WINNIPEG — Football fans will see a little less of Justin Medlock this season, but in a good way.
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers veteran kicker shed roughly 15 pounds in the off-season after he decided to put off retirement.
"I'm excited, rejuvenated," Medlock said following Wednesday's practice. "I think once I made the decision to come back, I was totally 100 per cent committed.
"My motivation in the off-season was really positive. I needed that."
After last season, the seven-year international placekicker and punter contemplated retiring to possibly get a job selling medical supplies. However, after conversations with Bombers special teams coach Paul Boudreau and head coach Mike O'Shea, he was assured the CFL club wanted him back and the feeling ended up being mutual.
The 34-year-old signed a one-year contract last November and embarked on a more-structured workout routine and better eating habits at his Florida home.
"I lost some weight," Medlock said. "I was just trying to work out more earlier in the morning, just wanted to get all the workouts done early.
"Sometimes I was kind of all over the place, I didn't really have a good structure when I was working out. It's been good."
His 2017 off-season had also been interrupted with the January arrival of his first child, son Braxton, which impacted his rest and training. When last season arrived, he felt the effects.
"Last year, I think I just hit a point in the wall that kind of was, I don't know what's going on here," said Medlock, who admitted to being "dinged up"” in mid-season. "But I need to get through that.
"I've always said, try to be comfortable being uncomfortable. That's my biggest thing."
In his second season with the club, Medlock made 80 per cent (56 of 70) of his field-goal attempts, last among eight qualifying kickers. His new career-high punting average of 43.7 yards was tied for eighth with Calgary's Rob Maver, but his net punting average of 35.2 yards was third after Ottawa's Brett Maher (36.2) and Maver's 35.6.
He connected on a number of game-winning field goals, but missed three attempts and a convert in a September win over Toronto. He rebounded with seven field goals in an Oct. 28 loss to B.C., which tied the club record he already shared with Trevor Kennerd.
"Finished pretty well in net punting," said Medlock, one of the veterans not playing in Friday’s final pre-season game in B.C.
"Field goals, obviously there was a little struggle there after the first bye week, but challenging in many ways hitting a lot of field goals against the wind, longer ones. So I'll just really focus in on that this year and, hopefully, I'll be able to clean those little things up. I feel ready to go."
While his drop in weight makes him feel better, he said it won't necessary make him kick better.
"At the end of the day, whatever I do it's not really going to make a difference in whether the ball’s going to go through the uprights," he said.
"I feel better, maybe add a couple more yards, but at the end of the day I’ve got to put the ball through the uprights. I was able to do that at the end of the year when I was probably my heaviest."
His slimmer physique hasn't gone unnoticed by his teammates.
"I could tell he was a little bit lighter, a little bit leaner," said Bombers receiver Weston Dressler, who often holds for Medlock’s field goals.
"The guy's always been a true pro as far as preparing and putting the work in to be the best at what he does."
He's glad the all-star kicker didn't retire.
"If we're going for a game-winning drive or even a drive at the end of the half, knowing we’ve just got to get to about the 45-yard line to have a real chance at three points, you expect it to go in every time with him," Dressler said.
"He's a huge weapon for this team."
Judy Owen, The Canadian Press