Argonauts.ca
TORONTO — Swayze Waters‘ return to the Toronto Argonauts was short-lived.
The veteran kicker was released on Tuesday, the team has confirmed, after re-joining the club over the off-season for a second stint.
Waters, a 31-year-old international, went 3-for-3 in the Argos’ pre-season win over Hamilton last weekend — including a 42-yarder — but it wasn’t enough to beat out Canadian kicker Ronnie Pfeffer.
After being named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Special Teams Player in 2014 with the Argos while converting 90.4 per cent of his field goal tries (47-of-52) and averaging 47.7 yards per punt, Waters tried his luck with the NFL in 2016.
He returned with the BC Lions last year, but an injury combined with the emergence of rookie Ty Long eventually led to his release. Waters was later signed by the Eskimos after an injury to Sean Whyte, stepping in to convert 11 of 15 field goal tries.
Ronnie Pfeffer has emerged as the Argos’ kicker and punter going into the season (Argonauts.ca)
Waters joined the Argos in 2012 and was set to enter his fifth season with the team. In his career, the Jackson, Missouri native has made good on 112 of his 142 attempts, a success rate of 78.9. He also boasts a reputation as one of the CFL’s top punters, averaging 46.9 yards per punt in six seasons.
With Waters’ release, the Argos are entrusting the 25-year-old Pfeffer with the job. Pfeffer is in his second stint with the Argos, originally playing for them in 2015 before being released and signing with the Ottawa REDBLACKS. The Kitchener, Ont. native made 12 of 16 field goal attempts in his career, all with the Argos, while averaging 43.2 yards per punt with Toronto and Ottawa.
The Argos’ kicking competition opened up after Lirim Hajrullahu, who kicked the game-winning field goal in the 105th Grey Cup Championship for the Argos, signed with the rival Hamilton Tiger-Cats as a free agent.
Pfeffer did not attempt a field goal in the team’s first pre-season game, but is expected to see action when the team travels to Guelph to take on the Ottawa REDBLACKS in their pre-season finale.
