GM Ryan Rigmaiden: ‘Everybody wants to play with the best and Nathan\u2019s not only the best in the league at quarterback \u2014 I think he\u2019s the best player in the league’<\/p>\n
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Published Jan 26, 2026 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 5 minute read<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n You can save this article by registering for free here<\/a>. Or sign-in<\/a> if you have an account.<\/p>\n Having Nathan Rourke at quarterback certainly helps the sales pitch when you\u2019re recruiting players, says B.C. Lions general manager Ryan Rigmaiden.<\/p>\n Advertisement 2<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. 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Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events.Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account.The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.<\/p>\n REGISTER \/ SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.<\/p>\n THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an Account<\/p>\n or<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n The CFL opens free agency on Feb. 10, but Rigmaiden has already done a lot of heavy lifting when it comes to building up the roster for his second season as the Lions\u2019 general manager.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n That includes inking middle linebacker Darnell Sankey to a one-year deal after he was released by the Montreal Alouettes, and agreeing to a two-year contact contract with defensive tackle Casey Sayles after he was cut loose by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.<\/p>\n Sankey, 31, has been a CFL East Division all-star the past two seasons. Sayles, 30, received that honour this past year to go with his 2023 All-CFL team accolade.<\/p>\n B.C. has already signed extensions with 12 of their own pending free agents<\/a>, including wide receiver Keon Hatcher and defensive lineman Jonah Tavai.<\/p>\n Rigmaiden says that having Rourke at the controls of the offence and leading the team is \u201chuge\u201d when it comes to getting players to buy in to where the Lions are headed. Rourke, 27, was awarded both the CFL\u2019s George Reed Most Outstanding Player and the Most Outstanding Canadian honours at the end of last season.<\/p>\n Canucks Report<\/p>\n Thanks for signing up!<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Advertisement 3<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t win in this league without a quarterback. That\u2019s just the reality of it,\u201d Rigmaiden said. \u201cEverybody wants to play with the best and Nathan\u2019s not only the best in the league at quarterback \u2014 I think he\u2019s the best player in the league.<\/p>\n \u201cEverybody from afar respects his game, but when they start talking to him and getting to know him and they respect the man. That\u2019s even better.\u201d<\/p>\n Rigmaiden says the Lions still aim to get deals done with some of their own pending free agents before Feb. 10, and he mentioned specifically offensive tackle Jarell Broxton, running back James Butler and receiver Ayden Eberhardt.<\/p>\n The league website published a list of the top-30 pending free agents on Dec. 5,<\/a> they slotted Broxton at the No. 14 and Butler at No. 20. They followed it up Friday with a top-five pending free agents who could still hit the open market<\/a>, and Butler was the lone B.C. player in that group.<\/p>\n Butler, 30, ran for 1,213 yards this past season, which was third best in the CFL<\/a>, and tied for tops in rushing touchdowns with 11.<\/p>\n Advertisement 4<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Broxton, 32, received All-CFL recognition and Pro Football Focus also graded him as the top player in pass protection. Eberhardt, 27, finished with 863 yards receiving, which was the third-best total on the Lions.<\/p>\n \u201cSome of these guys are going to have to go to the window and see what their value is,\u201d Rigmaiden said of B.C.\u2019s remaining free-agent crew.<\/p>\n \u201cI think every player wants to be back but it has to make sense. Some players are going to get higher offers from other teams. That\u2019s just the reality of football. Do I want to come back and continue to build what we\u2019ve been building here or do I want to chase some money on the open market? That\u2019s a personal decision for each player.\u201d<\/p>\n The addition of Sankey led to the Lions releasing Micah Awe<\/a>, 32, who was last year\u2019s starting middle linebacker, on Friday. He was one of B.C.\u2019s key additions in free agency last February and inked a two-year deal then.<\/p>\n Awe led the CFL in tackles this past season with 117. Rigmaiden told the media during the CFL winter meetings in Calgary last week that Sankey was the starter in the middle and the club hadn\u2019t made any decisions on Awe at that point. Rigmaiden pointed out then that Awe was capable of playing outside linebacker, but there was also younger players that the Lions were \u201cvery, very excited about.\u201d<\/p>\n Advertisement 5<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u201cIt hurt a ton to let him go. I think I signed him when he was coming into the league,\u201d said Rigmaiden, pointing to when he was the Lions director of U.S. scouting and Awe initially signed with B.C. in 2017 out of Texas Tech. \u201cI personally love him as a human being. I\u2019ve got to know him over the years. This is worst part of this business. It was something we had to do because it was the best decision for the club.\u201d<\/p>\n With Sankey, 3DownNation reports that the Alouettes are looking at a ratio change<\/a> and putting a Canadian in the middle linebacker spot. General manager Danny Maciocia said in the press release announcing Sankey\u2019s departure that the move was giving him a \u201chead start on free agency.\u201d<\/p>\n The Tiger-Cats, meanwhile, look to be changing their mix. They cut ties with Sayles and on Monday they announced they had released receiver Tim White, 31, who had recorded 1,000 yards receiving in each of the past four seasons. He was set to become a free agent on Feb. 10.<\/p>\n Sankey finished third in the league in tackles with 103. Sayles had 35 tackles and four sacks. Sankey is from San Jose and played collegiately at Sacramento State. Sayles is from\u00a0Omaha and played collegiately at Ohio.<\/p>\n Advertisement 6<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u201cWe wanted to make a couple of impact signings on the defensive side of the ball and we didn\u2019t even had to wait for free agency to start,\u201d Rigmaiden said. \u201cYou had two premium, elite talents who are at the top of their game. Not only that \u2014 they\u2019re really, really good leaders and terrific for the locker room. Adding two guys like that is exactly what we needed for the defence to take the next step.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd getting Sayles and Sankey ahead of time is an advantage because it clears up your picture.\u201d<\/p>\n B.C. lost 24-21 to the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the West Division final. The Lions open the 2026 regular season<\/a> with a trip to the Roughriders on June 13. Their first home game is June 27, when they host the Calgary Stampeders at the Apple Bowl in Kelowna. That will be the team\u2019s home to start the season because of FIFA World Cup commitments at B.C. Place<\/a>. The Lions\u2019 first game back at B.C. Place is July 25, when the Toronto Argonauts provide the opposition.<\/p>\n SEwen@postmedia.com<\/a><\/p>\n @SteveEwen<\/a><\/p>\n Read More<\/p>\n B.C. Lions release defensive back Carter so he can pursue NFL opportunities<\/p>\n![\"Nathan](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/CP173000965.jpg\")
Nathan Rourke celebrating with his B.C. Lions teammates last seasonArticle content<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/20.4.0\/websites\/images\/identity\/logo-identity-vp.svg\"){kind=logo}
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