By Canadian Press

Veteran Ticats linebacker Lawrence not ready to retire just yet

Nov 6, 2023 | 9:34 AM

HAMILTON — Simoni Lawrence isn’t ready to call it a career just yet.

The 34-year-old veteran linebacker said Monday he intends on playing in 2024.

Lawrence’s season ended Saturday with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats’ 27-12 road loss to the Montreal Alouettes in the East Division semifinal.

Injuries last season limited the 6-1, 231-pound Lawrence to just nine regular-season games with Hamilton. He signed a one-year deal to remain with the Ticats last February and responded by appearing in all 18 regular-season contest, registering 84 tackles, five sacks, an interception and three forced fumbles.

That earned Lawrence the nod as Hamilton’s top defensive player.

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Lawrence has spent 10 of his 11 CFL seasons with Hamilton and been named the East Division’s top defensive player three times (2015, ’19 and ’21).

Hamilton (8-10) finished third in the East Division for a second straight season and again lost to Montreal in the opening round of the playoffs.

The early playoff exit was a bitter pill for the franchise with the Grey Cup game slated for Nov. 19 at Tim Hortons Field.

Lawrence and the Ticats appeared in the 2021 Grey Cup at Tim Hortons Field, losing 33-25 in overtime to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

Hamilton hasn’t won a CFL title since 1999, the CFL’s longest Grey Cup drought.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 6, 2023.

The Canadian Press