Bighill makes long-term commitment with Bombers

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This article was published 14/01/2019 (1925 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Adam Bighill’s big free-agent adventure never got off the launch pad.

On Tuesday, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers announced they had re-signed their star middle linebacker, due to become the most-sought-after defensive player available on the open market, to a three-year contract extension after a spectacular 2018 season in which he was named the CFL’s most outstanding defensive player. He was scheduled to become a free agent on Feb. 12.

Details of the contract were not released but the 30-year-old product of Montesano, Wash., is expected to make $230,000 per season, with that figure rising as high as $250,000 if he reaches all of his bonus incentives.

Bighill, who was also the CFL’s top defender in 2015 as a member of the B.C. Lions, is now believed to be the league’s highest-paid defensive player.

“The title doesn’t really matter to me,” said Bighill at a news conference held at Investors Group Field Tuesday afternoon. “At the end of the day, I’m always going to bring my all to this game and to my team and to the organization and the fans. It’s just part of who I am and what I do. It’s putting the work in every single day to get the job done and be the best. I put in the work on a daily basis with a mind I want to be the best that ever was. That’s all yet to be seen because that’s a long-term thing we’re talking about — legacy and future. But I know I’ll never get there if I don’t put the work in now.”

Winnipeg’s keen interest in getting him signed early was clear. But how seriously did Bighill consider testing his free-agent value?

“That’s a good question,” said Bighill. “It’s hard to tell what you could have got out there on the open market, right? In my life, I’ve never truly been to free agency. With all the contracts I’ve been involved in, I’ve never actually been on the free agent market. We were prepared to do that this off-season but how strongly I felt last season, the guys in the locker room, this organization, the city, I knew if we were going to reach some terms that I thought were going to be acceptable prior to free agency, then why not sign?

“Obviously loved it here last year and that’s part of why we got the deal done so early. It was one of those things where are we going to have to go to free agency or not, and we were able to come to terms pretty quickly and get the deal done, which is exciting because I don’t think anybody likes waiting around for contracts and see what you’re gonna do, where you’re gonna go. So for me, it’s nice to get stress off my shoulders knowing where I’m going to be for the next three years.”

Bighill’s gain may have come at the expense, at least in part, of cornerback Chris Randle. The veteran, who was released last week, would have been due a bonus Tuesday if he was still on Winnipeg’s roster.

“Honestly, I have no idea (what the impact was),” said Bighill. “That’s a better question for Kyle (general manager Walters). I love playing with Chris. He was a great leader, a great mentor in the locker room. His work ethic was insane. His talent, his thought process, the way he approached the game, a true professional. We know the locker room’s never going to look the same every single year, and you wish it could. I’m going to miss playing with Chris. I’m sure we’re going to see him around in another jersey soon enough.”

Bighill understands his signing means one of his unofficial duties will be as a recruiter for the Blue Bombers, who have a large number of unsigned players due to become free agents next month.

“I think automatically you become that part of the team, as soon as you sign,” he said. “The guys in our locker room were great, and obviously we want them back. We had a lot of success last year. When you play with someone for an entire year, you get to know them, what they’re capable of. You have fun building those friendships, those bonds. You just want to continue that, because it’s comfortable. It’s easy moving forward. And you know the capability of some of these players we have.

“Being able to get some of these players back, like a (defensive end Jackson) Jeffcoat or (linebacker) Jovan Santos-Knox, those are two names on defence for sure that we want to bring back.”

Bighill was also asked to comment on the possibility that free-agent quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell will leave the Calgary Stampeders for the NFL.

“I don’t have any insight on what Bo’s going to do,” said Bighill. “I think he’s at the very least a No. 3 quarterback in the NFL, and is more likely to be a No. 2 quarterback. I’ve seen the things he does, the decisions he makes, a lot of great decisions. Accuracy is fantastic. A smart quarterback. Spending some time in the NFL (with the New Orleans Saints), I’ve seen No. 3 quarterbacks, I’ve seen No. 2 quarterbacks, I’ve seen No. 1 quarterbacks. I’ve seen a Hall of Famer. I’ve seen it. I think Bo would be successful. I hope he gets the opportunity.”

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @sawa14