Palardy proves he’s worthy

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 26/01/2011 (5723 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

No one need school Justin Palardy on the ups and downs of pro football, from the absolute high of hearing his name called on draft day to the kick-to-the-privates torture of being released.

Yes, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers placekicker lived it all — and then some — in his very first go-round in the Canadian Football League, a season that saw him experience a career’s worth of emotions in just over six months.

And all of it, interestingly, was capped with Tuesday’s announcement that the 22-year-old Nova Scotian — along with promising offensive line prospect Chris Greaves — had signed contract extensions with the Bombers.

 

How did 2010 unfold for Palardy? Here’s his abridged version of events…

“I finish up an unreal CIS career and was lucky enough to get drafted by Hamilton, which was a dream come true,” began Palardy from Halifax, where he is finishing his degree at St. Mary’s. “And then I got cut after five games and two weeks later I’m back at school looking to finish off my education when I get a call from Winnipeg.

“I fly out the next day and I’m starting over from scratch in a kicking competition. I win that and then Louie (Sakoda) comes back from injury and I’ve got to do that all over again and I win that. And now I’m getting a contract extension.

“Everything happens for a reason. I believe good things happen to people who work hard and I’ve been working hard the last couple of years.”

The addition of Palardy last August after his release by the Tiger-Cats may eventually be seen as one of the shrewdest free-agent additions in recent Bomber history. Not only did Palardy twice win in-season kicking competitions to land the gig, he subsequently connected on 86 per cent of his attempts (26 of 30) and showed the kind of mental toughness that has management convinced he could be the long-term answer at the position.

The bonus is he’s got the ear of former CFL placekicker Terry Baker, who lives not too far from Palardy.

“Terry and I are really close,” Palardy said. “He coached me my first year of college. He’s on my speed dial. Any time I need him, I call. He still coaches me… all these guys go down to the States to get their fine-tuning on kicking. I just go to Terry.

“There were times this year where I’d call him up and needed some advice. He watches the games, he knows the stadiums because he’s kicked in all of them. He knows the wind in Winnipeg and Regina. We talk once a week.

“I still have so much to prove, I’m still working to get stronger,” Palardy added. “I’m looking forward to being back with Winnipeg, the new stadium. It’s exciting.”

Signing Greaves to an extension, meanwhile, gives the Bombers some depth at a critical position. The club’s sixth-round draft pick in last spring’s draft, Greaves was converted from the defensive to offensive line and appeared in five games, making one start. The coaching staff loves his grit and his athleticism and hope to transform him into a future starter.

Since the end of the season the Bombers have locked up four Canadian prospects to new contracts: WR Josh Bishop, OL Chris Kowalczuk and now Palardy and Greaves. As well, potential free-agent linebacker Pierre Luc-Labbe has re-signed while DE Odell Willis, DBs Alex Suber and Brandon Stewart and LB Clint Kent have also agreed to extensions.

 

ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca

Hunt interest heating up?

 

IT’S not official until Phillip Hunt puts his name on an NFL contract — or signs a new deal here — but the Bombers are bracing for the possibility of losing the CFL’s quarterback-sack king.

“At this point in time we are planning for life without him. We have to,” said assistant GM Ross Hodgkinson. “We have to try to plan for any and all eventualities. The good thing is that if it does happen and Phillip signs in the NFL in the next few weeks, it does give us some time and there are guys on our neg list we’d go after.”

Both Fox Sports and the Minneapolis Star-Tribune were speculating Tuesday about the Vikings’ apparent interest in Hunt, who led the CFL with 16 sacks last year. Hunt worked out for the Vikes, Cleveland Browns, New England Patriots, Philadelphia Eagles and Houston Texans.

Minnesota did sign B.C. Lions receiver Emmanuel Arceneaux this week to a deal that included a $75,000 signing bonus.