Well, that was quick.
On Monday (June 5), BC Lions announced they香蕉视频直播檇 traded Surrey-raised football player Jonathan Kongo, just 15 days after the CFL team signed the standout defensive lineman.
The Lions acquired a 2024 draft pick from Hamilton Tiger-Cats in exchange for Kongbo, who had signed with the Lions partway through training camp and dressed for just one pre-season game, June 1 against Calgary.
It香蕉视频直播檚 not clear exactly what happened, but it seems like team chemistry was a problem.
香蕉视频直播淚 think it just wasn香蕉视频直播檛 gonna be a good fit,香蕉视频直播� Lions head coach Rick Campbell said on Sportsnet 650 radio on Wednesday (June 7).
香蕉视频直播淵ou know, we wanted it to work out, that香蕉视频直播檚 why we signed him, but sometimes if players aren香蕉视频直播檛 comfortable with the situation, or it香蕉视频直播檚 not going to work out, then it香蕉视频直播檚 better to move on. It was quite clear to me that he wasn香蕉视频直播檛 comfortable with the situation, and that香蕉视频直播檚 too bad.香蕉视频直播�
Campbell made it clear that it wasn香蕉视频直播檛 Kongbo香蕉视频直播檚 on-field performance or style of play that was a problem.
香蕉视频直播淣o, it was just being comfortable on the team,香蕉视频直播� the coach said during the Halford & Brough morning show.
香蕉视频直播淔or some reason, there was some disconnect there. We signed him, we wanted him and it wasn香蕉视频直播檛 going to work out, and it香蕉视频直播檚 just the way it goes. It happens once in awhile, and like I said we would have loved to have him. It didn香蕉视频直播檛 seem to meshing really well and so we, you know, gave him a new home.香蕉视频直播�
After kicking off in Calgary Thursday (June 8), the Lions香蕉视频直播� home-opener for the 2023 season is Saturday, June 17 at BC Place Stadium, where LL Cool J is among pre-game performers.
DL speaks with media after today's practice. | |
香蕉视频直播� Hamilton Tiger-Cats (@Ticats)
香蕉视频直播淣ot a fit香蕉视频直播� because I called out star players not showing up for practice, and guys not wanting to work out. Culture matters, it香蕉视频直播檚 called pro football for a reason.
香蕉视频直播� Jonathan Kongbo 馃嚚馃嚛 (@King_Kongbo)
On Twitter, after being traded, Kongbo said this about his brief time with the Lions: 香蕉视频直播溝憬妒悠抵辈Not a fit香蕉视频直播� because I called out star players not showing up for practice, and guys not wanting to work out. Culture matters, it香蕉视频直播檚 called pro football for a reason.香蕉视频直播�
The 27-year-old Kongbo, a Holy Cross graduate who starred for the Surrey-area school team a decade ago, has played in the NFL and also .
Last October he dressed for a pair of games with Denver Broncos after signing a reserve/futures deal in January. , the Broncos lost 12-9 in overtime, but Kongbo scored a personal goal of making his NFL debut five games into Denver香蕉视频直播檚 season.
In Hamilton, Kongbo will have to quickly adapt to a new team just days before the start of the CFL season.
香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檝e played a couple times here and it香蕉视频直播檚 good to finally be on the other side, getting with the guys, see the culture around here, how guys are working, so it香蕉视频直播檚 been a really good couple days,香蕉视频直播� .
He talked about the 香蕉视频直播渉ard-working, blue-collar spirit香蕉视频直播� of Hamilton and how he thinks he香蕉视频直播檚 a perfect fit for the city.
Asked what kind of player he is, Kongbo responded: 香蕉视频直播淔earless, tenacious, I love the game, love the work, love the cameraderie, I love getting after it, I love winning, so to all the Ti-Cats fans, you香蕉视频直播檙e getting a player who loves to compete, a player who loves to get after it and a player who loves to win.香蕉视频直播�
While at Holy Cross, Kongbo was something of an accidental football star, a guy who hadn香蕉视频直播檛 played the game until Grade 12 at the Fleetwood-area Catholic school. He香蕉视频直播檇 been a basketball player at Kitsilano Secondary until transferring to Holy Cross, where the Crusaders香蕉视频直播� coaches eventually coaxed him to try football, a game he didn香蕉视频直播檛 embrace at first.
Born in Zaire, Konbgo moved with his family to Canada at age five.
tom.zillich@surreynowleader.com
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