Lionbackers.com

Biggie has been released to pursue NFL opportunities. He remains Lions CFL property through 2018.

http://www.bclions.com/2016/12/09/bighi ... hrough-18/

So.....perhaps this bodes well for Lokombo to get a starters job?

Oh, bad news for the Lions but I hope he does well.

At least we only have to wait about 6 weeks

Bighill is too small to play linebacker in the NFL. I wish him well but I expect to see him back next year.

B.C.FAN wrote:Bighill is too small to play linebacker in the NFL. I wish him well but I expect to see him back next year.

Smallish definitely as a linebacker for the NFL, but his motor never stops and he can close a lot of ground on the smaller field. He is a sure tackler and a hard hitter. I can see him on the Special Teams as being very consistent.

One of my favourite Lion and wish him well. All the more important we resign SolE

All the more important that we sign Elimimian and Lokombo now. While I wish him well as I want to see any player given the opportunity to play on the big stage and earn more money, he was the heart of our defence and a big part of our success.

B.C.FAN wrote:Bighill is too small to play linebacker in the NFL. I wish him well but I expect to see him back next year.

not for a 3rd down coverage linebacker and special teamer.

he could also play the mike in a tampa-2, but not many teams play that defense fulltime anymore.

I wish Adam the best of luck. Still not crazy about over $400,000 of cap space potentially tied up to a pair of international linebackers and handcuffs the Lions elsewhere. Get Elliminian signed and Washington might have to revise his scheme that sees Team #100 rack up a ton of tackles. Apparently the rest of the players in the league weren't as impressed given the CFLPA All-Star selections.

A scarier thought is LU mentions Jennings will have this same window a year from now.

https://t.co/FhoQQDW2ex?ssr=true

SammyGreene wrote:I wish Adam the best of luck. Still not crazy about over $400,000 of cap space potentially tied up to a pair of international linebackers and handcuffs the Lions elsewhere. Get Elliminian signed and Washington might have to revise his scheme that sees Team #100 rack up a ton of tackles. Apparently the rest of the players in the league weren't as impressed given the CFLPA All-Star selections.

A scarier thought is LU mentions Jennings will have this same window a year from now.

https://t.co/FhoQQDW2ex?ssr=true

Jennings is as good as gone after next season. He's just too good for the NFL to pass up. The Lions should be planning for that eventuality next year by developing the next QB of the Future. We have the luxury of having a still fairly young Travis available, to step in and start for a season if necessary.

Somehow I don't see Bighill as a NFL LB and he doesn't have the speed to cover receivers. He did seem to whiff on several routine tackles over the last few Lions game but perhaps he wasn't 100%? Maybe he could be signed in the NFL for special teams, which has got to be the safest job in football with nearly 70% of kickoffs resulting in touchbacks, or whatever...and most of their punts just roll around on the ground with the players standing around intently watching it. Heck, for a million bucks I could do that!

JohnHenry wrote:Somehow I don't see Bighill as a NFL LB and he doesn't have the speed to cover receivers. He did seem to whiff on several routine tackles over the last few Lions game but perhaps he wasn't 100%? Maybe he could be signed in the NFL for special teams, which has got to be the safest job in football with nearly 70% of kickoffs resulting in touchbacks, or whatever...and most of their punts just roll around on the ground with the players standing around intently watching it. Heck, for a million bucks I could do that!

Brendan Ayandabejo was similar in size, weight and age (6'1" 225# and going on 27) when he left the Lions for the NFL. He played there for a decade making the Pro Bowl 3 times as a special teamer.

Hambone wrote:Brendan Ayandabejo was similar in size, weight and age (6'1" 225# and going on 27) when he left the Lions for the NFL. He played there for a decade making the Pro Bowl 3 times as a special teamer.

Bighill's age as well as his size work against him as a possible NFL special-teamer. He'll turn 29 next season. NFL teams like to develop their own young prospects as special teamers who could become defensive specialists or starters.

B.C.FAN wrote:

Hambone wrote:Brendan Ayandabejo was similar in size, weight and age (6'1" 225# and going on 27) when he left the Lions for the NFL. He played there for a decade making the Pro Bowl 3 times as a special teamer.

Bighill's age as well as his size work against him as a possible NFL special-teamer. He'll turn 29 next season. NFL teams like to develop their own young prospects as special teamers who could become defensive specialists or starters.

Even at 29 I wouldn't sell Bighill short. A better comparison might be Sam Mills, who was listed at 5' 9"/230 lbs. After being cut from Argos training camp, Mills became a star in the USFL, then signed with the Saints at 27 yrs old, going on to register over 1300 tackles in 12 NFL seasons and being selected to 5 ProBowls. He tragically passed away at age 45 due to cancer.

Another example might be LB Jerrell Freeman listed at 6'0"/240 lbs. who signed a $12M/3 yr contract this season with the Bears. He spent his first 3 pro season with the Riders. His first year was on the practice squad, his second year as backup and his 3rd season as starter, leading the CFL in tackles. Freeman said he would never been able to sign in the NFL without his training in the CFL, which he said was "invaluable in his development as a player".

B.C.FAN wrote:

Hambone wrote:Brendan Ayandabejo was similar in size, weight and age (6'1" 225# and going on 27) when he left the Lions for the NFL. He played there for a decade making the Pro Bowl 3 times as a special teamer.

Bighill's age as well as his size work against him as a possible NFL special-teamer. He'll turn 29 next season. NFL teams like to develop their own young prospects as special teamers who could become defensive specialists or starters.

I dont' see Bighill making it down south, even as a special teamer. His age goes against him as a special teamer.

I would prefer to see our Leos go with Sol E. and Lokbombo at linebacker anyway and said so, even before Bighill announced he wanted to try it down south.

As for Jennings, John Henry, you said the same thing about Lulay. In fact, if I remember correctly, you believed that Lulay would be a top tier NFL quarterback. I disagreed.

Jennings has the arm to make it the NFL. He has the accuracy, arm strength, throw the football into a tight window, pocket poise to do it. However, he is not that tall and the likelihood is that he would be a practice roster or third stringer at best, unless he got lucky with an opportunity due to injuries.

Wiser for Jennings to to make the first string CFL quarterback money and enjoy his career. Jennings will probably sign a big contract and remain a Leo, when his contract is up, providing he stays healthy.

Put me down too in the Jennings as a long-shot to stick down south camp. Not due to ability, but it's about opportunity and he is far too small for that position in the NFL. He's not only shorter than scouts look for, but he's also slighter by a considerable margin. Russell Wilson is much stockier.

So while he can read defenses and make all the throws (and yes, has the mobility to scramble if necessary), he probably won't be given a serious look (unless, to Blitz's point, two or three QBs ahead of him on the depth chart at camp get hurt and he's thrust into the position with a first-string offense and really turns heads).

Better he do what BLM is doing: Carve out a great career in Canada and hopefully he can earn the dough commensurate with his incredible skill set. Half a mill a year is not chump change. He's only going to get better too, IMO. But heading south has buggered up many a career.


DH

Could Biggie make the NFL? Sure. Longshot however.

Could Jennings make it down there? IMO he has more than enough talent to shine. Would he get the chance? Probably not.

Similar size to Drew Brees. Way, way, way more mobility.

Ya never know what football executive might see the potential in somewhat unheralded players. Pete Carroll saw the potential in Russell Wilson, 5'11'', 215.

For selfish reasons I hope we get to keep Jonathon Jennings for the rest of his football career. Already one of my all time favourite players.

Best wishes to Biggie. And a big welcome back to him if his shot at the big bucks in the big pond does not work out.

Just IMO ...