B.C. Lions receivers ‘brothers’ in arms, putting we before me

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Veteran B.C. Lions receiver Bryan Burnham says this is both the most talented and closest group of pass catchers he’s worked with in his time with the Canadian Football League club.

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It’s easy to suggest that ample ability and compatibility aren’t always mutually inclusive. For the Lions receivers, according to Burnham, the egos have remained in check even though there are multiple guys who could be showcase, go-options on a regular basis in other situations.

Consider this: B.C. quarterback Nathan Rourke leads the CFL in passing yardage and sits second in passes completed, and the Lions don’t have a player in the top 10 in receiving targets. 

“You would think that there would be guys who would be pissed, but everybody is on the same page,” said Burnham.  

“There’s an understanding that we have talent across the board. I understand that. I’ve been the guy who got the ball all the time and got the yards and got the touchdowns and I didn’t have very many wins to show for it.

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“I want to be a part of a winning team and not so worried about my stats and my own accomplishments.”

Winning does tend to make most things work. With Rourke moving the ball around, B.C. carries a 6-1 record into a Saturday visit to Calgary to face the 5-2 Stampeders. The Lions are shooting for their first winning season since 2016, when they went 12-6 and lost in the West Division final. The Leos were 5-9 in last year’s abbreviated regular season, missing the playoffs for a second straight campaign.

Head coach Rick Campbell says there’s no been concerted effort to get a particular receiver the ball more often, allowing Rourke to take what the defence is giving him. In other words, Rourke’s “just trying to make the offence go, which is a good world to live in.”

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B.C. Lions vs. Calgary Stampeders

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Rourke’s distribution has stayed largely equal. There’s Dominique Rhymes (46 targets), Lucky Whitehead (50), Keon Hatcher (44) and Jevon Cottoy (36) among the receivers, plus running back James Butler (33). There’s also Burnham (14), the 32-year-old longtime staple of the B.C. offence who returned to action last week after missing four games with injury. 

“I think our guys are buying into the team concept and good on them for buying into it,” Campbell said. “It can be easier said than done depending on the team you are on. 

“Everybody can contribute and it’s obviously harder to defend.”

Rhymes added: “Any one of us can have a big game. It’s a fun thing to have and it’s a good thing to have.”

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Burnham and Rhymes both talked about the chemistry among the receivers being a factor in all of this as well. The group regularly goes out for dinner after games and even during the week.

“Anybody can be the star on a night, and the supporting cast on that night is going to be super happy for that person,” said Rhymes, 29, who does lead the CFL in receiving touchdowns (8) and tops the Lions in receiving yardage (582), putting him fourth in the league overall. “It’s about us hanging out and becoming like brothers. My brother is doing good and I’m happy for my brother. That’s the biggest thing. We want each other to do well.”

Burnham added: “Sometimes there is a game where you only have a catch or two, but there’s so much love and support in that (dressing) room that it doesn’t negatively affect anything. We understand there can be frustrations when somebody doesn’t get the ball, but we also celebrate each other’s successes.”

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Burnham’s successes of late included having six catches for 82 yards in last week’s 46-14 win over the Edmonton Elks, which vaulted him into the fourth spot all-time in Lions reception yardage in the process. Burnham, who’s been with the Leos since 2014 and will play his 100th game Saturday in Calgary, is now at 6,764 yards for his career with the Lions. Mervyn Fernandez put up 6,690 in his time with B.C. (1982-86, 1994).

Third spot belongs to Emmanuel Arceneaux, who accumulated 8,169 yards with the Lions (2009-10, 2013-18). Arceneaux, 34, now plays for the Elks and Burnham says they chatted after the game about Burnham climbing the Lions’ leaderboard and one day passing Arceneaux.

“He wants me to get it. He’s that kind of guy,” said Burnham, who has long said that Arceneaux was a mentor for a him in Burnham’s early days with the Lions.

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