Sander is(c)Ryan;B.J. means "been jettisoned"

[net]

Ryan Packing up for good?

Bomber punter poised to sign with Green Bay
By TED WYMAN -- Winnipeg Sun




It looks like the kid from the Prairies is taking his golden leg to the land of Cheeseheads.

Jon Ryan, who set a single-season CFL record for punting average (50.6 yards) last season with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, will agree to a three-year contract with the NFL's Green Bay Packers today, his mother Barb said last night from Regina.

"We're thrilled," Barb Ryan said.

"It's his dad's favourite team."

However, reached on his cellphone in Phoenix, where he worked out earlier this month with the Packers, Ryan said reports may be premature.

"Nothing has really been done officially," Ryan said. "I've heard these rumours too, but we'll have to see."

Ryan, 24, immediately received an offer that included a $10,000 signing bonus after working out with the Packers on Jan. 17.

He later worked out with the Cincinnati Bengals and New York Giants as well and was extended offers by both teams.

After his original workout with the Packers, Ryan told the Sun he was impressed with the situation in Green Bay because management told him the position is going to be wide open next season.

"Even if it's not a large signing bonus, at least I'd be competing for an open spot and not against an established veteran," Ryan said on Jan. 17.

The 6-foot, 220-pound Ryan played two seasons with the Bombers but is due to become a CFL free agent on Feb. 15. Ryan technically can't sign with the Packers until after that date, although the Bombers are not likely to object to any such deal.

"I'm not a free agent until Feb. 15, so I guess I can't sign a contract down here (U.S.) until after that date," Ryan told the Sun recently. "But I'm not really sure how that whole thing works."

SUCCESS STORY

When he does sign an NFL deal, it will be an amazing success story for a kid from Regina.

"I was in New York, and I really liked that, but Green Bay is a lot like a Winnipeg or Regina ... kind of a ***** situation," Barb Ryan said.

"Winnipeg was lovely to him, too. We were really pleased with the way the fans treated him in Winnipeg."

With Ryan gone, the Bombers could turn to veteran placekicker Troy Westwood, who is capable of handling both the punting and placekicking duties. Saskatchewan's punter-placekicker Paul McCallum is also due to become a CFL free agent, and Taman has said he plans to bring someone to camp to push Westwood no matter what.

Other Bombers on the verge of becoming free agents next month include kick returner-receiver Keith Stokes, offensive lineman Jermese Jones, defensive end Tom Canada, receiver Jamie Stoddard and linebacker Neil McKinlay

 

[DakotaT]

Can this guy kick off too. I know I'm tired of every team in the league starting their drives at the 35 yard line.

 

[PWT36]

There is a long way to go before Jon Ryan of the CFL's Winnipeg Bombers becomes the Packer's punter in '06 season. Ryan must first sign a Packer contract. Then show the Packers in mini camps, and Training camp that he is the best punter on Packer Training camp roster. Not just in long distance punts (50.6 yd season avg. is great) but hang time and placing his punts close to the goal line (perhaps placing the punt out of bounce close to the goal line) with out going into end zone are very important. . Ryan must use the correct punt step technique before he drops the ball and punts. Plus get his punts off quickly, so his punts are not blocked. And Ryan will have show he can do these things significantly better than BJ Sander and any other punters in camp.Before he is crowned Packer Punter for '06. There is long way to go from February to start of '06 Season in September. Way to early to say BJ Sander is being jettisoned from Packers as starting Punter.

It took many NFL punters more than 1 year as starting Punter of NFL team to become excellent punters in NFL. That was BJ Sander really first year of punting in NFL games last year for the Packers. Example Bronco's punter Sauerbraun who is one of the best punters in NFL, was once a rookie punter for the Chicago Bears. he was booed constantly by Chicago Bears Fans during his first few years with Bears. He was cut by the Bears, because of his poor punting.. He returned to the NFL later and has made himself into a good NFL punter.

Most of Sander's bad punts last season were in Dec in Lambeau Field during cold & windy winter weather. This is not uncommon in conditions like that, for punters or field goal kickers to find their distances and accuracy declines. That is why, in many cases, the Punters and FG kickers find more success kicking in warm climates and domes.

 

[musccy]

My only thought is can he place the punt w/ any accuracy? Sure he can kick the air out of it, which sounds great, but what about inside the 20?

 

[Raider Pride]

Winnipeg?

Who named that city? Sounds more like a game show for amputees.

The Kid had an 80 yard punt last year, he can kick in the cold and Winnipeg is wicked cold. The signing bonus is only $10K, he is only 24 years old, he broke Loui Passaglia's record for average punt yardage which has stood for 23 years, and his Dad is a Packer Fan.

Plus... It is nice to see the Packer Logo on the teams home page.

http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/teams/main.asp?hu ... ue_bombers.

This is a good signing.... All round so far.

RP

 

[TOPackerFan]

Winnipeg?

Who named that city? Sounds more like a game show for amputees.

The Kid had an 80 yard punt last year, he can kick in the cold and Winnipeg is wicked cold. The signing bonus is only $10K, he is only 24 years old, he broke Loui Passaglia's record for average punt yardage which has stood for 23 years, and his Dad is a Packer Fan.

Plus... It is nice to see the Packer Logo on the teams home page.

http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/teams/main.asp?hu ... ue_bombers.

This is a good signing.... All round so far.

