The 2008 K thread (1 Viewer)

[Mike Herman]

NEW ENGLAND & CHICAGO

"We had a long discussion when we let him go [in 2005]. We had some injuries at the start of that year; otherwise we were going to keep him on our football team. We were going to keep him on the 53. Adam [Vinatieri] was in the last year of his contract, there was a good chance we might lose him, and here was a good, young kicker. We felt like he was really good. To this day, we feel bad we had to release him. We always try to find a guy to come to camp who has an NFL leg. Robbie had one. He had enough ability to kick off to make it in the NFL. So that’s what I always look for for a second camp guy. He had a really strong leg. Once he got there, we found out a lot more about him, that he had a great work ethic and he was a listener and he was coachable. I can’t say enough good things about this kid. He’s a class act."

- NE special teams coordinator Brad Seely discusses Robbie Gould

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[Mike Herman]

TEXAS VERSUS THE NATION ALL-STAR BOWL

The Texas All-Stars routed the Nation All-Stars, 41-14, in the second annual Texas versus the Nation All-Star bowl game. Texas made it a 21-7 game when Erick Jackson recovered a fumble and took it into the end zone from 50 yards out and a pair of field goals from Garrett Hartley, a 45-yarder and a 26-yarder, gave the team a 27-7 lead heading into the final 15 minutes.

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[Mike Herman]

RIVALS.COM DRAFT RANKINGS

1. Brandon Coutu, 5-11, 185, Georgia

Powerful senior kicker can perform both placekicks and kickoffs at the NFL level.

2. Art Carmody, 5-9, 170, Louisville

Accurate placekicker has been a very reliable performer with the talent to make the clutch kick.

3. Alexis Serna, 5-6, 170, Oregon State

4. Taylor Mehlhaff, 5-10, 185, Wisconsin

5. Jason Reda, 6-1, 200, Illinois

6. John Sullivan, 5-11, 185, New Mexico

7. Michael Torres, 5-9 225, Central Florida

8. Rob Zarrilli, 6-0, 200, Hofstra

9. Dan Carpenter, 6-2, 210, Montana

10. Jud Dunlevy, 5-10, 185, Virginia Tech

linkTENNESSEE

Kicker Rob Bironas, scheduled to play in his first Pro Bowl today, will launch his own web site Saturday. The site - www.robbironas.net - will launch at noon. It will feature weekly blog posts by Bironas, a fan club signup area, and a multimedia gallery. Electronic wallpaper and screen-savers will be available for free download. Also, individuals who sign up for the fan club will receive monthly e-newsletters, updates on Bironas appearances, and access to the latest news about Bironas, including his community involvement.

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[benbadman]

TENNESSEE

Kicker Rob Bironas, scheduled to play in his first Pro Bowl today, will launch his own web site Saturday. The site - www.robbironas.net - will launch at noon. It will feature weekly blog posts by Bironas, a fan club signup area, and a multimedia gallery. Electronic wallpaper and screen-savers will be available for free download. Also, individuals who sign up for the fan club will receive monthly e-newsletters, updates on Bironas appearances, and access to the latest news about Bironas, including his community involvement.

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Speaking of Rob Bironas, here's a his theme song: "MY BIRONAS"

 

[Mike Herman]

THIS YEAR'S PRO BOWL

Nick Folk was 6 of 6 on PATs. He had no FG attempts.

Rob Bironas was 3 of 3 on FGs (33, 48, and 28 yards), and 3 of 3 on PATs.

PRO BOWL RECORDS

Field Goals, Career - 10, Morten Andersen, New Orleans 1986-89, 1991, 1993; Atlanta 1996.

Field Goals Attempted, Career - 18, Morten Andersen, New Orleans 1986-89, 1991, 1993; Atl. 1996.

Field Goals, Game - 5, Garo Yepremian, Miami (1974).

Field Goals Attempted, Game - 6, Jan Stenerud, Kansas City (1972), 4 made; Eddie Murray, Detroit (1981), 4 made; Mark Moseley, Washington (1983), 2 made.

Longest Field Goal - 53, David Akers, Philadelphia (2003).

PATs, Game - 7, Mike Vanderjagt, Indianapolis. (2004).

