There have been other aspects about the B.C. Lions that would have you think this team bears no resemblance to years past, but no better example of that turnaround came as Terrell Sinkfield described why he is the newest member of the CFL club.

The Lions, for a change, have become a destination spot for a free agent like the 25-year-old receiving speedster, who took first-team reps in his first day with his new team on Monday.

It didn’t also hurt that coach/GM Wally Buono had already signed a handful of other free agents during the winter that helped Sinkfield make a call on the Lions.

But for the first time perhaps since Buono signed Arland Bruce to put his team over the top during their late run to the 2011 Grey Cup, the Lions have added a late piece that could make a legitimate difference.

Sinkfield said he was looking for a team that had a locker-room chemistry similar to that of the 2014 Hamilton Tiger-Cats, who added him on the way to a Grey Cup appearance that year, and in the Lions he found one.

“I did a lot of research coming to this decision,” said Sinkfield, who left Hamilton last season to sign with the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings only to be released Aug. 30.

“I love Hamilton but they kind of stripped that team apart. I knew a couple of guys (on the Lions) and I talked to a lot of guys around the league to ask about the league, the team and what teams needed.

“I seen (the Lions) had the atmosphere, just by watching videos and how people connected.” So one vote for the Lions current locker room vibe, another bouquet to their social media presence these days for what Sinkfield could see for himself what happens in the locker room after wins.

B.C. came to terms with Sinkfield Friday and got extremely nervous when Hamilton’s Chad Owens was injured in the Ticats’ game against Montreal. Sinkfield had talked to Ticats coach/GM Kent Austin Friday but the Lions deal hadn’t been signed.

However the receiver honoured his word and said no thanks to Hamilton and the Ottawa Redblacks, who also expressed interest.

It’s no surprise the Lions went after a player whose 40-yard time of 4.19 seconds at his Pro Day is still a talking point four years after it was posted. Before Chris Rainey came along, Buono had put out feelers about another former Sinkfield teammate, Hamilton’s Brandon Banks, as well as Chris Williams, who ended up in Ottawa.

In his first practice, Sinkfield was already pushing Geraldo Boldewijn for a spot on the roster for Friday’s crucial road engagement with the Edmonton Eskimos, and though he hadn’t lined up yet for special teams work, there’s a chance he eventually might be used returning kicks too.

He’s only here for the remainder of this season, at least until the Lions can talk to him about a 2017 deal. He may only be here because the Lions were willing to find him a roster spot quickly and not mess around with a practice roster spot. Three other additions were made by the Lions to the developmental squad.

It also doesn’t address the fact B.C. still needs help in the secondary, especially heading into a game against Adarius Bowman and Derel Walker of the Eskimos with a back line that will include rookies Anthony Gaitor and Chandler Fenner. Ryan Phillips, bothered by a flu bug but who never misses a practice, wasn’t around either on Monday.

And all these warm vibes also have not made any difference for the Lions in their attempts to sign offensive lineman Brett Boyko, whose agent has told the club he would like a contract as short as the one Sinkfield signed so he too can try the NFL again.

For now though, the Lions have a deep receiving threat that wasn’t on the roster before the bye week, and they can only thank themselves for creating the right vibe to make it happen.