Adam Bighill has yet to pull on a Winnipeg Blue Bombers jersey – heck, he won’t even cross the 49th parallel into Friendly Manitoba for a couple of days – but his signing nonetheless created a palpable buzz on the opening of training camp.
The Bombers held their first full-team session Sunday morning and while all eyes were on the returning vets and new faces on the turf at a sun-drenched Investors Group Field, the signing of the all-star linebacker 24 hours earlier still dominated the post-practice conversation.
And the reviews from Bighill’s teammates – some old, some new – read like the gushing takes on a Hollywood hit movie…
“I know how much it improves our team in general, but the initial thought is I don’t have to get hit by that train like the rest of the guys in the league have to deal with now.” – Bombers QB Matt Nichols.
“He’s a great asset for us. He’s a guy who practices hard. I mean, I remember my first year when he came into B.C…. he was almost annoying to practice against because he was one of those guys that is just scrappy. He’s going to find a way to give you a charley horse or poke you in the eye or step on your feet because he just goes so hard. He talks about being a savage and he’s absolutely a savage.” – Bombers RB Andrew Harris.
“He was one of my best buddies with the B.C. Lions and so I’m really excited to have him out here and I know he will have an amazing impact for the team.” – Bombers defensive end and former Lion Craig Roh.
“We’re getting a competitive guy, a guy with so much energy. Not only that, he’s got a feel for the game and a knowledge. You get a vet like that who has been around the league that long, you’re adding value to the team. When I first went to B.C. and seeing him play, oh my God, he jumped off the film. That’s the kind of the guy you want on the field next to you running around because you know he’s going to do his job and help you win ball games.” – Bombers defensive back and former Lion Anthony Gaitor.
Now, some questions regarding Bighill are still to be determined – where he will line up in the defence, how much it will cost him to get his No. 44 from Shayne Gauthier, for example – but what is a given is the versatility he offers the Bombers defence.
“There are pictures in your head of Adam Bighill playing two-high safety and dropping back and being an over-the-top coverage guy, so… he’s got that speed and ability to do that,” said Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea. “He certainly adds some versatility. He’s had a couple of years where he’s generated a lot of sacks and a lot of pressure.
“I think you can use him in a lot of different spots and ask him to do a lot of different things. He’s got to be a smart football player to be able to do all that and do it well.”
And if there was any concern about the ‘fit’ of Bighill in the room – this team is forever referencing the culture and chemistry it has developed – those doubts were instantly erased by the men who have already suited up with him.
READ: O’Leary, Sanchez on what Bighill signing means for B
lue Bombers
Harris, for example, shares the same agent as Bighill and was on the phone with him before he had signed, giving him the Winnipeg and the Bombers sales pitch.
“I had a great conversation just before he signed and tried to recruit him a little bit. I was just talking about all the great things this city has to offer. I’m super pumped that he decided to make the switch and come over to Winnipeg,” said Harris.
“I told him how great the golf courses were because he likes to golf. I told him how the cost of living is a lot cheaper than it is in Vancouver… those are the two biggest sells for Biggie. I think he wants to come in and help us win a Grey Cup.
“He’s going to be a great asset for us, however he fits in on our defence and special teams. We’re happy to have him.”
Added Nichols:
“He’s a guy I have a tremendous amount of respect for. Super hard worker and from everything I’ve heard about him, he is an excellent leader who is going to demand the best from the guys around him. Those are the guys we want around here and I think, honestly, it’s a great fit for the guys on this team and Coach O’Shea and the personality of this team. I couldn’t be happier about that signing. He’s going to elevate the guys around him.”
