Johany Jutras/CFL.ca
TORONTO — Despite being in different countries and playing in different football leagues, both members of Team 100 are still keeping tabs on each other.
Solomon Elimiman and Adam Bighill were the two parts that made up Team 100 – a dynamic linebacker duo that took the Canadian Football League by storm in 2016. Elimimian finished 2016 with 129 tackles; Bighill finished with 109.
The duo was split up in the off-season, however, when Bighill decided to test the waters south of the border with the New Orleans Saints.
And when Elimimian found out that Bighill didn’t make the Saints active roster despite his impressive pre-season performance, he was there to comfort his friend.
“We’ve been talking consistently,” Elimimian told James Cybulski of The Waggle Podcast. “Passed football, Adam’s been one of my closer friends. We talk about life. And obviously, he kind of vented a little bit. Understandably, he was disappointed.”
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#BlacknGold #savage #99reasons pic.twitter.com/wda0HvbQ4p
— Adam Bighill (@Bighill44) September 16, 2017
Bighill led the the Saints in tackles during pre-season with 20 and it looked as if the 28-year-old was a shoo-in to make the roster once the regular season started. That wasn’t the case, however, and he found himself on the practice squad.
“I’m very happy for him,” said Elimimian of Bighill’s opportunity in the NFL. “I think initially, like everybody, I was surprised that he didn’t make the active roster considering the kind of camp he had. He had a phenomenal camp, many tackles, he had an interception and a sack. He did a lot of good things.”
When Bighill reached out to his buddy after finding out he didn’t make it onto the active roster, Elimimian told him not to worry.
“Your route with the BC Lions wasn’t easy,” Elimimian told Bighill. “When you first came, you were a backup, practice roster guy, but you slowly built up and built a name for yourself and that’s the same situation you find yourself in New Orleans.”
And it didn’t take long for Bighill to get off the practice roster. The Saints activated the 5-foot-10, 230-pounder just in time to make his NFL debut against the Minnesota Vikings. Although he didn’t record any stats in his first career NFL game, Bighill now has the chance to make a name for himself in the NFL – just like he did in the CFL.
“I told Adam, ‘it’s not where you start, it’s where you finish,” Elimimian said. “You still have an opportunity. All of your dreams and goals are still a head of you. All you have to do is work a little harder.'”
For the full interview with Solomon Elimimian and the rest of The Waggle podcast, click here or stream below.
