Well, that was quick.

On Monday (June 5), BC Lions announced they害羞草研究所檇 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害羞草研究所檚 not clear exactly what happened, but it seems like team chemistry was a problem.

害羞草研究所淚 think it just wasn害羞草研究所檛 gonna be a good fit,害羞草研究所� Lions head coach Rick Campbell said on Sportsnet 650 radio on Wednesday (June 7).

害羞草研究所淵ou know, we wanted it to work out, that害羞草研究所檚 why we signed him, but sometimes if players aren害羞草研究所檛 comfortable with the situation, or it害羞草研究所檚 not going to work out, then it害羞草研究所檚 better to move on. It was quite clear to me that he wasn害羞草研究所檛 comfortable with the situation, and that害羞草研究所檚 too bad.害羞草研究所�

Campbell made it clear that it wasn害羞草研究所檛 Kongbo害羞草研究所檚 on-field performance or style of play that was a problem.

害羞草研究所淣o, it was just being comfortable on the team,害羞草研究所� the coach said during the Halford & Brough morning show.

害羞草研究所淔or some reason, there was some disconnect there. We signed him, we wanted him and it wasn害羞草研究所檛 going to work out, and it害羞草研究所檚 just the way it goes. It happens once in awhile, and like I said we would have loved to have him. It didn害羞草研究所檛 seem to meshing really well and so we, you know, gave him a new home.害羞草研究所�

After kicking off in Calgary Thursday (June 8), the Lions害羞草研究所� 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. | |

害羞草研究所� Hamilton Tiger-Cats (@Ticats)

害羞草研究所淣ot a fit害羞草研究所� because I called out star players not showing up for practice, and guys not wanting to work out. Culture matters, it害羞草研究所檚 called pro football for a reason.

害羞草研究所� Jonathan Kongbo 馃嚚馃嚛 (@King_Kongbo)

On Twitter, after being traded, Kongbo said this about his brief time with the Lions: 害羞草研究所満π卟菅芯克鶛Not a fit害羞草研究所� because I called out star players not showing up for practice, and guys not wanting to work out. Culture matters, it害羞草研究所檚 called pro football for a reason.害羞草研究所�

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害羞草研究所檚 season.

In Hamilton, Kongbo will have to quickly adapt to a new team just days before the start of the CFL season.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檝e played a couple times here and it害羞草研究所檚 good to finally be on the other side, getting with the guys, see the culture around here, how guys are working, so it害羞草研究所檚 been a really good couple days,害羞草研究所� .

He talked about the 害羞草研究所渉ard-working, blue-collar spirit害羞草研究所� of Hamilton and how he thinks he害羞草研究所檚 a perfect fit for the city.

Asked what kind of player he is, Kongbo responded: 害羞草研究所淔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害羞草研究所檙e getting a player who loves to compete, a player who loves to get after it and a player who loves to win.害羞草研究所�

While at Holy Cross, Kongbo was something of an accidental football star, a guy who hadn害羞草研究所檛 played the game until Grade 12 at the Fleetwood-area Catholic school. He害羞草研究所檇 been a basketball player at Kitsilano Secondary until transferring to Holy Cross, where the Crusaders害羞草研究所� coaches eventually coaxed him to try football, a game he didn害羞草研究所檛 embrace at first.

Born in Zaire, Konbgo moved with his family to Canada at age five.

tom.zillich@surreynowleader.com
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