Crapigna gets his kicks in with Roughriders
Tyler Crapigna just wants to kick.
That’s why the rookie placekicker was pleased to learn that he had been traded from the playoffbound Calgary Stampeders to the 2-13 Saskatchewan Roughriders last Wednesday.
Crapigna knows the Riders have been eliminated from playoff contention. He is still looking forward to having an opportunity to handle the place-kicking duties through the Riders’ final three regular-season games.
“It’s a chance for me to start, a chance for me to kick and to be in game situations,’’ said the 23-year-old Crapigna, who was buried behind Rene Paredes on Calgary’s depth chart. “I don’t think you can beat that. I’ve been practising in Calgary and to actually get a chance to play, I’m looking forward to it.’’
The Riders acquired Crapigna, a third-round selection in the 2016 CFL draft and a player on Calgary’s negotiation list (Keith Lewis) for running back Jerome Messam and a fifth-round selection in the 2016 draft.
Calgary had selected Crapigna in the fifth round (40th overall) of the 2014 CFL draft. He went to the Stampeders’ training camp that season, but returned to McMaster University for another year with the Marauders.
Crapigna returned to Calgary for training camp in 2015. He wasn’t going to unseat Paredes, but bided his time on the practice roster.
“You have to go in there (at practice) and treat that like a game-time situation for you and to focus on those kicks and make sure that you’re making those,’’ Crapigna said.
Crapigna is expected to start on Saturday when the Riders play host to the Edmonton Eskimos. The native of Nepean, Ont., replaces 23-year CFL veteran Paul McCallum. The Riders are still sorting out where McCallum will land. He won’t be on the active roster for the remainder of the season, barring an injury to Crapigna.
The Riders view Crapigna as their kicker heading into the 2016 season, thus making McCallum expendable.
“This is an opportunity for me to take and run,’’ Crapigna said. “It’s my job to lose. It’s the opportunity and situation that I wanted to be in from Day 1.’’
On Tuesday, the Riders announced the signing of Lewis, an international defensive back. After four seasons at the Virginia University of Lynchburg, Lewis signed as an undrafted free agent with the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers in May of 2014.
He joined the New York Jets’ practice squad in December and remained with the club through the preseason. He dressed for three pre-season games in 2015 before being released.