Punt it like Papa

Junior Cameron plans to prove he can boot like Hall of Fame dad

By: Paul Wiecek Posted: 1:00 AM CDT Saturday, Jun. 1, 2013

He looks a bit like his dad. He wears the same No. 6. He even walks a bit like him.But the most important question -- does Brett Cameron also punt like his hall-of-fame father, Bob? -- is still mostly unanswered after the younger Cameron made his pro football debut this week during three days of Winnipeg Blue Bombers rookie camp at Investors Group Field.

Read this article for free:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

*Billed as $4.00 plus GST every four weeks. After 24 weeks, price increases to the regular rate of $19.00 plus GST every four weeks. Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

*Billed as $19 plus GST every four weeks. Cancel any time.

Read unlimited articles for free today:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 01/06/2013 (4507 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

He looks a bit like his dad. He wears the same No. 6. He even walks a bit like him.But the most important question — does Brett Cameron also punt like his hall-of-fame father, Bob? — is still mostly unanswered after the younger Cameron made his pro football debut this week during three days of Winnipeg Blue Bombers rookie camp at Investors Group Field.

Cameron is just one of three rookie punters the Bombers brought in this week to audition as potential replacements for veteran Mike Renaud, but his recognizable surname means he’s the one getting most of the attention.

Phil Hossack / Winnipeg Free Press
Bomber rookie kicker Brett Cameron works out the kinks under the gaze of Tim Hutchison (left) and Billy Pavlopoulas Friday at Investors Field. — Phil Hossack / Winnipeg Free Press Bomber rookie kicker Brett Cameron works out the kinks under the gaze of Tim Hutchison (left) and Billy Pavlopoulas Friday at Investors Field.

Cameron’s fine with that, he says, just as long as people also understand that he’s earned his chance to crack the Bombers roster this year on his own merits, not his father’s.

“He’s taught me a lot. And I think genetics is a factor — but not nepotism,” Cameron said this week. “I think — and I would hope — the Bombers brought me here because of what I did in college and not what my Dad did for this team for 23 years.

“I don’t think the Bombers would bring me in just to say, ‘Look, that’s Bob Cameron’s kid.'”

Bob Cameron of course had an iron-man career as the Bombers punter, but his kid’s no slouch either. The younger Cameron started for three years at UND and leaves behind the second highest punting average — 40.6 yards — in school history.

He hasn’t looked out of place at Investors Group Field this week, holding his own against Billy Pavlopoulos, the Bombers’ sixth-round draft pick this year, and Australian Tim Hutchison.

The real test, however, doesn’t come until Sunday when Renaud will join the three rookie punters as the Bombers veterans report for duty and full training camp begins.

Cameron, Hutchison and Pavlopoulos all got their first real chance to showcase their talents at practice Friday as they each took turns punting during special teams drills.

All three men got off impressive efforts with their first attempts, but all three also shanked later kicks in what were very poor weather conditions for punting.

Put it together and Bombers special teams co-ordinator Craig Dickenson said after practice Friday that Cameron so far appears to be the most refined of the three challengers for Renaud’s job.

“Brett is obviously the most polished. He’s played a lot more games, you can tell he’s been coached, he’s been at camps. The other two are much more raw, but they’re also very strong and powerful.”

Hutchison also had a brief tryout last year with the Toronto Argonauts and agreed Friday that this is probably his last chance to successfully make the transition from Aussie Rules football to the CFL, a move Josh Bartel pulled off successfully in Hamilton last season.

Phil Hossack / Winnipeg Free Press
Tim Hutchison stretches out in the rain Friday. — Phil Hossack / Winnipeg Free Press Tim Hutchison stretches out in the rain Friday.

“I’m 25 years of age, so this is really it for me. I want to have a real go of it and see where it takes me this camp,” said Hutchison.

“I’m finding my feet. It’s Day 3 now so there’s a bit of time to go. I want to try to keep getting better every day.”

That’s the same program that Pavlopoulos is on, although he makes clear that he’s just appreciative for the opportunity at redemption the Bombers have given him no matter what happens in camp.

“I was just grateful that I got picked up,” says Pavlopoulos. “Because after last year, I was just training hoping someone would give me a second chance.”

Pavlopoulos failed a drug test in January 2012 while he was enrolled at UBC after he says he unknowingly took a supplement with steroids in it.

He was subsequently suspended by the CIS from playing for two years, but the Bombers decided to give him another chance when they drafted him in the sixth round last month.

“It is what it is and there’s not much I can do about it now,” Pavlopoulos says of the failed test. “It was like my whole world got flipped upside down.”

paul.wiecek@freepress.mb.ca