There will be one less hole to fill on the Edmonton Eskimos roster heading into the 2010 season.
It’s good news considering Patrick Kabongo would have left a six-foot-seven, 315-pound gap in his place at offensive right guard. Instead the six-year veteran signed a three-year contract extension plus an option year that could keep him in Green and Gold through the 2013 season.
“It wasn’t too difficult,” Kabongo said. “I knew that I was about to re-sign here so it wasn’t like pulling teeth. I’m happy because I’m here in the city I love with all the people that I love and the fans are great. I’ve been really involved in the community and I didn’t want to leave.”
A 2008 division all-star, the non-import from Kinshasa, Zaire, was the Eskimos nominee as Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman and the team’s Most Outstanding Canadian this season.
But it’s off the field where Kabongo shows his value as a player and a person, after teammates voted him as the David Boone Memorial award winner for his charitable efforts in the community for the past two years. During that time he was also the Eskimos nominee for the CFLPA’s Tom Pate Memorial award.
His re-signing shows his commitment to the Eskimos.
“I believe in this team, I think we have a great team,” Kabongo said. “The Grey Cup is here next year and our plan is to be in it and go all the way. I really believe in each of the guys here that are playing with me. We had a great year, we fell short a couple times but those times it could have gone either way.”
Kabongo joined the Eskimos in 2004 after a trade from Ottawa where he was a defensive lineman on the Renegades practice roster.
“He’s made the conversion from the defensive line to the offensive line, there were some growing pains there especially for the first couple years but now he’s respected as one of the top offensive linemen in the CFL,” said Eskimos GM Danny Maciocia, pointing out Kabongo was selected as a CFLPA all-star in 2007.
Since then, he’s only gotten better.
“He’s 30, and usually offensive linemen come into their own in their late 20s, early 30s and he’s made a commitment here for the next four years,” Maciocia said. “We’re hoping to reap the benefits of some of those growing pains we went through early on. The best years of his career, as far as I’m concerned, are coming up here.”
NON-CENTS: Contrary to early reports, Maciocia said Thursday this deal does not make Kabongo the highest paid offensive lineman in the league.
“No, I think that I read that someplace but I’ll have Patrick confirm that for you that’s not the case,” Maciocia said. “I think he’s someone that’s well-paid for what he’s done over the course of his career. He’s such a valuable member to us not only on the field but even off the field with his work in the community. But as far as dollars and cents are concerned, that’s not accurate.”
“I think that’s overblown. Very much so because I’m not at all, actually,” Kabongo said. “I’m in the average of what guards are making. People always start rumors and it’s not that.”
