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VANCOUVER - After more than two decades in the CFL, Paul McCallum has finally become a specialist. McCallum, entering his 22nd CFL season, will focus on field goals in 2014 with the B.C. Lions, who signed him to a two-year contract Thursday. He has previously held all three kicking duties - kickoffs, punts and three-point efforts. But the reduction in responsibilities will not necessarily translate into a sign of his impending retirement at the conclusion of the season. "Im not looking at it like this is my last year, because I really dont understand how people do that," said McCallum. "For me, just looking at this year, this season, is what Im going to concentrate on, and then Ill look at it. Im not saying this is my last year. Im saying this is the year that Im going to concentrate on." McCallum, a 44-year-old Surrey, B.C., product, signed on for a 10th season with the Lions. He has also played for the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Ottawa Rough Riders. The Lions also announced the signing of kicker Ricky Schmitt, who was a member of Saskatchewans Grey Cup-champion team in 2013. Schmitt, a 28-year-old Virginia Beach, Va., native, who is entering his second full CFL season, will take over McCallums former punting and kick-off duties. "The reduced role, I think, is a positive thing for the club, especially with the fact that (Schmitt) is here," said McCallum. "Schmitt has got, probably, the strongest leg in the league for punting and kickoffs. So, for me, I think thats a benefit for the club. So I only look at it as a positive, not a negative." B.C. coach Mike Benevides attempted to limit McCallums duties, and the wear and tear on his right leg last season by placing the since-departed Hugh ONeill on the active roster at the start of the campaign. ONeill, who had spent the previous two years on the Lions practice roster without getting into a regular-season game, handled all three duties in the pre-season and early in the regular season while McCallum was sidelined with a groin injury. Once McCallum returned, ONeill was assigned kickoff responsibilities, but it was difficult for the Lions to balance two Canadian kickers on the active roster with the ratio of imports and non-imports. ONeill fell out of favour and was released in mid-season because he would not agree to a contract extension. General manager Wally Buono was also not satisfied with his progress after three seasons in the organization. ONeill quickly signed with Edmonton and remains with the Eskimos. Upon releasing ONeill, the Lions brought back Steven Shott after cutting him in the pre-season. Shott, a 24-year-old Vancouver native, remains on the B.C. roster as a long-term prospect. But its anyones guess on when he or Schmitt will challenge McCallum for the full-time position booting field goals. "I think last year was a bit of a different situation," said McCallum. "I could understand the direction the club wanted to take last year, and I was willing to (accept) that last year. But last year, my thought process was that I wanted to compete for the job still. Now? No, I dont want to compete for that job. There is no real competition as far as leg strength goes." McCallum is a two-time CFL All-Star (2010, 2011) and took home the leagues most outstanding special teams player in 2011, when he connected on 50 of 53 field-goal attempts. He is one of just five players in the CFL or NFL to play in 20 or more seasons, and ranks as the only CFL kicker to record 10 or more consecutive seasons with a field goal success rate of 80 per cent or better. "I have, believe it or not, as a kicker, looked after my body," said McCallum. "Kicking is a mental game. So the whole aspect of going out and competing, I still have it there. Its not what it was when I first started playing, but I still believe that I still have enough leg strength to kick the important field goals at 50-yard-line." McCallum kicked 28 field goals on 33 attempts in 2013, with the longest coming from 47 yards. But Schmitt holds a distinct advantage in the punting department. He posted a 45-yard net average last season with the Roughriders on 136 attempts, and his punts are known for their long hang time. McCallums career average net punting yardage is 41.4. McCallum pledged to mentor Schmitt and Shott if they seek his advice. "I think Ive proven over the years that Im a team guy," said McCallum. "So if whoevers there is going to need some help, then Im willing to do that." Schmitt said he hopes to learn as much as he can from the veteran while helping both lead the league in every kicking statistical category. The former Roughrider attributed his departure from Saskatchewan to the CFLs import and non-import ratio after the first phase of free agency. "They lost a bunch of good Americans (at other positions)," said