Lions say so-Long to their star punter
A free agent in February, two-time CFL all-star is poised to sign deal with the NFL’s Chargers
B.C. Lions fans may want to look up kickers and punters from Roswell High in Roswell, Ga.
The Lions signed Roswell product Ty Long to handle their kicking duties in 2017 when Richie Leone, a fellow school alumnus, inked a deal with the Arizona Cardinals.
The Lions announced Friday they had released Long from his CFL contract so he could pursue NFL opportunities.
TSN’s Farhan Lalji reported that Long, 25, was about to sign a futures deal with the Los Angeles Chargers.
Long was scheduled to become a free agent in February.
Long was a CFL all-star punter the past two seasons and was the West Division’s nominee for Outstanding Special Teams Player this past year. He was named the Lions’ nominee for outstanding player this season as well.
He led the CFL in punting average (48.8 yards) and was good on 43 of 49 field goals.
Long had brief stints with the Washington Redskins and Pittsburgh Steelers before signing on with the Lions.
Long’s agent Chris Turnage told Postmedia columnist Ed Willes back in September he expected there to be NFL interest and that Long would “love to get back there. It’s certainly his long-term aspiration.”
Of course, Leone is proof it isn’t a sure thing. The 26-yearold was cut by Arizona and returned to the CFL last season with the Ottawa Redblacks.
“If it happens, it happens,” Long told Willes of his NFL dream. “I love playing up here. The CFL has been good to me. There are a lot of things that go into it.”
Long starred in college at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.