Kicker Brett Lauther. (File photo courtesy of the Saskatchewan Roughriders)

By Britton Gray/ CJME News

Lauther to continue searching for NFL opportunity, won’t sign CFL contract soon

Feb 8, 2021 | 6:21 PM

Brett Lauther is going to bet on himself over the next few months.

The CFL free-agent market opens Tuesday, but the 30-year-old kicker isn’t in any hurry to sign with anyone.

“If the CFL doesn’t play on time — which I’m not sure if they will or if anyone thinks they will at this point (due to COVID-19) — I just don’t want to be locked into a CFL contract and not be making any money and also not being able to sign with an NFL team,” Lauther said from North Dakota, where he has been training.

“If I know the CFL isn’t going to play, I’ll just remain a free agent and keep exploring opportunities and ride that right up to September. I’m not intimidated or scared to go in and compete with anyone no matter where it is across the league.

“I feel like I’m just confident in what I can and can’t do and feel like I could come back at any point and hopefully win a job somewhere.”

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Lauther opted out of his CFL contract with the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2020 in order to try and find his way onto an NFL roster. He didn’t sign with a team for the 2020 season but he’s going to continue to try his luck.

“I’ve had some great conversations with (Roughriders GM) Jeremy O’Day and (head coach) Craig Dickenson and even had some other teams kind of reach out and see what I’ve been up to. I’ve been clear and up front since the get-go that I’m kind of not looking to sign a CFL contract right now,” Lauther said.

“(I’m) just not sure what’s going to happen with the season and if they’re going to play on time. (I’ve) been hearing a lot of different things from a lot of different people that I know and trust, so for now I’m just going to stay a free agent over the next month or so (and) try to get a few workouts if possible with an NFL team.

“There’s been some conversations with (the Roughriders). I said, ‘If you guys have to move on, it’s completely up to you guys. I’m doing this and you guys know I am,’ so if they draft a guy or bring another guy in, I just made it clear I know there’s a number of spots around the league that are open.”

The product of Truro, N.S., hit 32 of 41 field-goal tries for the Green and White in 2019, his second season with the team.

Waiting for an opportunity isn’t new for Lauther, who spent five seasons trying to find a spot in the CFL from 2014 to 2018 before signing with the Roughriders.

“Being around the league the last few years, I’ve always been kind of looking for a job or trying to get one and then it was awesome to kind of get going in Saskatchewan and everything,” Lauther said. “Then (it was) kind of out of our control or nothing to do with performance. COVID took last season away and I spent a lot of time with the CFLPA and getting to know the inside and how everything works around the league.

“It’s been challenging just staying ready the whole year and into the winter in case you’ve got a shot down there (in the NFL). Letting that not happen has just been a unique and different offseason, that’s for sure.”

CFL free agency gets underway Tuesday at 11 a.m.

Riders sign O-lineman

The Roughriders have added some more depth to their offensive line group.

The team announced Monday it has signed offensive lineman Seantrel Henderson. The 6-foot-7, 350-pounder has spent the past six seasons in the NFL and started 39 games in that span.

Henderson was taken by the Buffalo Bills in the seventh round (237th overall) of the 2014 draft. He started all 16 games at right tackle his rookie season. In 2018, he joined the Houston Texans, with whom he spent two seasons.