Paul McCallum to share B.C. Lions kicking duties with Ricky Schmitt

VANCOUVER – The B.C. Lions have signed veteran kicker Paul McCallum to a contract extension and agreed to terms with free-agent punter Ricky Schmitt.

McCallum, 44, is entering his ninth season in B.C. and 22nd overall in the CFL. The Vancouver native hit 28-of-33 field goals last year and accumulated 137 points.

He is also the only CFL kicker to record 10 or more consecutive seasons with a success rate of 80 per cent or better on field goals, reaching 85 per cent last season.

The two-time all-star was the CFL’s top special-teams performer in 2011 and is only the fifth player in league history to play in 20 or more seasons.

Schmitt spent last season with the Grey Cup-champion Saskatchewan Roughriders.

“I’m as excited as I have ever been about the game of football and being a member of the B.C. Lions,” McCallum said in a statement. “We have a very solid group of veteran leadership with a great blend of young talent on this team and I believe 2014 is going to be a very special year.

“Working with Ricky is also going to be very enjoyable, he’s one of our league’s best young kickers and we’ll be very effective together.”

General manager Wally Buono praised McCallum as an outstanding kicker throughout his long career.

“His consistency as a field goal kicker is exceptional and with the addition of Ricky I’m pleased to know that this is where he will be focusing his efforts as we continue building a championship team,” said Buono.