LIONS SIGN SCHMITT, EXTEND MCCALLUM
(Vancouver) The BC Lions Football Club announced this morning that kicker Paul McCallum has signed a contract extension and free agent kicker Ricky Schmitt has agreed to terms on a contract with the team.
McCallum enters his 22nd CFL season in 2014, the last nine of which have been with the BC Lions. Last season, the Vancouver native was good on 85 per cent of his field goal attempts (28 of 33) and notched 137 total points.
“Paul has been an outstanding kicker throughout his long career,” said VP of football operations and GM Wally Buono. “His consistency as a field goal kicker is exceptional and with the addition of Ricky I’m pleased to know that this is where he will be focusing his efforts as we continue building a championship team.”
McCallum, a two-time CFL All-Star in 2010 and 2011 and the league’s Most Outstanding Special Teams Player from 2011 is just one of five players to ever play in 20 or more seasons and is the only CFL kicker to record 10 or more consecutive seasons with a success rate of 80 per cent or better on field goals.
“I’m as excited as I have ever been about the game of football and being a member of the BC Lions,” said McCallum. “We have a very solid group of veteran leadership with a great blend of young talent on this team and I believe 2014 is going to be a very special year. Working with Ricky is also going to be very enjoyable, he’s one of our league’s best young kickers and we’ll be very effective together.”
Schmitt meanwhile comes to the Lions after a championship season with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. The Virginia Beach native ranked among the CFL’s top-three kickers in punting yardage, net punting yardage and kickoff yards in 2013.
“Ricky has one of the strongest legs in the league and he demonstrated that in some pretty tough conditions last season in Regina,” said head coach Mike Benevides. “With Paul looking after field goals and Ricky responsible for punting and kickoffs, I believe we have secured one of the best tandems in the CFL.”
Schmitt was originally signed as a free agent by the Riders in November 2012 and appeared in the Western Final that year. Last season, he dressed for all 18 regular season games as well as both West Division playoff games and the Grey Cup.
“I’m very pleased to be joining the Lions,” Schmitt said from his Virginia Beach home. “The opportunity to be a part of this organization and work with a kicker of Paul’s ability and experience was an opportunity that I could not pass up. I can’t wait to get started on working towards bringing a Grey Cup to BC.”
So we exchange an import punter with a non-import, east division all-star punter and probably cheaper too. But no doubt the "sky is falling" crowd will be out here in full force shortly
That's what happens when you have success and win a Grey Cup. Value/pay increases and there is "always" someone out there who will pay you what you think you are worth.
Not sure why the exodus. . . obviously no one on the 2013 Riders was thinking about dynasties or repeats. . . . good on Taman seeing this and doing something about it.
And some of you doubted Mr Taman. Ha! Good moves.Go Riders
“sky is falling” – it will seem like the sky is falling for whom ever is fielding Schmitt’s punts
To all the fans out there who are losing their minds…..here is some perspective; the Riders have only lost a total of one starter on defence and offence to CFL free agency. ONE!
Paco
p.s. The expansion draft and players signing in the NFL are really situations out of our control.
Notice some of the other unsigned ones (Neumann-although he supposedly signed with the Bombers)Alex Hall and Jock Sanders have not been picked up yet. Yes, we have been weakened by the expansion draft and the NFL signings,etc, but every other team has been hit as well. Riders more than anyone else, but gives you an idea of the quality of team.