June 11, 2018

Notebook: Brett Lauther has finally made it

The Saskatchewan Roughriders take on the Calgary Stampeders in pre-season CFL action on June 8th, 2018 at Mosaic Stadium in Regina, SK. Derek Mortensen/Electric Umbrella

Brett Lauther’s journey has reached a successful conclusion.

The 27-year-old product of Truro, N.S., has been trying to find a job in the CFL since 2013, when he played four games with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

He has had tryouts and gigs on practice rosters, but he couldn’t land full-time employment — until now. Lauther has been named the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ kicker to start the 2018 regular season.

“I wouldn’t say it’s a relief as much as a feeling that everything happens for a reason, with timing and stuff,” he said after Monday’s practice at Mosaic Stadium.

“Being behind Justin Medlock and guys like that was so valuable to who I am today as a kicker, what I do in the league and what I know. I’ve had a lot of helpful guys like that … I’m just excited. I felt like this year was going to be my year.”

Lauther was selected by Hamilton in the seventh round (53rd overall) of the 2013 draft out of Saint Mary’s University. He played in four games as a CFL rookie, connecting on six of 10 field-goal tries and all 10 of his convert attempts.

He spent the 2014 season on the Tiger-Cats’ practice roster, watching as Medlock handled Hamilton’s kicking duties. Lauther was on Saskatchewan’s practice roster for five weeks in 2015, when Chris Milo and Paul McCallum were the Roughriders’ kickers.

Since then, Lauther has had stints on the practice rosters of the Toronto Argonauts, the Roughriders again and the Edmonton Eskimos before signing with Saskatchewan in March.

Lauther was the only kicker for the first week of the Roughriders’ training camp and went 4-for-4 on field-goal tries (with a 55-yarder) in a 35-12 pre-season loss to the host Eskimos. The next week, Tyler Crapigna came off the injured list and he and Lauther went toe to toe.

On Sunday, Roughriders head coach-GM Chris Jones revealed that Crapigna had been put on the six-game injured list because he requires season-ending surgery on his kicking leg. The move was made easier because Lauther had shown he could do the job.

“Right away, I felt for Tyler,” Lauther said of hearing the news. “I know it’s not easy to put a lot of work in during the off-season and then have that happen. I’m pretty good friends with him, so right away I was just thinking about him.

“Then, after it all sunk in, it kind of switched over. This is something that I’ve been working five years for, so I’m pretty excited for Friday. I felt good for everyone else who was on the long journey with me.”

Lauther will handle placements in Saskatchewan’s regular-season opener, which is set for Friday against the visiting Argos. He goes into that game having gone 5-for-5 on field-goal attempts in the pre-season and with the confidence that showing created.

“I certainly don’t feel any pressure (to replace Crapigna),” Lauther said. “I wouldn’t compare myself to him year to year. It’s a completely different season, so I’m going to do what I can do, do my thing and whatever happens, happens.

“I feel good on the field physically and mentally, so I’m ready to go.”

•••

The Roughriders announced Monday that they had signed Regina-born receiver Mitch Picton to the practice roster. The 23-year-old University of Regina Rams product was among the team’s cuts Sunday.

Picton had a solid training camp and, on Sunday, Jones said Picton likely would be back with the Roughriders at some point; there just wasn’t a spot available for him at the time.

That practice-roster spot opened up Monday when Saskatchewan released tailback Zac Stacy. The former NFLer was beat out for the job as one of the Roughriders’ international tailbacks by Tre Mason and subsequently decided against staying on the practice roster.

The Roughriders also announced they had signed linebacker Carl Bradford, a 25-year-old from Anaheim, Calif., who was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the fourth round (121st overall) of the 2014 NFL draft.

The 6-foot-1, 248-pounder out of Arizona State University played six games in his NFL career, which also featured stops with the San Francisco 49ers, Buffalo Bills, Chicago Bears and Cincinnati Bengals.

As well, the Roughriders added Regina Thunder offensive linemen Carson Bell and Chad Teskey as territorial exemptions.

•••

There was a note of sadness in the voice of Roughriders quarterback Brandon Bridge on Monday as he discussed Sunday’s release of veteran receiver Rob Bagg.

“That was a hard one; I’m not going to lie,” Bridge said. “Seeing Robert leaving is definitely a hard one for us.

“But it just shows that our coach has a lot of confidence in the young guys and he’s not preparing just for now, he’s preparing for the future as well.”

Bagg was one of 23 players released by Saskatchewan at the CFL’s roster deadline. He had played 10 seasons with the Roughriders before being cut.

On Monday, Picton and fellow Canuck Josh Stanford were getting many of the repetitions at Bagg’s former spot. Another national, Devon Bailey, also got some work with the starting lineup.

•••

Jones said the Roughriders have their eyes on a few players who were released by other teams prior to the deadline.

That said, he noted the Roughriders aren’t interested in the moment at a player like tailback Greg Morris. The former Roughrider was cut by Toronto on Sunday.

“Right now, we’re going with what we’ve got,” Jones said. “We know what we have on our football team and our concentration is this week.”

The Roughriders’ first test will be provided by a Toronto team that won the 2017 Grey Cup title — one week after defeating Saskatchewan in the Eastern Final.

“I like the fact that we’re starting with the people who got where we want to be,” Jones said. “This is a totally different team and I’m sure they’re telling their people the same thing.

“They did have to replace a few guys, but they’re an outstanding football team. They’re very well-coached and I like the fact (that we get to) see where we stack up.”