Adam Bighill has been granted release by the BC Lions organization to pursue a spot in the NFL, the club announced on Friday.
“We have an agreement in place with Adam which allows him to seek out potential NFL opportunities between now and January 27, 2017,” GM Wally Buono said. “If he is not signed by an NFL team during this period, he has agreed to return to the Lions.”
Losing Bighill would be a big blow to BC’s chances next year, as the linebacker is one of the best in the CFL. The 2015 winner of the Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award has played six seasons with the Lions. This year, Bighill finished third in the league in tackles. Together with teammate Solomon Elimimian, they form the best linebacker duo in the CFL.
Bighill is utilizing a clause that he negotiated in his contract and it’s hard to blame him. At 28 years-old, this is probably his last shot at realizing his NFL dream.
“I am grateful for the club’s understanding that as a professional football player, father and husband, I want to maximize my career potential,” said Bighill. “I want to make it very clear to our incredible fans however, that I love being a BC Lion and if nothing comes to fruition in the NFL, I will be ecstatic to return to the club.”
Listed at 5-foot-10, Bighill is undersized for the NFL, so he’ll need to make up for it in other ways.
TRANSACTION@Bighill44 released to pursue NFL window; remains #BCLions property through 2018🦁
MORE 👉🏻 https://t.co/95IBJZwijQ pic.twitter.com/qgBpp9RHST
— BC Lions (@BCLions) December 9, 2016