 

[Mike Herman]

NY GIANTS

The fine print had yet to be finalized, but the Giants reeled in the first of their eight unrestricted free agents Monday when placekicker Lawrence Tynes agreed to a five-year, $7 million contract. The length of the contract was somewhat surprising, considering Tynes had a rocky first half of the schedule, recording three of his four missed regular-season field goals and two missed extra points before he straightened himself out. He also missed two field goals in regulation in the NFC championship game in Green Bay, the last coming with four seconds remaining. But it was his last attempt, a 47-yarder in overtime that went straight through the uprights, that earned the 29-year-old his reward. Tynes also made good on a 32-yard field goal in Super Bowl XLII, and was 2-for-2 in extra points in the 17-14 win over the Patriots.

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AFL CHICAGO RUSH

Signed Paul Edinger to a three-year contract.

 

[Mike Herman]

ST. LOUIS

As a hedge against Jeff Wilkins' retirement talk, the Rams on Monday signed free-agent kicker Justin Medlock, a former All-American at UCLA. A fifth-round draft pick by Kansas City last year, Medlock played in one game with the Chiefs and connected on one of two field goal tries. Wilkins, a 14-year NFL veteran, hinted after this past season that "some issues with some health things" could cause him to consider retiring.

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[Mike Herman]

NEW ORLEANS

The Saints re-signed veteran kicker Martin Gramatica on Tuesday after his terrific three-game audition at the end of last season, setting up a battle between him and veteran Olindo Mare in training camp. Details of the contract were not released. Gramatica, 32, made all five of his field-goal attempts in December, including a 55-yarder against Philadelphia in Week 16. He was signed after Mare suffered a season-ending hip injury in Week 14. Mare, 34, had surgery in the offseason but will be ready to kick by the first minicamp, according to his agent, Drew Rosenhaus.

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[Lord Lucan]

But it was his last attempt, a 47-yarder in overtime that went straight through the uprights, that earned the 29-year-old his reward.

That must be one of the most lucrative kicks ever made. If he'd missed the 47-yarder and the Packers had taken the ball downfield and scored, there must be every chance Tynes would have been cut.

 

[Mike Herman]

NY GIANTS

10:27 a.m. The Giants and K Lawrence Tynes have agreed to terms on a new contract, according to Tynes' agent Gil Scott. The deal was originally thought to be for five years and $7 million. Scott did not comment on the length or value of the deal. I'm sure those numbers are at least close to being correct, but the four days between the original reports and Scott's confirming it's done makes you wonder how big the sticking points were.

10:42 a.m. UPDATE Okay, I've been told by someone who wanted to remain anonymous the original reports of $7 mil over five years were "just about dead-on." No word on guaranteed money and that's the key because, if there's not a lot guaranteed, that means it's still not a lock Tynes will be the kicker next year. Sure, he'll have a huge advantage over whoever they bring in to compete with him, but if he bombs and it won't cost the Giants a lot to cut him, they will. I'd say that's unlikely, but still a possibility.

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[Couch Potato]

TENNESSEE

Kicker Rob Bironas, scheduled to play in his first Pro Bowl today, will launch his own web site Saturday. The site - www.robbironas.net - will launch at noon. It will feature weekly blog posts by Bironas, a fan club signup area, and a multimedia gallery. Electronic wallpaper and screen-savers will be available for free download. Also, individuals who sign up for the fan club will receive monthly e-newsletters, updates on Bironas appearances, and access to the latest news about Bironas, including his community involvement.

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Speaking of Rob Bironas, here's a his theme song: "MY BIRONAS"

I wonder how many people realize that the singer of this theme song is FBG's "Bigbottom" aka BradyFan83. He has done a number of these song parodies which have been very well received on YouTube. The lyrics are generally written by others (often FBGs - I wrote the lyrics to a couple), and the songs and videoes done by Bigbottom. His most famous was the song called Brady which now has over a million YouTube views and was written and talked about by numerous newspapers and radio stations across the country.

 

[bigbottom]

TENNESSEE

Kicker Rob Bironas, scheduled to play in his first Pro Bowl today, will launch his own web site Saturday. The site - www.robbironas.net - will launch at noon. It will feature weekly blog posts by Bironas, a fan club signup area, and a multimedia gallery. Electronic wallpaper and screen-savers will be available for free download. Also, individuals who sign up for the fan club will receive monthly e-newsletters, updates on Bironas appearances, and access to the latest news about Bironas, including his community involvement.

