Why did the Packers cut the Canadian from Winnipeg again?
Originally Posted by: RaiderPride
Official: Who cares..
Unofficial: Special Teams coach Mike Stock started working for the Packers in 2006 and someone inside the Packers found this kids with a ton of potential in Punter Jon Ryan. As most of us know, Ryan was inconsistent as something he'd hit a huge boom punt other times he'd shank one... let call this problem a "hitch" in his kicking motion (because I have no idea what to call it or what was wrong)....
But I do know rumor had it, that Ryan was attempting to fix the "hitch" problem... and in doing so, Ryan requested for the Packers permission for a trip/kicking consultation visit with "kicking guru"
Coach (Gary) Zauner and for the Packers to pay for said trip/visit.
Ryan's request was rejected... no rumor on the details on how that all went down... but rumor has it the results were Coach Stock some how was PISSED at Ryan for something (lots of different speculation of why Stock was pissed, like offended that Ryan thought someone else could do better, or that Stock said no and Ryan attempted to go around/above Stock for higher up approval pissed him off etc etc... we'll never know the details unless someone talks)
But anyways back on subject to the firm rumors, Ryan's request was rejected and Stock was PISSED at Ryan, and started looking for another Punter.... and Washington drafted a punter that year making a punting battle with Punter Frost... most people opinions seemed to be Frost was better than the rookie (but both were bad), they kept the rookie and cut Frost... Stock had some history with the Redskins and I guess at some point early in Frost career personally worked Frost out and he was consistent and had great directional punting skills.... so PISS at Ryan, he was looking at the grass on the other side and took it. MM & Ted Thompson either listened to Stock or let him have the final say and that was good bye to Ryan and hello to Frost.
And in the end, Coach Stock ̶w̶a̶s̶ ̶f̶o̶r̶c̶e̶d̶ ̶t̶o̶̶ retired at the season in, and after being fired by the Packers, Jon Ryan went on to pay his own way to go visit "kicking guru"
Coach (Gary) Zauner and wouldn't you know it, 7 of his next 8 years all had better net punting than he had with the Packers, including Ryan being a more consistent and getting away from those shanks... so something worked out for Ryan.
Coach Zauner working with John Ryan after being released by the Packers