Westwood victim of Bombers' youth movement

Kicker Troy Westwood has been cut by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers for the second time in less than two years.

The 43-year-old said Thursday new Bombers head coach Paul LaPolice had a brief meeting with him more than a month ago and told him the team was going younger.

Westwood later asked LaPolice to release him if they weren't going to bring him to camp.

"They asked me to retire and I responded no — or something close to no," Westwood told The Canadian Press with a chuckle.

The non-import was released a few weeks ago without fanfare after playing in 18 Canadian Football League seasons, all with Winnipeg. He holds more than 30 team records.

While he harbours no ill will toward the club, he wishes he had been given a chance to compete at training camp.

"How they don't bring me into camp, I don't understand it. What do they have to lose?" Westwood said.

"Bring me to camp, I embarrass myself, they cut me. Bring me into camp and I'm better than the competition, then I should help the team to win. But it's their decision."

Going with Renaud

Bombers general manager Joe Mack said the team is going back to punter Mike Renaud, 26, who tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his kicking leg late last season.

"With Mike Renaud healthy and returning to us, we felt it was in the club's best interest to make this decision and continue with our youth movement," Mack said.

"The amount of respect this club has for Troy is immense and the way he stepped in last season showed his tremendous character and also his dedication to the club.

"We wish him all the best and truly thank him for his years of service to the Blue Bombers."

Former Bombers head coach first cut Westwood during the 2008 pre-season after a tumultuous relationship.

He was invited back into the fold last October when then head coach Mike Kelly called him to help after Renaud was injured and Alexis Serna struggled doing punting and field-goal kicking.

Westwood played in three games, punting 30 times with a 44-yard average and scoring four singles.

Prior to his injury, Renaud booted 53 punts with a 41.8-yard average and two singles.

"It was an absolute honour and a thrill to be able to walk into that situation and try and help contribute to the success of the team," Westwood said.

"If I never play another down, I have not a single regret."

Retiring not an option

He'd be open to calls for his services from any team.

"I believe I can play at a high level," he said. "I averaged 44 yards last year without being in a game for almost two years. I just don't feel any need to retire."

He currently works for a local morning radio show and is a case manager for a family-reunification program. His band Little Hawk just released its third CD.

If it is the end of Westwood's playing days, he goes out with a lofty resume.

The Dauphin, Man., native has played 281 games, including four Grey Cups. He's Winnipeg's all-time leading scorer with 2,745 points (fourth in league history) and holds the CFL record for best career field-goal percentage in the playoffs (85.7 per cent).

The pony-tailed Westwood was also one of the more colourful characters in the league — on and off the field.

His infamous tongue-in-cheek comment that people from Saskatchewan were "banjo-pickin' inbreds" inspired a yearly game between the 'Riders and Bombers called the Banjo Bowl.

He also tried his hand at pro boxing and tap dancing.

"However folks care to remember me, I can't help influence that at all," Westwood said.

"I did everything possible within my power to be as good as I could be. I did everything that I could to dedicate myself to helping the team to win."