Schmitt, who played collegiately for NCAA Division II squad Shepherd in West Virginia and had could not stick with five NFL clubs. "We were in contract discussions but, ultimately, it just came down to the nature of the business." When asked if he wants to kick field goals for B.C. eventually, Schmitt, who handled all of his teams kicking duties in college, said he is willing to do whatever team asks. "I know that (McCallum) is going to be doing the field goals for as long as he can," said Schmitt. Cheap Lions Jerseys . Bryce Harper? He also came into Wednesday without a long ball and hadnt driven in a run. He was hitting .160, had nearly three times as many strikeouts as hits and was dropped to seventh in the batting order. Cheap Lions Jerseys China . Jeff Carter had two goals and an assist as the Kings stretched their streak to seven wins in a row with a 4-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Sunday. http://www.cheaplionsjerseyselite.com/.2 million in 2012, according to tax returns the league has submitted.(SportsNetwork.com) - On the surface, Rex Ryan going to Buffalo doesnt make all that much sense. After all, the Bills already had a pretty good defense with Jim Schwartz orchestrating things and its the offense which needs the tune-up, especially with veteran quarterback Kyle Orton walking off into the sunset and E.J. Manuel warming up for what could be his last opportunity to prove he is the answer in Western New York. So why did new Bills owner Terry Pegula land on the defensive-minded Ryan after a two-week coaching search, which included names like Indianapolis offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton and his counterpart with New England, Josh McDaniels? The answer is Doug Marrone, Pegulas former coach who exited in such a fashion that loyalty became a much bigger deal to the organization than any particular scheme, be it offensive or defensive. Marrones agent, Jimmy Sexton, negotiated an escape clause in Marrones contract that gave the coach a three-day window at the end of the season in which he could terminate his deal with the team but still receive his full salary for the 2015 season, even in a double-dip situation in which Marrone coaches for a new team next September. When he takes a job, he already has a plan in place for his next job, Bob Casullo, a former Marrone assistant at the University of Syracuse, told ESPN Radio earlier this month. Whoever gave him that three-day opt-out clause, his agent is a genius and the person who signed it for the Buffalo Bills is a complete idiot. Pegula, of course, didnt hire Marrone and didnt negotiate the one-sided deal with him, but he was ready to move forward with the coach after a solid, albeit unspectacular, 9-7 season despite the fact that the Bills were unable to end a playoff drought that spans back to the 20th century. Uh, shocked, Pegula said at Ryans introductory press conference on Wednesday when asked about Marronees abrupt departure.dddddddddddd More than shocked, but hey, I liked Doug Marrone when he was here. He was probably the guy I talked to more than anybody. So he made that decision. He moved on. Not before issuing a mass text to his players to inform them of the news after employing his golden parachute out of Buffalo. Any time you get a text message saying that its happening, you feel like you got punched in the stomach, Bills running back Fred Jackson said on his radio show. I mean, stuff could have been handled different. It will be handled differently under Ryan, the very definition of a players coach and a man with the reputation of being loyal to a fault as well as painfully honest at times. This football team deserves a loyal coach and deserves loyal players, Ryan said while taking a not-so subtle dig at his predecessor, who Casullo described as self-centered, selfish and greedy. Thats what were bringing, Ryan added. Nobodys more loyal than me as a football coach. And nobody can get players more fired up than Ryan. We are going to build a bully and were gonna see if you want to play us for 60 minutes, Ryan said, reverting back to his pre-John Idzik persona with the New York Jets. Technically the Buffalo defense is already a bit of a bully, finishing fourth in total defense, while recording a league-leading 54 sacks and producing three Pro Bowl defensive linemen this past season. Fourth in the league was probably a little disappointing, the braggadocios Ryan said. I know well lead the league in defense. Im not going to let our fans down, he continued. Im not going to do that. I know its been 15 years since the Bills made the playoffs. Well, get ready, man. Were going. We are going. Going where? The guarantee? Hey, am I going to guarantee a Super Bowl? Ryan asked rhetorically. I tell you what I will do, I will guarantee the pursuit of it. 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