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NO Saints work out Rackers, Graham & others (1 Viewer)

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Wilfredo Ledezma

Footballguy
http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2013/11/new_orleans_saints_work_out_th.html

The New Orleans Saints worked out a group of kickers Tuesday including Neil Rackers, Shayne Graham and Derek Dimke, according to ESPN.

This should come as no surprise as current Saints kicker Garrett Hartley has struggled recently missing four of his last six field-goal attempts. With his recent misses, Hartley is only 72.7 percent on the season in field-goal attempts converting on 16 of his 22 kicks.

Hartley, a six-year veteran, is most known for his performance in the 2009 playoffs where he hit the game-winning field goal in overtime to beat Minnesota in the NFC championship game and three field goals in Super Bowl XLIV.

 
With Garrett Hartley struggling, the New Orleans Saints worked out a group of kickers, according to ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter. The Saints don’t immediately plan to replace Hartley, according to Schefter, who cited a league source. But they wanted to update their emergency list in the event Hartley continues to struggle.


HartleyThe workout included kickers Derek Simke, Shayne Graham and Neil Rackers.

It’s probably wise for the Saints to remain patient with Hartley, who has missed four of his past six field-goal attempts.

Hartley, 27, has gone through a few of these slumps throughout his six-year career, but he has always been able to bounce back. And few kickers would offer more security at a position that is so susceptible to highs and lows.

Hartley is now 16 of 22 for field-goal attempts on the season.

"Like anything else it's just the consistency,” Saints coach Sean Payton said when asked about Hartley on Monday. “He's got the leg strength. He started off the season very well and last week hit a big one for us in New York. It's just the consistency.”

Hartley’s funk started when he missed three straight field goals during Weeks 8 and 9. But he had appeared to right the ship when he nailed a career-long 55-yarder and a 43-yarder in the second half of that Week 9 game -- a 26-20 loss at the New York Jets.

Then Hartley missed a 37-yarder that he pushed wide right in this past Sunday night’s 49-17 victory over the Dallas Cowboys.

Hartley had a solid 2012 season, making 18 of 22 field-goal attempts. Before that, his career was a roller coaster ride.

In 2009, Hartley served a four-game suspension to start the season after testing positive for a banned stimulant -- then he struggled with his consistency when he finally won the job back in December. But then he became a postseason hero that year, making the game-winning field goal in overtime of the NFC championship game and making three long field goals in the Super Bowl.

However, in 2010, Hartley struggled again and temporarily lost his job before bouncing back. Then in 2011, he missed the entire season with a hip injury.

For his career, Hartley has made 79 of 96 field goal attempts, including the playoffs (82.3 percent).

 
Rotoworld:

Saints waived K Garrett Hartley.

Hartley had struggled for the better part of the season, but the Saints reached the breaking point in Sunday's loss to the Rams. Hartley shanked a 26-yard kick in domed Edward Jones Stadium, and had a 36-yard attempt blocked. Hartley was just 22-of-30 on the year, good for 30th in field-goal percentage. The Saints' full-time kicker since 2010, Hartley had gone through funks before, and been unusually injury prone for a kicker. The Saints have yet to announce his replacement. Hartley will likely resurface at some point.

Related: Saints
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I would like to request to the OP that we can now change the thread title to Saints waive PK Garrett Hartley

 
Sayonara, Garrett.

The man is a legend forever plastered on walls everywhere after having made the winning FG against the Vikes. Hartley reversed gris-gris that had been in place since Day 1 with that kick. He was carried out a hero.

He went on to set a SB record with three FGs over 40 yards in the Super Bowl. Again, a hero. Mr. Clutch.

Next year, he missed a FG in the opening game against the Falcons - it led to an OT loss which: cost the Saints the division crown, it cost a playoff bye, it cost possible home field advantage that could have led to another Super Bowl and another possible championship. Instead the Saints had to go to Seattle where they of course lost in the playoffs. Still the Saints stuck by him.

He was suspended four games due to aderol and then he made up some bs story about how he ended up taking it. Still the Saints stuck by him.

He missed kicks that may have been the key plays in games including a loss to the Jets.

This past week he missed from near XP range, a kick which if made would have meant the Saints were inside the Rams' 10 down just 27-20 at the end of the game with a chance to tie. Instead they were down 27-16 and the Saints went for another short 35'ish kick .... which Hartley missed.

At the press conference for the first time I can recall Payton called out a player, saying it looked like both kicks were "low." That was enough, Sean had seen enough.

Gone.

Graham or Rackers would have been a hell of an add earlier in the year, now in the last FF game of the season @CAR it doesn't look like a great bet.

ETA: It's Graham.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
Rotoworld take:

Saints signed K Shayne Graham.
Graham worked out for the Saints last month when they were browsing free-agent kickers with Garrett Harltey struggling. Hartley never improved and was cut Tuesday. Graham spent a week with the Steelers earlier this season but never attempted a kick. He made 31-of-38 field goals for the Texans last season.

Source: Mike Garafolo on Twitter
Click to expand...
 
SaintsInDome2006 said:
Sayonara, Garrett.

The man is a legend forever plastered on walls everywhere after having made the winning FG against the Vikes. Hartley reversed gris-gris that had been in place since Day 1 with that kick. He was carried out a hero.

He went on to set a SB record with three FGs over 40 yards in the Super Bowl. Again, a hero. Mr. Clutch.

Next year, he missed a FG in the opening game against the Falcons - it led to an OT loss which: cost the Saints the division crown, it cost a playoff bye, it cost possible home field advantage that could have led to another Super Bowl and another possible championship. Instead the Saints had to go to Seattle where they of course lost in the playoffs. Still the Saints stuck by him.

He was suspended four games due to aderol and then he made up some bs story about how he ended up taking it. Still the Saints stuck by him.

He missed kicks that may have been the key plays in games including a loss to the Jets.

This past week he missed from near XP range, a kick which if made would have meant the Saints were inside the Rams' 10 down just 27-20 at the end of the game with a chance to tie. Instead they were down 27-16 and the Saints went for another short 35'ish kick .... which Hartley missed.

At the press conference for the first time I can recall Payton called out a player, saying it looked like both kicks were "low." That was enough, Sean had seen enough.

Gone.

Graham or Rackers would have been a hell of an add earlier in the year, now in the last FF game of the season @CAR it doesn't look like a great bet.

ETA: It's Graham.
Click to expand...
Great recap. We will always remember him being a key part of our championship, but this day has been long overdue.

 
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