Former CFL punter and kicker Richie Leone has been released from the Arizona Cardinals practice squad, however, he’s headed to Baltimore for a workout with the Ravens, per NFL sources.
Leone signed a practice roster contract with Arizona on Monday, September 7. He was set free after the Cardinals’ Week 1 win against San Francisco. The Ravens wanted to bring Leone in prior to him joining Arizona, and now Baltimore has the chance.
Currently the Ravens have 2019 first-team All-Pro Justin Tucker handing kicking duties and 38-year-old Sam Koch punting. Baltimore wants a player with experience and versatility who could punt and kick as the third leg on the team. There are no other punters or kickers anywhere on the Ravens’ roster at the moment.
Leone made use of the agreement between the CFL and CFL Players’ Association after the cancelled 2020 season and opted out of his contract with the Ottawa Redblacks in August. He re-signed for one-year with Ottawa last off-season, the contract was set to expire in February 2021.
Leone is a three-time CFL all-star punter, leading the three-down league in punting average in 2015 and 2016 (49.5 and 49.3) and East Division in 2019 (48.4). The 28-year-old Leone has played 71 career games north of the border punting 472 times for 22,809 gross yards (48.3 average) — 83 yards is Leone’s longest career punt.
Leone received an invite to the 2014 NFL combine, however, he went unselected in that year’s draft out of the University of Houston. He went to training camp with the Baltimore Ravens, but was released among final training camp cuts.
After the 2016 CFL season, Leone inked a deal with the Cards, however, he was waived among the final roster moves following training camp and afterwards signed a free agent pact with Ottawa.
Leone is looking for a longer stay in Baltimore.
