CFL NOTEBOOK: BIGHILL RETURNING TO WINNIPEG

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers signed all-star linebacker Adam Bighill to a one-year contract extension Thursday.

Bighill was scheduled to become a free agent next month.

The five-foot-10, 219-pound Bighill was the CFL’s top defensive player last season after registering 70 tackles, two sacks, two interceptions and two fumble recoveries anchoring the league’s stingiest defence.

Winnipeg secured a second straight Grey Cup title with a 33-25 overtime victory last month over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

The outstanding defensive player award was Bighill’s third and he was named a CFL all-star last season for the sixth time.

He’s also played for three Grey Cup-winning teams (B.C. in 2011, 2019 and 2021 with Winnipeg).

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OTTAWA – The Ottawa REDBLACKS announced today that they have re-signed national receiver Nate Behar.

“Ottawa has everything in place to be one of the great and successful franchises in this league. From the ownership group, the fans, the city and facilities,” said Behar. “I want to be a part of this organization’s rise.”

A native of London, Ontario, Behar is coming off of his fourth, and most productive season in the CFL. He reached career-highs in receptions (38), receiving yards (439), yards after the catch (128), average yards per catch (11.6), and longest reception (50 yards). The 27 year-old also recorded a single-game career high 98 receiving yards against the Calgary Stampeders on October 29, 2021.

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CALGARY – Sean McEwen is staying put.

The Calgary Stampeders signed the veteran centre to a two-year contract extension Wednesday. The 2021 CFL all-star was scheduled to become a free agent next month.

The six-foot-three, 293-pound Calgary native started all 14 regular-season games last season with Calgary. The Stampeders allowed the second-fewest sacks (20) in the CFL in 2021.

McEwen signed with Calgary in 2020 after four seasons with the Toronto Argonauts. He was the East Division team’s nominee for most outstanding lineman three times and named a CFL and East Division all-star in 2017.

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Adrian Tracy isn’t finished chasing down CFL quarterbacks just yet.

The free agent defensive lineman retired last season, mostly due to the uncertainty created by the COVID-19 pandemic. Tracy said Wednesday he’s anxious to resume his football career and continue making an impact, on and off the field, with a franchise.

“I didn’t walk away from the game because I thought I couldn’t play anymore or I didn’t have anything else to give,” Tracy said during a telephone interview. “It was a personal decision based upon the inconsistencies I saw. Honestly, that itch and desire never left.”

For Tracy, the time was right to step away from football. In addition to the global pandemic, he’d gotten married and retirement allowed him to support his wife, Kayla-Marie, a reporter with CP24 in Toronto.

But now with the blessing of his wife, who’s expecting the couple’s first child — a daughter — any time now, Tracy is ready to resume playing football.

Tracy, 34, hasn’t spoken with any CFL teams as he continues to work on securing an agent, although he’s not opposed to representing himself. With free agency slated to open Feb. 8, he’s intent on letting GMs know he’s available and all in.

The six-foot-three, 248-pound Tracy played five seasons with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (2015-19) before signing with the Montreal Alouettes in 2020. However, he never played in Quebec as the CFL cancelled the ’20 season.

(Canadian Press)