on field goals this season and also missed five of his 30 convert attempts.
The Lions were so concerned with Leone's ability on field goals and converts that they brought Paul McCallum, who turns 47 on Saturday, out of retirement late in the season.
Leone's departure and McCallum's uncertain future leaves a big hole for the Lions in both facets of the kicking game heading into 2017.

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/football/cf...-nfl-1.3919953

[1971GreyCup]

B.C. might bring in Swayze Waters for a look in 2017?

[AngeloV]

B.C. might bring in Swayze Waters for a look in 2017?

Good. Let them put up with the erratic FG kicking.

[jerrym]

Adam Bighill has signed a three year contract with the New Orleans Saints after his early release by the Lions.

A month after being granted his release to pursue NFL opportunities, Bighill has landed a deal south of the border with the New Orleans Saints, according to TSN‘s Farhan Lalji.
The futures contract is reportedly a three-year deal and includes a signing bonus. ...

While Team 100 (tackles) won’t be reunited in 2017, one half of the dynamic duo will return for the upcoming season after Solomon Elimimian signed an extension on Dec. 21.
Still, the loss of Bighill, a veteran leader on the Lions’ defence, is a major one for Head Coach and General Manager Wally Buono’s club.
In six seasons with BC, the 28-year-old has been dominant on a Lions defence that’s ranked among the league’s best almost annually. In 99 career CFL games, Bighill has racked up 489 defensive tackles, 33 sacks, eight interceptions and eight forced fumbles.

[jerrym]

BC has extended National DB Keynan Paker through 2018.

The B.C. Lions signed defensive back Keynan Parker to a contract extension through the 2018 season Wednesday.
The Canadian was scheduled to become a free agent next month.
“Keynan has developed into a versatile and gifted defensive back who we can count on to provide depth in our secondary,” GM/head coach Wally Buono said in a statement. “Talented Canadian players are critical building blocks in a championship team and Keynan has demonstrated the ability to take on multiple duties on defense which makes this signing a big one for the club.”
The 27-year-old native of Coquitlam, B.C., had 13 tackles and three special-teams tackles in 18 games last season with B.C. Parker, whose father, James (Quick) Parker is a member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame, was origianlly a sixth-round pick of the Montreal Alouettes out of Simon Fraser in 2012.

http://theprovince.com/sports/footba...ract-extension

[jerrym]

National FB Rolly Lumbala has resigned with the Lions through 2018.

The BC Lions Football Club announced Thursday that national fullback Rolly Lumbala has agreed to terms on a contract with the Lions through the 2018 season.
Lumbala was eligible to enter free agency in February.
“Rolly is a tremendous leader both on and off the field,” said GM and head coach Wally Buono in a statement. “His efforts often times go uncelebrated, but Rolly is a significant piece of both our offensive and special teams units and his signing is an important one for the club heading into 2017.”
Coming off the 2016 season in which he started all 18 regular season games at fullback for the sixth time in as many years, Rolly enjoyed another steady and productive campaign for the Leos.

http://www.cfl.ca/2017/01/05/lions-l...act-extension/

[1971GreyCup]

Adam Bighill has signed a three year contract with the New Orleans Saints after his early release by the Lions.

Pretty good LB corp when your 2nd team MLB makes the NFL!

[AngeloV]

Pretty good LB corp when your 2nd team MLB makes the NFL!

2nd team would refer to a back up. Bighill was far from that. He was every bit as good a Eliminimum (probably more consistent), and his 2015 season was absolutely outstanding. I hope he makes it and has an impact. That's 3 CFLers the Saints have signed the last 3 years with Delvin Breaux and Eric Harris the others.

[1971GreyCup]

2nd team would refer to a back up. Bighill was far from that. He was every bit as good a Eliminimum (probably more consistent), and his 2015 season was absolutely outstanding. I hope he makes it and has an impact. That's 3 CFLers the Saints have signed the last 3 years with Delvin Breaux and Eric Harris the others.

I'll rephrase that, impressive the Bighill signed with NFL as his colleague Solomon Elimimian MLB twice recognized by CFL as MVP Defense for BC Lions. The exception year was when Elimimian he blew his Achilles' tendon when Adam Bighill filled in. On any other CFL team Adam Bighill would start at MLB.

I am still recovering from losing former Argos LB Pete Wysocki to the Redskins in 1975.

[OV Argo]

Pretty good LB corp when your 2nd team MLB makes the NFL!

Be interesting to see if Canadian LB Bo Lokombo gets the shot to replace Bighill; Lokombo had the nice resume out of US college ball and has played a bit for the Lions on D, but he was not about to start with the outstanding Elimiman & Bighill in place. I believe Lokombo may be a CFL FA though - we'll see if he re-signs and ends up a starter on D. Wally is a 7 NIs only need apply kinda thinker - could work for or against Lokombo there.

[jerrym]

Mark Washington, defensive co-ordinator of BC, talks about what Bighill meant to the Lions.

http://www.bclions.com/2017/01/05/ch...-adam-bighill/