VANCOUVER -- As soon as the final gun sounded, Adam Bighill thought about next season. B.C.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 off-season 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 teams training facility. "It feels good to be a big part of the program moving forward. Im 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 beat out James Yurichuk for the starting job. He then continued to excel upon previous starter Solomon Elimimians return from the NFL in mid-season. Bighill led the Lions with 104 tackles, ranking second in the league, and earned the clubs 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, Wash., native also notched a team-high seven tackles for a loss, 16 special-teams tackles, nine sacks and four interceptions. The increased job security contradicts his tenuous status with the Lions upon arrival in 2011. The University of Central Washington alumnus had few professional options when B.C. signed him just before training camp after receiving a recommendation from backup quarterback Mike Reilly, who was a former college teammate. Coach Mike Benevides has admitted Bighill, an undersized defender listed at five-foot-10 and 230 pounds, was on the bubble in the 2011 pre-season. But he earned a spot with a strong showing in his second exhibition game. Both Benevides and general manager Wally Buono said Bighill took advantage of the opportunity given to him in 2012 as he shifted from outside linebacker to the middle. "Hes a pro, hes passionate about the game, hes got an outstanding work ethic, hes tremendously focused, and hes the kind of guy you really want on your football team," said Benevides. "For me, I want to make sure that our team is full of guys like that. When you talk about a defence that was extremely strong, Adam was a centrepiece of that." Buono said Bighill was disappointed about being No. 2 on the depth chart at camp, but he refused to sulk about the situation and went out and became No. 1. "And then when (Elimimian) came back, he could have easily been distracted," Buono said. "He could have been easily annoyed, but he handled that very well. He didnt allow that to be a deterrent to him, and he played very well. That shows you a lot of character." Meanwhile, veteran centre Angus Reid said he is leaning towards returning for a 13th season. Reid, who is recuperating from surgery on both hands and an elbow, said he has already spoken to Buono and a decision will be finalized in January. "We want Angus back," said Buono, adding Reid is expected to resume his starting role. Buono said Reid, a 36-year-old Richmond, B.C., native who has spent his entire career with his hometown team, means a lot to the Lions fan base and "the process of making our offensive line younger." The O-line faces a number of changes in the off-season, with Jesse Newman expected to retire at 30 following an injury-riddled career. Dean Valli (knee) and Jon Hameister-Ries (knee, leg, back) are also battling health issues that may deter the club from bringing them back, and all-star tackle Jovan Olafioye is expected to receive some NFL options. Reid can be an important mentor to Matt Norman, who is entering his second season after limiting his rookie campaign to pursue teaching studies at the University of Western Ontario. Buono also hopes to sign Kirby Fabien, a 2011 first-round choice who could not agree to contract terms and returned to the University of Calgary. The GM is also thinking of drafting another offensive lineman, and welcomes Reids willingness to develop young talent even though all players are naturally protective of their positions. "When veteran guys put their arm around the young guys, they can pass on way more than the coach can," said Buono, who guided Calgary and B.C. for 22 seasons before relinquishing his coaching duties in Dec. 2011. Reid, who had bone chips removed from his elbow and calcium build-up shaved off each hand, said he wants to take the Christmas break to ensure that he is physically and mentally ready for another season. "Id really like to play, and theyve already opened the door for me," said Reid after completing a workout at the training facility. "Well sit down in January and, hopefully, come to a happy conclusion." NOTES: Bighill plans to spend most of the off-season in Vancouver and work as a personal trainer for young athletes "to pay some bills" while also participating in the clubs community events. ... Elimimian is expected to pursue another NFL shot after failing to stick with the Minnesota Vikings and Cleveland Browns while injured. He has played out his option with the Lions, and Bighills new deal raises questions about whether B.C. will try to re-sign him if he returns to the CFL. wholesale jerseys . It all changes in Canton this weekend, when a group of linemen become the stars of the NFLs most prestigious event. Four linemen will be among the six players inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday night -- Chris Doleman, Cortez Kennedy, Willie Roaf and Dermontti Dawson. wholesale nfl jerseys . -- Mike Patterson returned to the Eagles camp Friday two days after his seizure at practice. http://www.cheapjerseysnflchina.us/ . And the Philadelphia manager didnt even play. John Mayberry Jr. hit an RBI single in the bottom of the 11th inning to lift the Phillies to a 4-3 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday night. cheap nfl jerseys . Valanciunas