Thanks for everything, Biggie

Started by VictorRomano, January 25, 2025, 01:31:26 AM

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VictorRomano

The team has announced Adam Bighill will not be offered a contract.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1TmQGrFhCg/

https://winnipegsun.com/sports/football/cfl/winnipeg-bluebombers/bombers-discard-bighill-jan-25-2025

End of an era.  Would have liked to see him go out with one last GC ring, but it's clear Tony Jones is the future.

Sir Blue and Gold

Tough move. Kind of a sad move. But it is the right move.

dd

Father time is a cruel guy, he spares no one. Everyone here knew this day was coming and ya, its a tough call, but the right call, arguably should have been made 2 years ago. Still, many thanks to a great player, onto retirement

J5V

Thank you for your contribution and the great memories, Biggie. All the best!
Go Bombers!

Pigskin

Pretty special person and player. I will miss his war cry to start every practice.
Don't go through life looking in the rearview mirror.

Ridermania


Waffler

Bighill was the best in his day. I recall most the season we were on pace to set some amazing defensive records but were far enough ahead to rest people down the stretch. Grateful he chose to play here as a free agent.

Everyone should read the Sun article linked in the first post. No communication or waiting until the last minute is a pattern here and I hoped we were better than that.

Good luck to Biggie where ever he ends up.
Buried in the essentially random digits of pi, you can find your eight-digit birthdate. (Is that a wink from God or just a lot of digits?) - David G. Myers
__________________________________________________
Everything seems stupid when it fails.  - Fyodor Dostoevsky

Blue In BC

Great player and person overall. He'll end up in the HOF at some point. It's a tough business but age shows no mercy eventually.

I wouldn't have minded him as a DI for one more year, but roster size, SMS and newbies come into play.

Thanks for coming to Winnipeg and perhaps you go into coaching in the near future.
Take no prisoners

bluengold204

Quote from: Waffler on January 25, 2025, 12:51:20 PMBighill was the best in his day. I recall most the season we were on pace to set some amazing defensive records but were far enough ahead to rest people down the stretch. Grateful he chose to play here as a free agent.

Everyone should read the Sun article linked in the first post. No communication or waiting until the last minute is a pattern here and I hoped we were better than that.

Good luck to Biggie where ever he ends up.

Yup it's pretty embarrassing that a 7 year veteran and one of our most important players over our run has to call our GM to get an answer on what's going on.

bwiser

Football can be a cruel game. One of the best linebackers to ever play in the CFL and a certain hall of famer, it is sad to see him go but Father time wins again.

DM83

One of the best

If his injuries did not happen he would be a great asset.
Now he can be a great asset as a coach. Great player.

The Zipp

Quote from: bluengold204 on January 25, 2025, 03:01:09 PMYup it's pretty embarrassing that a 7 year veteran and one of our most important players over our run has to call our GM to get an answer on what's going on.

i agree. 

bush league and disappointing considering the Bombers pride themselves on the FIFO business..seems like some pretty big egos ruling the roost at the Bombers and at some point that usually implodes. 

Bighill lives in Winnipeg - how hard would it be to have an in person conversation initiated by the club?

BBRT

Quote from: VictorRomano on January 25, 2025, 01:31:26 AMThe team has announced Adam Bighill will not be offered a contract.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1TmQGrFhCg/

https://winnipegsun.com/sports/football/cfl/winnipeg-bluebombers/bombers-discard-bighill-jan-25-2025

End of an era.  Would have liked to see him go out with one last GC ring, but it's clear Tony Jones is the future.
Sorry to hear the news. But time does catch up with us all. Thanks Biggy for being one of the greats. I hope to see you up on the Bomber Wall at some point in time. Good Luck with your out of football business.

Stats Junkie

Ed Tait has updated his latest 1st & 10 article with details about Bighill.

QuoteAnd just to be clear as to how this unfolded from a club perspective, head coach Mike O'Shea told Bighill in early December he would not be receiving a new contract offer from the club. Bighill represents himself and GM Kyle Walters said they spoke not long after the player's meeting with O'Shea to confirm the news.

"These are always difficult discussions, especially for a player of Adam's stature," said Walters. "This is the business part of the game and after we spoke I thanked him and we talked about plans moving forward — would he be released, was he free to call other teams — and I wished him the best of luck in trying to land another contract."
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markf

Serious discrepancy on the communications issue. What happened.

As far as I can tell, That's the way things are these days... not just football, everything.


dd

Quote from: Stats Junkie on January 25, 2025, 08:43:05 PMEd Tait has updated his latest 1st & 10 article with details about Bighill.

That sounds about right. I can't believe the Bombers would cold shoulder him. They did the right thing

theaardvark

Wow, huge difference... sounds like if was over from the exit meeting. 