RP

Easy there RP, there are a couple of Winnipeggers on this board (including yours truly - I just live in Toronto). FYI, Winnipeg is a Cree word meaning place where the rivers meet.

 

[Raider Pride]

T.O.

Calm down... I am just funning.

I love Canada and grew up there.

And.... I stole that line from fellow Canadian John Candy.

Gosh I miss John Candy!

 

[TOPackerFan]

T.O.

Calm down... I am just funning.

I love Canada and grew up there.

And.... I stole that line from fellow Canadian John Candy.

Gosh I miss John Candy!

I'm not excited (problem with the internet is you couldn't see the big smile on my face when I typed that).

I know you grew up here and I'd forgotten that Candy quote.

BTW, I know you're a fisherman. You should try some fishing in Manitoba next time you're up North. Some of the best freshwater fishing in the world is about 80 miles North of Winnipeg (Winnipeg River and Lake Winnipeg being the home of the famous Manitoba pickerel or "greenback"). My uncle often guides up there if you need a contact.

 

[cheesey]

LOLOL!!! John Candy was one of my FAVORITE actors! "Uncle Buck" STILL makes me laugh! It was wierd, because John Candy died the day of my brother's funeral. My niece came up to me and told me.

If you want to see STRANGE city names, just look at a Wisconsin map! We would make up sentances using the city names. Like, my friend Mark would want to go hunting with me, and I'd say "Does MUKWONAGO hunting?" And he'd reply "Yes, MUKWONAGO!" Or, for me, he'd say "can ALGOMA??"(My name is AL)
And if you want to see one of the wierdest, in northern Wisconsin there's a town named "SPREAD EAGLE!" NOT kidding! :lol:

Oh......and i hope the kid can punt too! (don't want to HIJACK this thread!!!)

 

[calicheesehead]

I'd like to see some moves to improve the O instead of gearing ourselves for big punts. How's about working on getting first downs! (Of course I'm having a bit of fun here)

 

[HatestheEagles084]

LOLOL!!! John Candy was one of my FAVORITE actors! "Uncle Buck" STILL makes me laugh! It was wierd, because John Candy died the day of my brother's funeral. My niece came up to me and told me.

And if you want to see one of the wierdest, in northern Wisconsin there's a town named "SPREAD EAGLE!" NOT kidding! :lol:

Oh......and i hope the kid can punt too! (don't want to HIJACK this thread!!!)

for starters, john candy was an amazing actor

second, I could name all the clesheaed Pennsylvania town names that everyone knows about--***********, Blue Ball, Virginville...my personal favorite is a town in north central PA...named Jersey Shore, not in new jersey, nowhere near a shore, yeah we're dumb

as for this punter, yeah accuracy is a question...isn't the CFL field like 20 yards wider?

 

[skibum55]

LOLOL!!! John Candy was one of my FAVORITE actors! "Uncle Buck" STILL makes me laugh! It was wierd, because John Candy died the day of my brother's funeral. My niece came up to me and told me.

And if you want to see one of the wierdest, in northern Wisconsin there's a town named "SPREAD EAGLE!" NOT kidding! :lol:

Oh......and i hope the kid can punt too! (don't want to HIJACK this thread!!!)

for starters, john candy was an amazing actor

second, I could name all the clesheaed Pennsylvania town names that everyone knows about--***********, Blue Ball, Virginville...my personal favorite is a town in north central PA...named Jersey Shore, not in new jersey, nowhere near a shore, yeah we're dumb

as for this punter, yeah accuracy is a question...isn't the CFL field like 20 yards wider?

And 10 yards longer!! ackbeer:

 

[P@ck66]

TO..

Is the Hydro-Quebec company still displacing the Cree Indians and despoiling the land up there...big mercury problems...i imagine with the fish...?

 

[TOPackerFan]

TO..

Is the Hydro-Quebec company still displacing the Cree Indians and despoiling the land up there...big mercury problems...i imagine with the fish...?

Couldn't tell you fella. I currently live West of there and grew up well West of there.

 

[packerfan4ever]

i hope this kid is good nothing against sanders,but it would be nice to have the opposing team on their own 20 or 10 yard line

 

[Greg C.]

DakotaT: Last time I checked, which was pretty late in the season, opposing teams were starting out on average at the 28 yard line after Longwell's kickoffs, which was right around the league average. Packer fans continue to think that Longwell is poor at kickoffs, and at times he has been below the league average, but last year he was fine. He kicks directionally, so his kicks do not land as deep, but the cover team has an advantage and is almost always able to contain the returner.

 

[Buckeyepackfan]

Name........GP..Punts..Net Avg..Touch Back..Inside 20..Fair Catch
J. Bidwell...16.....90.......37.5........13...............24............16

B.J. Sander14.....64.......33.9..........2...............11............11

Amazing how terrible Sander was compared to Bidwell, who I believe, but could be wrong, is the starter in the pro-bowl this year.

I see Bidwell is still putting the ball into the endzone at a pretty good rate, wasn't that the reason everyone wanted him gone from the Packers in the first place?

Hell, instead of wasting that 3rd rnd pick on Sander, we should have spent the extra million or so to re-sign Bidwell so he could continue kicking the ball into the endzone.

 

[Hammer]

From today's MJS:
http://www.jsonline.com/packer/news/feb06/389635.asp
Hammer