Canuck Is Kickin’ It » Brats & Beer

May 23, 2006
posted under: Jon Ryan, Packers

It must be the dog days of the off season, because I’m thinking about punters. Specifically, I find myself rooting for Jon Ryan, the Canadian footballer Green Bay picked up in February to challenge BJ Sander. Ryan holds the CFL single-season record for punts with an average of 50.6 yards set last year. Of course, as Press-Gazette is quick to point out, Canadian league punters are coached to drive the ball for distance rather than kick for hang time, but maybe we can sign a couple track stars to play on the coverage team. Or maybe he’s really accurate and can nail those kicks into the corner. Just anything to get our dismal punting game out of the basement.

Ryan’s coming to the Packers also has a bizarre twist to it. Last year he played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (now the home of one Onterrio McWhizzinator), so when he left the CFL for the riches of American football, the Bombers signed Duncan O’Mahoney from the BC Lions as his replacement. Unfortunately, O’Mahoney never arrived at training camp over the weekend. Seems he decided to go on a walkabout or something instead of reporting to the team. The wayward punter has been located safe and sound, though the team is already looking for another new punter to replace their replacement.