As soon as the final gun sounded, Adam Bighill thought about next season.
sa国际传媒's 34-29 loss to the Calgary Stampeders in the Western Final did not sit well with the Lions' middle linebacker. Now, as he goes about a rigorous offseason training program, he can look forward to starting 2013 with a new contract.
The CFL all-star signed a new three-year deal, which includes two years plus an option, on Tuesday. The new pact scraps the option year that he would have entered under his old deal.
"It feels good to be wanted," he said during a media availability at the team's training facility. "It feels good to be a big part of the program moving forward. I'm excited to be in that position to make the future that much better."
Bighill came to training camp No. 2 on the depth chart, but he beat out James Yurichuk for the starting job. He then continued to excel upon previous starter Solomon Elim-imian's return from the NFL in mid-season.
Bighill led the Lions with 104 tackles, ranking second in the league, and earned the club's nomination as outstanding defensive player in addition to the CFL all-star nod. He equalled the team record for tackles in a game (13) on Sept. 29 in Saskatchewan, earned defensive player of the week honours on four occasions and was defensive player of the month for October.
The 24-year-old Montesano, Washington, native also notched a team-high seven tackles for a loss, 16 special-teams tackles, nine sacks and four interceptions.