Was Biggie somehow hopeful they'd change their minds?  Even if he misunderstood (can't see how if Tait's reporting is accurate) wouldn't the signing of Jones spelt it out?

Love Bighill, but I'm not sure how to take the discrepancies...

Unabashed positron.  Blue koolaid in my fridge.  I wear my blue sunglasses at night.  Homer, d'oh.

Blueforlife

Football is a business but this guy created our ability to have a #1d for many years

When he 1st arrived I made a massive sign with his face on it

It read

Biggie Biggie Biggie can't you see, now we have ,#1d

One of the best ever at his position

TecnoGenius

Bit of a surprise, but not really a surprise.

Will cause strange and mixed emotions, I'm sure.

After AH33 (and before Matt Nichols), I'd rank Biggie as my favorite and most important player from the '15-'19 incoming top players that were critical to WFC turning the corner.

It's the end of an era.

As OP titled the thread: thanks so much Biggie for everything you did and everything you brought to Winnipeg and the team.  We seriously couldn't have done it without you and you are my favorite LB of all time.  Now you're done making sacks, go and make those stacks with your financial career!

And WFC needs to do the a big send-off like they did for AH33 when he officially retires.
Never go full Rider!

Jesse

Quote from: theaardvark on January 26, 2025, 02:20:23 AMWow, huge difference... sounds like if was over from the exit meeting. 

Was Biggie somehow hopeful they'd change their minds?  Even if he misunderstood (can't see how if Tait's reporting is accurate) wouldn't the signing of Jones spelt it out?

Love Bighill, but I'm not sure how to take the discrepancies...



Don't take what you read on 3down as fact. Easy.

There was never a quote of Adam saying he hadn't been told anything by the club. Just one that he was disappointed he wouldn't be returning.
My wife is amazing!

blue_gold_84

The Winnipeg Sun is such garbage. Nothing more than a rancid tabloid.

Sad news and a shame for Bighill, but what a career. One of the best ever to do it - he'll be in the HOF before long.

Thanks for everything, Adam.
#forthew
лава Україні!
We are now in The Find Out Phase, eh.
井の中の蛙大海を知らず

blue_or_die

Thank you, Adam.

One of the faces of our Golden Age.

After going many years without a true stalwart MLB, Biggie arrived and exceeded the promise he brought. Great career and will be remembered by us for decades.
#Ride?

GOLDMEMBER

Signing Adam marked the beginning of tremendous defensive success.
I LOSHT MY MEMBER IN AN UNFORTUNATE SHMELTING ACCSHIDENT!

J5V

Go Bombers!

TecnoGenius

Never go full Rider!

theaardvark

Was looking at the FA list and who hasn't been signed.

Any word on any team expressing interest in Biggie yet?  What is Pinball waiting for?

Its too bad his injury did not let him play out his career.  He deserved better than this exit.

Unabashed positron.  Blue koolaid in my fridge.  I wear my blue sunglasses at night.  Homer, d'oh.

blueandgoldguy

Thanks for everything Biggie!

I don't agree that Toby Jones will be the future, at least for very long. Below average middle linebacker who is probably good on a rotational basis.  Hopefully the scouts and O'shea do their job when it comes to finding and assessing talent.

Throw Long Bannatyne

#27
Quote from: theaardvark on February 04, 2025, 09:18:37 PMWas looking at the FA list and who hasn't been signed.

Any word on any team expressing interest in Biggie yet?  What is Pinball waiting for?

Its too bad his injury did not let him play out his career.  He deserved better than this exit.

Biggie could get another opportunity mid-season as an injury replacement once he's fully recovered, but teams will want to test him out before signing.  Hoping he eventually ends up on the Bomber coaching staff and not elsewhere.

theaardvark

Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on February 04, 2025, 09:42:04 PMBiggie could get another opportunity mid-season as an injury replacement once he's fully recovered, but teams will want to test him out before signing.  Hoping he eventually ends up on the Bomber coaching staff and not elsewhere.

Is he interested in CFL coaching?  His finance career seems to be doing well...  can't see coaching being as lucrative.
Unabashed positron.  Blue koolaid in my fridge.  I wear my blue sunglasses at night.  Homer, d'oh.

TecnoGenius

Quote from: blueandgoldguy on February 04, 2025, 09:40:34 PMI don't agree that Toby Jones will be the future, at least for very long. Below average middle linebacker who is probably good on a rotational basis.  Hopefully the scouts and O'shea do their job when it comes to finding and assessing talent.

Tony Jones was superb and was an instant upgrade in the speed, tackling and physicality dept.  What remains to be seen is what he can do in the brain "QB of the D" dept.  We don't have much to go on there (yet).

Let's say he's not the sharpest knife... we can still make it work by having the "QB of the D" be the WILL (or even something else).  That may be why we retained always-hurt Wilson even whilst letting all the other injury-prone guys walk.
Never go full Rider!

