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RUTH BONNEVILLE \/ FREE PRESS<\/p>\n
Calgary Stampeders linebacker Adam Bighill had Saturday\u2019s clash against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers circled on his calendar, but hopes to face his former club in the post-season.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The 36-year-old\u2019s split with the Bombers last off-season wasn\u2019t on his terms. The club wasn\u2019t interested in re-signing him, and instead went with a younger option in Tony Jones, who played admirably in Bighill\u2019s absence and inked a two-year deal to become the team\u2019s permanent middle linebacker.<\/p>\n
It was evident in Bighill\u2019s tone how badly he wanted to be on the field on Saturday, the final regular-season meeting between the Bombers and Stamps, but he understands this is the most logical path to staying on the field this year.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think in terms of being ready, I feel like I could probably play this game,\u201d said Bighill, who was signed to the Stamps practice roster in June. \u201cBut we have a bye week after this, and just taking that extra little bit of time, can\u2019t argue with that probably being a smart way to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n
If the Bombers and Stamps meet again this season, it will be in the playoffs \u2014 a thought that already has Bighill licking his chops.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a long season, and my estimation is we play Winnipeg again,\u201d he said. \u201cAs much as you want to play a game like this, there\u2019s many more games to be played.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAs much as you want to play a game like this, there\u2019s many more games to be played.\u201d\u2013Adam Bighill<\/p>\n
Bighill has logged full practice sessions for two weeks as he ramps up the volume and overall load on his rehabbed knee.<\/p>\n
He maintained he already feels like the same old Biggie \u2014 the heartbeat of Winnipeg\u2019s defence for six seasons, who helped the club to back-to-back Grey Cups, including ending a 28-year championship drought in 2019.<\/p>\n
The three-time Most Outstanding Defensive Player and future Hall-of-Famer ranks second in Bombers\u2019 franchise history with 430 tackles.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust not quite there. And with the bye next week \u2014 he was chomping at the bit to play,\u201d said Stampeders head coach Dave Dickenson.<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t JOHN WOODS \/ THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES<\/p>\n Calgary Stampeders head coach Dave Dickenson<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Bighill has a better chance at returning in Week 12 after the Stampeders\u2019 bye week when Calgary hosts the Saskatchewan Roughriders.<\/p>\n \u201cI had him in the office (Thursday) and just told him, \u2018Just keep doing what you\u2019re doing,\u2019\u201d Dickenson added. \u201cHe did have a slight setback on more of a flu, which caused him a couple of days of non-practice and non-rehab the previous week, but he\u2019s close.<\/p>\n \u201cI gotta be patient, and he does too. He\u2019ll be doing his part on the sideline, and when he does get to play, hopefully he\u2019s that same guy that he\u2019s been his whole career.\u201d<\/p>\n The 13-year pro was not only acquired because Dickenson still believes he has something in the tank, but for the leadership he brings to the locker room. Bighill said he needs to get on the field in order for his true impact to be felt.<\/p>\n \u201cYou just kind of pick your spots when you can help,\u201d he said. \u201cI firmly believe in leading by action, and then you\u2019ll get the ears of the people around you. So, without being able to be there on the field as much, I just selectively take my spots to talk to guys and help \u2014 just provide some of that experience.\u201d<\/p>\n Added Dickenson: \u201cHere\u2019s the weird thing: the guys know him, but he hasn\u2019t played for us. You do get street cred because of what you\u2019ve done, but a lot of times you get it when you actually get on the field and you show people why you\u2019re considered one of the best guys in our league\u2019s history.<\/p>\n \u201cI think he\u2019s always been as smart as they come. I think he sees things before they happen. I had another guy, Alex Singleton, who almost moved too fast. He saw it so fast\u2026 and I\u2019ve always thought Adam, same thing. He reads the play so fast. That can also, I think, help him, maybe if he\u2019s not running quite as well as he was in the past. Been a good addition.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s been 11 months since his injury. Bighill said he\u2019s right on schedule for the prognosis he originally received, which was mid-August.<\/p>\n However, he hasn\u2019t allowed his mind to wander beyond this season. This could be his last dance in the three-down loop, or perhaps he\u2019ll try to save his swan song for another year.<\/p>\n \u201cI haven\u2019t thought about quitting playing football, but coming back after an injury, I think it has to be one (season) at a time,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s not necessarily ride off into the sunset.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI haven\u2019t thought about quitting playing football, but coming back after an injury, I think it has to be one (season) at a time.\u201d\u2013Adam Bighill<\/p>\n Whether Bighill plays beyond this year could depend as much on his desire as it does on his performance the rest of the season.<\/p>\n He\u2019s heard the noise. Many thought this 36-year-old with a busted knee wouldn\u2019t make it back to pro football.<\/p>\n It\u2019s nothing new to Bighill. He\u2019s relished the chance to prove people wrong since he entered the league.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve always kind of had a chip on my shoulder. I\u2019ve always had an underdog story,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cDespite once people kind of figured out who I was in the CFL and what I can do \u2014 I had earned a spot, if you will \u2014 I still have had a chip on my shoulder. Not gotten to the level I am and gotten comfortable, I\u2019ve always had that chip still and proving people wrong. So this is just a continuance, really.\u201d<\/p>\n joshua.frey-sam@freepress.mb.ca<\/p>\n X: @jfreysam<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t Joshua Frey-Sam Josh Frey-Sam reports on sports and business at the Free Press. Josh got his start at the paper in 2022, just weeks after graduating from the Creative Communications program at Red River College. He reports primarily on amateur teams and athletes in sports. Read more about Josh<\/a>.<\/p>\n Every piece of reporting Josh produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print \u2014 part of the Free Press\u2018s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press\u2019s history and mandate<\/a>, and learn how our newsroom operates<\/a>.<\/p>\n Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber<\/a>.<\/p>\n Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.<\/p>\n \t\t
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