B.C. kicker has decision to make
Lions’ Leone, along with Purifoy, could attract interest from NFL clubs
CALGARY — Paul McCallum turns 47 on Jan. 7. If the B.C. Lions are looking for a kicker next season, he might be available.
“I haven’t thought about (it),” McCallum said, after the Lions’ 42-15 defeat to the Calgary Stampeders in the West Division final Sunday. “Could I do it? Sure.”
Among other things, the Lions’ kicking situation is clouded as the season came to an end at McMahon Stadium. The CFL’s second-leading all-time scorer, McCallum joined the Lions on Oct. 30 on an emergency basis to bring stability to a wonky kicking game. But his post-season contribution was minimal. McCallum had two converts and no field goal attempts in B.C.’s 32-31 win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers last Sunday. Against the Stampeders, he didn’t get on the field, neither a convert nor a field goal try.
Meanwhile, punter/kicker Richie Leone, the man whose burden was lifted by McCallum’s arrival, had a stellar game, punting nine times for a 49.9-yard average and bombing an 81-yard kickoff that went for a single point. But when the punter sticks out and gets lots of work, it’s not a good sign for a football team.
“In no way does anything I did today make me feel better about what happened,” Leone admitted.
Still, the Lions know what they have in the 24-year-old Leone — the CFL’s best punter. If he can manage to straighten out the banana arc of his place kicking, he’ll be a formidable combo kicker. But the Lions could be in tough in trying to keep him. NFL interest awaits him as he heads into free agency.
“We’ll see what happens. I haven’t even thought about it,” Leone said. “But only time will tell. We’ll see what Wally (Buono) wants to do. There is only so much I can control. Playing with this team has been awesome, but it sucks to have the season end this way.”
Loucheiz Purifoy, the 23-year-old nickel back, is another up-and-comer the Lions might find difficult to keep. He, too, is going into free agency and could have NFL interest, based on his standout play. Purifoy had five tackles in Sunday’s loss, including two on special teams.