The BC Lions Football Club announced today that it has acquired Canadian centre Tim O’Neill from the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in exchange for the Lions’ fifth-round 2016 CFL Draft selection.
“Tim is an experienced centre who helps us change the ratio on offence and further solidifies that position group,” said GM and head coach Wally Buono.
O’Neill, a native of Victoria, makes the move out west after four seasons (’12 -’15), 72-consecutive regular season games and back-to-back Grey Cup appearances with the Tiger-Cats in 2013 and 2014.
Originally a third-round CFL Draft selection (22nd overall) of the Edmonton Eskimos in 2005, O’Neill spent a year on Edmonton’s practice roster in 2006 before returning to school in 2007 and then four productive years with the Calgary Stampeders (’08 -‘11) where he earned his first Grey Cup ring in 2008.
The Lions also announced that international offensive lineman Jason Foster has been released. Foster started all 18 regular season games as well as the Western Semi-Final at center for the club in 2015.