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January 11, 2017

Q&A: Bighill Prepares To Tackle Big Easy

One week after he agreed to a three-year futures contact with the New Orleans Saints, Adam Bighill spoke with Matt Baker from BCLions.com about his new opportunity. Bighill’s six-year tenure in the Lions den was filled with great memories and the linebacker says he will never forget those as he embarks on his lifelong dream of playing in the National Football League. The product of Montesano, Washington also says having a few familiar CFL faces in New Orleans will also help as he transitions back to the American game.

Baker: Well that isn’t a bad way to ring in a New Year. Describe your excitement level as you get prepared to tackle your dream of playing fulltime in the NFL?

Bighill: It is something I have wanted to do since I was seven years old; play professional football and the BC Lions gave me that opportunity. At this point it is another opportunity to try and take that to the next level.

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Baker: It has been well documented that you had quite the unique opportunity to explore NFL options until the end of January. Describe the process you have gone through for the past three weeks or so.

Bighill: It’s been a process. The Saints were the first team to really express interest and invite me down for a workout. We had a couple of other teams interested in bringing me in for a workout, but as we got talking with the Saints more it felt like the situation in New Orleans was so good and it would be hard to match from any other team. It was easy to pull the trigger.

Baker: What is it about the New Orleans Saints that appeals to you the most?

Bighill: They were willing to give a signing bonus and that was important. It’s tough to know what other teams would have offered without working out for them, but the signing bonus that New Orleans did offer was relatively high for a rookie free agent. The commitment level from a signing bonus standpoint was pretty important, not to mention my experience down there during the workout. I think I impressed everybody and it was pretty clear just talking to the coaches what their excitement level was and what they envision me being able to do for the club. It was a great experience from that standpoint; just feeling their excitement of what I did in that very small workout.

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Baker: What kind of indication have they given to you in terms of your opportunity to make it as a linebacker?

Bighill: It’s always too early to tell that. It’s a question I have gotten a lot recently. They’ve made a couple changes with their linebacker coaching position already. They’re getting new coaches, NFL free agency has not even started, and the NFL Draft is still to come so at this point it’s too early to tell where I might fit into their system. I am sure they have an idea of some initial opportunities, but it’s too quick to put it on paper. I know, off the top, they are excited about my explosive ability and initially how that translates to special teams. I think once I get in the building and have a few practices to show my defensive skill as far as being able to control the defence, play fast, drop back in coverage and make plays on the ball, once I start showing that I can do all that it is going to give them a whole lot of confidence for what I can do in their defence.

Baker: The Saints have also signed Anthony Gaitor, your teammate from last season. How much will you guys lean on each other as this process really begins?

Bighill: It was great because Anthony was actually at the workout with me. I had no idea he was going to be there and then I saw him at the hotel and it was pretty cool to see him there, a friendly face. The fact that he signed with the Saints and we’re going to be playing for the same team again, that’s always great to have a familiar face to go through that experience with you. I’m looking forward to that a lot. Not only that but former CFL players on the Saints, Eric Harris and Delvin Breaux, both reached out and gave me their congratulations. It’s going to be an easier transition with those kinds of guys there that I am already familiar with and I’ll be able to lean on them. It’s going to be good.

BC Lions' Anthony Gaitor points to the roof before the start of the first half of CFL action in Vancouver, B.C., on Friday, Sept 9, 2016. (CFL PHOTO Ð Chad Hipolito)

Baker: I was going to ask you about Breaux; he signed there last year after a successful stint in Hamilton and wound up playing a big role in 2016. Does that give you confidence it can work for you in New Orleans as well?

Bighill: That’s another situation where we decided to pull the trigger with New Orleans quickly. They have a history of signing Canadian talent and giving them opportunities to play. Delvin Breaux, from what I have read and been told, was their number one cornerback for the entire season. Eric Harris was on the roster all year until he got hurt. A couple of years before that Marcus Ball was working his way into a starting position. It’s great that they give these guys opportunities and it was a big part of me wanting to be involved with the organization as well.

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Baker: Doug Flutie was famously quoted as saying “All I know is I have played this game at my height my entire life?” How do you stay so motivated when people bring up your size?

