A veteran high school presence, TJ Lee brings valuable leadership, but still has the ball-hunting skills among the best in the league.
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TJ Lee will not leave the only CFL home he has ever known.
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The BC Lions made it official on Tuesday, announcing that the team’s longest-serving member had signed a one-year extension with the club, preventing him from reaching the free agent market on February 8.
“I couldn’t imagine playing my 100th game in a uniform other than Lions orange,” Lee said in a statement. “This is the best situation for both me and my family and I can’t wait to get a chance to help this defense develop some of the good things we did last season. Building that bond with returning players will equate to more wins in big games. “
The 5-foot-9, 190-pound defensive back has spent his seven-year career in the CFL in Vancouver, and is six games away from breaking the 100-game mark with the Lions.
The 31-year-old Seattle native was one behind the league leader in interceptions with four last season, and was second on the team in total tackles (71 defense, 12 special teams) behind CFL’s top rookie Jordan. Williams. .
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Captioning the season with a two-team performance against the Edmonton Elks to end the shortened 2021 campaign, he was also named the Division West All-Star for the second time in his career.
It was the second notable transfer announced by the Lions this week, with catcher Lucky Whitehead re-signing on Monday. Now all eyes are on Bryan Burnham, who, like Lee, has spent all seven years at Orange and Black.
Whitehead’s big money contract – reported $ 200,000 a year making him the league’s highest paid receiver – means the Lions will have to shuffle some cash or make concessions elsewhere to sign Burnham.
Burnham had 67 receptions, the league’s highest in 2021, and finished second in yards (965) despite being held back by injury.
Reference-theprovince.com