April 6, 2016

Austin Collie intends to retire, Lions announce

THE CANADIAN PRESS

VANCOUVER — It appears Austin Collie’s CFL career is over after one season, as the BC Lions announced Wednesday that Collie has notified the club of his intent to retire.

Collie, a 30-year-old Hamilton native, joined the Lions last year following a five-year NFL career spanning three teams. He caught 43 passes for 439 yards and seven touchdowns in his lone CFL season, playing in 16 games and contributing to a 7-11 season and a third-place finish for BC.

The Brigham Young graduate arrived in BC with much fanfare a year ago after emerging as a solid contributor south of the border from 2009 through 2013. Collie broke onto the scene in his rookie season after being drafted in the fourth round by the Indianapolis Colts, teaming up with Peyton Manning for 676 receiving yards and seven touchdowns on 60 receptions.

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THE CANADIAN PRESS

After eclipsing the 500-yards mark in each of his first three seasons however, Collie was sidelined for all but one game in 2012. He spent a brief stint on the San Francisco 49ers’ practice roster in 2013 before joining the New England Patriots but failing to become a major contributor.

Collie’s departure leaves Shawn Gore, Marco Iannuzzi, Stephen Adekolu and Derek Yachison as national receivers remaining on the Lions’ roster.