was battling for a loose ball under the basket when he fell and broke the ring finger on his right hand during Torontos 93-90 victory over the Orlando Magic on Dec. cheap jerseys . Mike Morreale was elected to the post Wednesday at the unions annual general meeting in Barbados.MONTREAL -- The Montreal Alouettes breathed a sigh of relief when it turned out that Anthony Calvillo will not miss a game with a bruised left shoulder. The Calgary Stampeders werent as lucky, but theyre happy to have a veteran like Kevin Glenn to step in for injured starting quarterback Drew Tate. Coach John Hufnagel said he expects Tate to be out for five or six weeks after the Calgary pivot suffered a left shoulder injury last week in Toronto. So it will be Calvillo against Glenn when the Alouettes (1-1) and Stampeders (1-1) face off tonight on TSN at 7pm et/4pm pt. The Stamps, with Tate behind centre, laid a 38-10 pounding on Montreal in the season opener for both clubs two weeks ago in Calgary. A much different game is expected this time after the Alouettes rebounded with a 41-30 victory at home over Winnipeg, when Calvillo passed for 443 yards and three touchdowns. Calvillo took a hit in the first quarter against the Blue Bombers and went briefly for treatment, but was able to return to the game. He missed practice on Monday to have an MRI on the shoulder, which showed only a bruise, and was able to resume normal training the next day "The shoulders fine," the 39-year-old said Wednesday. "Its sore, but I was very happy I was able to throw every ball without the shoulder bothering me. "That was a great sign. Ive got one more day to rest, and overall it looks pretty good." Had Calvillo been more badly hurt, the relatively inexperienced Adrian McPherson would have been starting at quarterback. Tate was forced out of Calgarys 39-36 loss in Toronto on Saturday, which put Glenn on the hot seat in only his second game with the team since he joined the Stampeders in the off-season deal that sent veteran Henry Burris to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Glenn competed 15 passes for 200 yards with two TDs and two interceptions against the Argonauts. Coach John Hufnagel expects his backup quarterback to improve as he gets used to his new team. "When (the Tate injury) first happened, it was a major shock because (Glenns) cadence is different," said Hufnagel. "Did we get caught out against Toronto? Yes we did. But the adjustment period is over. For the near future, its Kevin Glenns football team." Tate returned to Calgary for an MRI and is getting a second opinion before a definitive statement is made on his condition. Hufnagel said there "doesnt seem to be a whole lot of damage" and that he will likely miss five or six weeks, so he probably wont have to go on the nine-game injured list. He said Glenn was brought in for just such an emergency. "Its ssomething we identified as soon we started talking about a trade; that wed like to get a veteran quarterback in return," said Hufnagel.dddddddddddd "I was very pleased it was Kevin Glenn. "Hes started a lot of games and has had success. I was hoping his role with this team would be to smooth over some rough spots, but injuries happen and hes ready to play and accept this challenge." Glenn is no stranger to playing in Montreal, having spent the past three seasons in Hamilton. His last visit to Montreal was for the East Division semifinal in November, which turned into a wild, end-to-end game won 52-44 in overtime by the Ticats. "It was exciting," Glen recalled. "To be in a semifinal in Montreal at the Big O and for it to go back and fourth like that. "And I dont want to say the monkey was on Hamiltons back, but for two years we hosted the semifinal and came up short. To come into Montreal and beat the defending champs in that type of game felt real good. I always felt it will go down as a CFL classic forever." Glenn said it will help that he knows the tendencies of some of Montreals defensive players, but mostly, he likes that the Stampeders have a lot of veterans on offence who will make it easier for him to perform. "Its the Calgary Stampeders, its not Kevin Glenns team," he said. "Im the guy that tries to hold the pieces together, the coach on the field that makes sure guys are put in situations to make plays. "You dont want to put added pressure on yourself. My focus is on going out and playing Kevin Glenn football." The first meeting between the teams was over early as Calgary jumped on a turnover-prone Montreal to build a big first-half lead. The Alouettes defence rallied in the second half, but their offence never got going. They turned it around last Friday against Winnipeg, with no turnovers in a game they controlled from the outset. The Alouettes want the same kind of effort in the rematch with Calgary. "I dont know who that team was in Week One, but we know who we are now and were going to play disciplined, take care of the ball and play fast, Montreal football," said receiver Jamel Richardson, who confirmed he will play after experiencing knee trouble this week. "Taking care of the ball is number one. You cant go down 18 points on a team like that." The Stampeders spent the week in Kingston, Ont., and arrived in Montreal on Wednesday. Hufnagel felt it was better to stay in the east with a short break between games than to risk fatigue and jetlag flying back and forth from Calgary. cheap jerseys from china ' ' '