Pigskin

Quote from: TecnoGenius on February 05, 2025, 07:44:38 AMTony Jones was superb and was an instant upgrade in the speed, tackling and physicality dept.  What remains to be seen is what he can do in the brain "QB of the D" dept.  We don't have much to go on there (yet).

Let's say he's not the sharpest knife... we can still make it work by having the "QB of the D" be the WILL (or even something else).  That may be why we retained always-hurt Wilson even whilst letting all the other injury-prone guys walk.


When Bighill went down last season, BA was the "QB" on the D. When BA was out Kramdi stepped in and took over. I am sure with a year under his belt, Jones can "QB" our D.
Don't go through life looking in the rearview mirror.

Throw Long Bannatyne

Quote from: Pigskin on February 05, 2025, 03:00:50 PMWhen Bighill went down last season, BA was the "QB" on the D. When BA was out Kramdi stepped in and took over. I am sure with a year under his belt, Jones can "QB" our D.

I don't think it's a one man job anymore, Nichols and Holm are key communicators along with Kramdi and BA, which is the benefit of having an experienced secondary.  On the frontline, like it or not, it's usually Jake who communicates the signals.

TecnoGenius

Quote from: Pigskin on February 05, 2025, 03:00:50 PMWhen Bighill went down last season, BA was the "QB" on the D. When BA was out Kramdi stepped in and took over. I am sure with a year under his belt, Jones can "QB" our D.

Ya, could be SAM doing it.  I'm not sure it works as well with a DB/FS doing it... too far away from the DL and LB.

If Kramdi was the brains / communicator then he could possibly be "it" for taking over this role in perpetuity.  Then you make him a BFL as he offers so many advantages, as MOS is always pointing out.

Gotta hand it to Kramdi, not many would have guessed he would become everything that he has.  But Mafia saw it!  Great player.
Never go full Rider!

Jesse

I think you might be over estimating this "QB of the D" narrative. Seems like an off hand comment a coach made one time about a great MLB and just became a thing for media to write article about. An overused cliche that doesn't mean anything.

You can't hear anything a player is saying on the field. You need to be able to communicate with everyone who plays around you. You see players looking over at other players next to them and making hand signals about how the offence is lining up and who is covering who in that alignment. No one is looking over at any single player to get them lined up correctly.
My wife is amazing!

blue_or_die

Quote from: Jesse on February 06, 2025, 10:51:53 AMI think you might be over estimating this "QB of the D" narrative. Seems like an off hand comment a coach made one time about a great MLB and just became a thing for media to write article about. An overused cliche that doesn't mean anything.

You can't hear anything a player is saying on the field. You need to be able to communicate with everyone who plays around you. You see players looking over at other players next to them and making hand signals about how the offence is lining up and who is covering who in that alignment. No one is looking over at any single player to get them lined up correctly.

I believe there is such things as a "QB of the D", but I don't think any of us knows who that is or why.
#Ride?

theaardvark

I think the reference to "QB of the D" isn't exactly meaning he calls the play, makes changes at the line, etc.  I think its more of the moral leader, guy that puts the team on his back and carries them as far as he can kinda guy. 

D calls come from the sidelines, and in each group they decide the play.  DL, LB, WSDB, SSDB, FS all have different roles each down, and I don't think the MLB or the "QB of the D" calls that.  He might be in charge of changing one of them depending on set, but I would think each group has its "QB" that makes adjustments.

That said, I am sure there are players that are leaders on the D that the rest look up to, and Biggie was the epitome of that, for sure.
Unabashed positron.  Blue koolaid in my fridge.  I wear my blue sunglasses at night.  Homer, d'oh.

Throw Long Bannatyne

Quote from: theaardvark on February 06, 2025, 03:38:42 PMI think the reference to "QB of the D" isn't exactly meaning he calls the play, makes changes at the line, etc.  I think its more of the moral leader, guy that puts the team on his back and carries them as far as he can kinda guy. 

D calls come from the sidelines, and in each group they decide the play.  DL, LB, WSDB, SSDB, FS all have different roles each down, and I don't think the MLB or the "QB of the D" calls that.  He might be in charge of changing one of them depending on set, but I would think each group has its "QB" that makes adjustments.

That said, I am sure there are players that are leaders on the D that the rest look up to, and Biggie was the epitome of that, for sure.

BA was the leader of the secondary until injuries came his way, picking up the signal from the sidelines and making sure both sides knew what they were doing. Noticed Holm helping Ford a lot with his positioning especially early in the season, I imagine Nichols was doing the same for Bond on the other corner.  Quite amazing how good the secondary was last season starting two very inexperienced corners, normally that's a recipe for disaster, kudos to the defensive staff.

