Canadian kicker Brett Lauther preps for potential NFL shot with Jon Ryan in California

Photo courtesy: Scott Grant/CFLPhotoArchive.com

Canadian kicker Brett Lauther recently traveled to train with former Saskatchewan Roughriders’ teammate Jon Ryan.

Lauther was preparing for a potential NFL opportunity in his hometown of Truro, Nova Scotia and decided to join Ryan in California.

“The weather was great. Being with Jon down there, getting to kick with some of those guys and the level they’re at, seeing where you’re at and just being around people trying to do the same thing, it was an awesome week,” Lauther said on 620 CKRM radio in Regina.

After a couple nights in Los Angeles, Lauther and Ryan traveled to Carlsbad, California for sessions with former NFL kicker John Carney at his facility. Carney had a long NFL career which started in 1987 and finished in 2010. He made 82.4 percent of his three-point attempts and converted extra points at a 98.4 rate, totaling 2,062 points — fifth-most in NFL history.

“It was basically a mix of every level of kicker, free agents for the NFL, college kids, XFL, AFL, high school, you name it,” Lauther said.

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“It was a good environment to be around with the snappers, holders and kickers. It’s a breeding ground for guys trying to get to the next level.”

The pair kicked and trained in the mornings and enjoyed the beach in the afternoons. The kicker and punter tandem helped the Riders produce a 13-5 record in 2019, the best regular season record in the West Division. Both Lauther and Ryan opted out of their CFL contracts to be ready if NFL teams come calling.

“This is what I’ve committed to this year by opting out, and my daily job is to get in the gym and get on the field like I’m doing,” Lauther said.

“Obviously I would’ve loved to have a workout or two by now or a tryout at least, but there’s a lot of politics. Next week I could be with a team for all I know.”