The New Orleans Saints have gone looking for talent north of the border on many occasions: Defensive tackle David Onyemata studied at the University of Manitoba, while former Saints lineman and current Chicago Bears star Akiem Hicks was drafted out of the University of Regina in Saskatchewan. Onetime Saints pass rushers Victor Butler and Davis Tull have also been making plays in the Canadian Football League.
But most noteworthy are the players who stood out at the Canadian pro level, made their NFL debut with New Orleans, and returned across the border. Two of those former Saints made the CFL’s list of the top 20 players to watch in their divisional playoff round:
Delvin Breaux’s return was certainly welcome for the (Hamilton Tiger-Cats), who dominated the Lions from start to finish in the Eastern Semi-Final. Breaux is a rare shutdown corner in the three-down game, leading one of the league’s stingiest pass defences in his first year back in the Hammer.
It’s no shock that Breaux is doing well; he’s a borderline Pro Bowl-quality cornerback. But his health issues — a broken vertebra in his neck dating back to high school, a broken leg misdiagnosed by former Saints doctors — pushed him out of the NFL and back to the CFL, where’s dominating. But he’s not alone.
Adam Bighill’s status for the division final is up in the air after he left last week’s game and did not return. Bighill is the heart and soul of the (Winnipeg) Bombers’ defence, racking up 104 tackles, four sacks, two interceptions, four forced fumbles and a touchdown in his first season in Winnipeg. He’s a menace to opposing offences.
Bighill was a linebacker who quickly endeared himself to fans but spent most of the 2017 season on the practice squad. He wasn’t thrilled about his NFL experience with the Saints and has returned to form back across the border. It’s good to see he’s thriving, and hopefully his injury status isn’t serious.