TecnoGenius

Quote from: blue_or_die on February 06, 2025, 01:30:51 PMI believe there is such things as a "QB of the D", but I don't think any of us knows who that is or why.

I don't know.  It seemed pretty clear that was Biggie most of the time he was here and on-field.  That's probably most of why our D got so good after he signed, and why we often struggled when he was injured (until maybe his last year).

So often you can see him pointing and moving and calling out things to his fellow LBers and DL.  And he's often the only one doing it.  That spells QB to me.
Never go full Rider!

TecnoGenius

Quote from: theaardvark on February 06, 2025, 03:38:42 PMD calls come from the sidelines, and in each group they decide the play.  DL, LB, WSDB, SSDB, FS all have different roles each down, and I don't think the MLB or the "QB of the D" calls that.  He might be in charge of changing one of them depending on set, but I would think each group has its "QB" that makes adjustments.

Yes, it's all about post-huddle post-call but pre-snap adjustments.  RECs crossing, changing formation.  Someone has to recognize what they are doing, probably from film study, and possibly realigning or changing the DC play call on the fly.

I bet this happens a ton.
Never go full Rider!

DM83

So none of you played football and are offering wrong opinions.

For the most part
One is a defensive alignment/slant call, the second is the LBs gap based on the D line, and the the third IS THE dBs coverage.
Blitz's are called for certain guys or positions.

These calls are sent in by the d coordinator, with the exception of DB coverage.  All are based on tendencies., accumulated from the previous weeks game, with relation to prior contests between the teams. Emphasis should be based on most recent games.

In the past based on Wpgs. Play

First down- off tackle left, or a search left where the RB finds the hole on the line.
2nd down and five-ish - fake. Run to Brady, dump to him, short hooks to all, or a crossing pattern
2yrs ago- 2nd and long vs man - corner pattern to either Lawler or Demski. Or vs. zone a seam to Schoen or the other "slot"

Based on previous games and charting, tendencies can be noted, and the most likely plays run by the offence can be taken away.

The entire defensive team knows the plays the opponent likes to run on certain downs, field position, and usually tries to take the play away or jump the route. This applies to the front seven with emphasis on all gaps are accounted for, including outside contain.

J5V

Quote from: DM83 on February 07, 2025, 01:18:00 PMSo none of you played football and are offering wrong opinions.

For the most part
One is a defensive alignment/slant call, the second is the LBs gap based on the D line, and the the third IS THE dBs coverage.
Blitz's are called for certain guys or positions.

These calls are sent in by the d coordinator, with the exception of DB coverage.  All are based on tendencies., accumulated from the previous weeks game, with relation to prior contests between the teams. Emphasis should be based on most recent games.

In the past based on Wpgs. Play

First down- off tackle left, or a search left where the RB finds the hole on the line.
2nd down and five-ish - fake. Run to Brady, dump to him, short hooks to all, or a crossing pattern
2yrs ago- 2nd and long vs man - corner pattern to either Lawler or Demski. Or vs. zone a seam to Schoen or the other "slot"

Based on previous games and charting, tendencies can be noted, and the most likely plays run by the offence can be taken away.

The entire defensive team knows the plays the opponent likes to run on certain downs, field position, and usually tries to take the play away or jump the route. This applies to the front seven with emphasis on all gaps are accounted for, including outside contain.
I had to read this a couple of times before I could understand and envision what you were saying. So the D coordinator sends in the calls except for the DBs. What happens on D when the QB audibles because he doesn't like what the D is doing? Does somebody on D also audible depending on what he thinks the QB has changed the play to or is there not enough time? Do the D players sometimes leave the structure and freelance because they think they see what's coming?
Go Bombers!

TecnoGenius

Quote from: DM83 on February 07, 2025, 01:18:00 PMSo none of you played football and are offering wrong opinions.

Good insights.  However, back to the "QB of the D": how much is direction from the MLB to the less-senior LBers/DL/DBs to adjust to pre-snap alignment/movement?  We're used to seeing Biggie do so much direction.  He's not just doing it for his health.

There's got to be someone (or 2) who take charge and point out tricks/blindspots they know the rookies are not going to see otherwise.
Never go full Rider!

Throw Long Bannatyne

Quote from: TecnoGenius on February 08, 2025, 01:46:13 AMGood insights.  However, back to the "QB of the D": how much is direction from the MLB to the less-senior LBers/DL/DBs to adjust to pre-snap alignment/movement?  We're used to seeing Biggie do so much direction.  He's not just doing it for his health.

There's got to be someone (or 2) who take charge and point out tricks/blindspots they know the rookies are not going to see otherwise.


Much of their decisions are based on film study of the opponents formations and the communication between D-backs is making sure they're on the same page, they don't rely on the sideline to tell them what to do on every play.