Troy Westwood has run out of chances with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
The veteran kicker has been released by the team after struggling in a 12-10 loss to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the preseason opener on Thursday.
''Troy Westwood has represented so much of what is right about the Blue Bombers organization,'' said Lyle Bauer, president and CEO of the Blue Bombers. ''The longevity, the four Grey Cup appearances, the numerous honours, awards and records speak for themselves. But on top of that he has also always been a leader and friend his teammates could count on. Troy leaves a remarkable legacy with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and we thank Troy for nearly two decades of service.''
According to the canada.com, Blue Bombers general manager Brendan Taman confirmed the team has been in touch with Duncan O'Mahony, who was recently released by the Edmonton Eskimos.
"We're still in the same muddied mess, meaning that somebody's got to take that job and strangle it by the throat," Taman told canada.com.
On Thursday, Westwood missed a 42-yard field goal in Hamilton. But more distressing to head coach Doug Berry was his inability to pin the Tiger-Cats deep with his punting. The team had to settle for singles on punts of 44 and 51 yards.
"I thought we would get a much better showing," Berry told the Winnipeg Sun. "I'm just not pleased with our kicking game and in particular, our individual kickers."
Westwood wasn't happy with his efforts either, admitting where he made mistakes.
"I should have hit the field goal," Westwood told the Sun. "And when we're at a place on the field where I need to get the ball out of bounds, I need to get it out of bounds, for sure."
The 41-year-old Westwood has spent his entire 17-year career with the Bombers. The native of Dauphin, Man., was Winnipeg's sixth-round draft pick in the 1991 CFL Canadian college draft. Westwood appeared in 278 career games, including three Grey Cup contests.