Roughriders punter Jon Ryan opts out of CFL deal

Jon Ryan is going to see if an NFL team wants to kick the tires on a punter.

“I want to keep my window open,” Ryan told the Green Zone on Tuesday from Los Angeles. “I know that’s a bit of a longshot, but my whole career has been a longshot so you just never know.”

The 38-year-old Regina-born punter has opted out of his deal with the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders after one season with the Green and White. He was slated to become a free agent in February.

Ryan joined the Roughriders in May of 2019 after a 12-year NFL career – two seasons with the Green Bay Packers and 10 with the Seattle Seahawks. He won a Super Bowl in 2014 with the Seahawks.

Along with trying to see if he can make his way back into the NFL, Ryan admits there is a financial reason as well, saying he has already made enough money from playing the sport.

“I’ve made 99 per cent of my money playing football in the United States so I thought it would be a little unfair and immoral to sit here in Los Angeles and collect emergency wage subsidies from the Canadian government when I don’t need it,” Ryan said.

A former University of Regina Rams receiver/punter/kicker, Ryan began his pro career with the CFL’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 2004.

Last season, he led the CFL with an average of 48.8 yards per punt.

He said he has been able to continue working out despite COVID-19 shutting down everything in California, though he admits he has had to hop a few fences to do so.

“All the football fields are closed so I had to jump the fence to get on the field,” Ryan said. “Just a 38-year-old man with a bag of balls jumping a fence to kick footballs. That’s pretty much my life.”

Ryan said the decision doesn’t have any bearing on if he’ll play in 2021 and that there’s “definitely a shot” Riders fans will see him in green and white again once the CFL starts up.

CFL players are allowed to opt out of their contracts under an agreement between the league and the CFL Players’ Association, made because of the cancelled 2020 season. Doing so makes the players available to NFL teams who may be interested in signing them.

Ryan is the fifth Roughriders player to opt out, joining kicker Brett Lauther, guard Dakoda Shepley, wide receiver DeMarcus Ayers and linebacker Deon Lacey.

“The window for these guys is so small. You never know when you might get an NFL shot and if that window passes, you might never get another one again,” Ryan said. “Both Brett and Dakoda are NFL talents so if they can get a shot out of this, it’ll be great.”