Bighill: I know for a fact I play like I am 6’2. I feel like there is nothing a coach can ask me to do that I can’t accomplish. It doesn’t matter what it is that he asks, whether it’s block protection, man coverage, it doesn’t matter. I’ve built my game and have the tools in my tool belt to be able to handle all situations. I’m still improving, but I don’t feel I have any weaknesses in my game.

Baker: Sean Payton is one of the more fiery coaches in the NFL. How much did you deal with him during the recruitment process and how excited are you to get the chance to play for him?

Bighill: I met him down there at the workout and it was great to talk to him. Obviously his reputation speaks for itself and I am very excited to play for a coach like him. You need leaders as head coaches and from everything I have seen and heard, he is a great leader. If you get all of your guys to rally, play and become that much better then that is important. I am excited about that opportunity and looking forward to winning some games down there.

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Baker: Let’s talk a little about the culture change you are about to experience. New Orleans has its fair share of jazz and music clubs. We’ve talked about your music preferences in the past, but are you going to add Jazz to that list?

Bighill: To be honest I am a fan of music in general. I am sure if there’s an opportunity to experience a little jazz, I will do it for sure.

Baker: One of my favourite things about New Orleans is Cajun food. How anxious are you to add the likes of jambalaya, crawfish, gumbo and shrimp creole to your daily line-up?

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Bighill: It’s funny, I don’t know too much about that Cajun cooking. It’s going to be new to me. With that being said, when I came to Vancouver I found out you could eat anything with the amount of diversity up here and I learned to love a lot of new foods. I am sure that will be no different when I get to New Orleans.

Baker: While we’re on this topic: As you continue to train for 2017, how many hurricanes do you think you’ll drink? Too much sugar for a fitness buff like yourself I guess….

Bighill: I’m pretty dedicated to my training so everything is focused around being the best I can be (laughs), so I think that answers that question.

Baker: If you could pinpoint it, what would the number one highlight of your time in British Columbia be?

Bighill: I think the top one would be winning the Grey Cup in my rookie year. You play this game to win championships and to have an opportunity to win one in my rookie year that would definitely be THE highlight. Other than that it would have to be playing with great teammates and great players. I played with future Hall of Famers and Grey Cup MVP’s, very very talented football players. Being able to share the field with them and all the locker room memories has been very special to me.

Baker: Your son AJ just turned one and you and wife Kristina are welcoming a daughter later this year. How much has the family aspect motivated you to pursue this dream?

Bighill: The NFL is an opportunity to make life better for you and you’re family. When you realize you are only going to play this game for so long and that one day you’ll have to hang up your cleats and your body isn’t going to be able to do what you want it to anymore, you really realize that you have to make every day count, every year count. For this opportunity to come up it’s definitely something you can’t pass up and you have to take every opportunity you can to make the best of it.

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Baker: On the family front, your dad Andy is a big supporter of yours and used to be able to drive 4 or 5 hours to every home game. If al goes according to plan, will he be planning to make a few trips to New Orleans?

Bighill: I am quite sure my dad will be making the trip for sure. He’s a football fan and the offseason is the worst time of year for him because he gets quite bored. He is definitely excited about coming to the Superdome in New Orleans.

Baker: How much will you miss your team 100 sidekick Solomon Elimimian?

Bighill: Obviously we have a very close relationship, both on and off the field. We’re very good friends and the fact is we’re cut from the same cloth, climbed the same ladder to be where we’re at and we continue to climb it to be even better. The personalities that we have, we just gel together because we have same focus: being the best we can, on and off the field. We felt like we ruled the field and teams couldn’t handle us no matter what we did and where we were. Team 100 will always be special. He made my job easier and I made his job easier.

Preseason Lions vs Calgary

 

Baker: Lastly, you were always so great to our fans up here. What message would you like to give them as you embark on this new journey?

Bighill: Playing in BC has been the ultimate experience and treat. They are some of the best fans. I really enjoyed being involved in the community and representing for the fans because without them it really wouldn’t be as fun and I also wouldn’t be here. It’s been a pleasure to be able to perform for them, I thank them so much for welcoming me and giving me all the love. I will never forget them and I’ll continue to be a big BC Lions fan. 

Matt Baker: mbaker@bclions.com