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Speaking of Rob Bironas, here's a his theme song: "MY BIRONAS"

You rule CP! Thanks for the plug. For those of you who don't know, CP authored "Randy" a tribute to Randy Moss that got a ton of radio airplay and "Born To Dance" a tribute to Emmitt Smith that is one of my favorite BradyFan83 tunes.

 

[Mike Herman]

SAN DIEGO

Nate Kaeding now admits he had a fractured fibula in his left leg. "We tried to keep it on the hush hush because I didn't want more attention on me than that there would have been in a playoff situation," said Kaeding, who was successful on all four of his field-goal attempts in the playoff loss to New England. "If an opposing team knows that you've got a kicker with a broken leg, obviously it doesn't allow you to do many fakes and those sort of things." Some were disappointed the Chargers weren't more truthful in listing Kaeding - as well as other Chargers. But Kaeding said the team wasn't doing anything other squads do to hide injuries. "We try to keep that as limited as you can and as an NFL team you're only required to release what part of your body is injured, not the extent of it," Kaeding said. "We did everything by the book and just kind of play with it from there."

But it's hardly the manner in which a kicker wants to prepare for the most important kicks of his career. "It was tough," said Kaeding, who was 29-of-34 last season. "I couldn't walk. I was on crutches for the first 14 days, and I didn't practice until the week of New England, which was tough coming out cold turkey in those playoff situations not having practiced at all. Those were just the cards that I was dealt and just got to do the best with it when you can."

linkSAN FRANCISCO

Former Shepherd University kicker/punter Ricky Schmitt signed a two-year contract with the San Francisco 49ers on Friday. But it’s not for the position the former All-American expected. The 49ers are bringing Schmitt in to compete for the kicking job with veteran Joe Nedney. Not only was the position he was signed for a surprise, but also the destination. “It was weird. It came out of nowhere,” Schmitt said via telephone Friday night. “They’re looking for me as a field goal and kickoff guy. They have a Pro Bowl punter in Andy Lee.”

Schmitt was originally signed as an undrafted rookie free agent by the Arizona Cardinals last year and competed for the punting job. He was with the team in training camp until the final roster cuts. “After preseason I knew I could hang in the NFL,” Schmitt said. “After the Cardinals released me, I used it as motivation to train hard every single day, get ready for another shot.” After being released, Schmitt had a tryout with the Houston Texans. He also ended up working out for Seattle and Buffalo and sent film to all the teams. Whatever was on that film, combined with a good recommendation from Cardinals special teams coach Kevin Spencer, was enough to convince San Francisco to give him a try. Schmitt will fly out to San Francisco for offseason conditioning on March 16. Schmitt, a lefty, set numerous school records while at Shepherd. He handled all kicking and punting duties for the Rams for four years.

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[Mike Herman]

AFL CHICAGO RUSH

Paul Edinger's career with the Rush lasted exactly one week. The Arena Football League team waived the former Bears kicker Monday. "Paul did an outstanding job in camp," Rush coach Mike Hohensee said. So why was he cut? Because of Dan Frantz, whom Hohensee called "one of the most clutch kickers in the AFL." With his corkscrew approach, Edinger was among the most accurate kickers in Bears history. He made 110 of 146 field goals (75 percent) in five seasons and all 133 point-after attempts. When he signed with the Rush, Edinger said, "I'm not guaranteed anything. There's competition here." Apparently that was truer than he imagined.

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[Mike Herman]

DENVER

With nine days to go before the start of free agency, the Broncos have yet to have serious contract talks with kicker Jason Elam, the team's priority unrestricted free agent. Still, his agent believes something can be worked out before Elam, 37, hits the open market — where he'll likely be a prized commodity. "I do expect to have talks with the team in the next week and hopefully we can get something done there," Elam's agent, Jack Reale said. "Kickers are like doctors: nobody wants them until you need one, and you then hope you have a good one — and Jason is definitely a good one." The Broncos are expected to talk to most of their prospective free agents in the next week.

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Taylor Mehlhaff

"I got to kick a couple of field goals and kick off with a brand new NFL ball for the first time (laughs). [The NFL ball] is actually a little bit bigger, a little bit longer. I liked kicking field goals with it, (but) it takes a few yards off your kickoffs just because then they give it to you brand new, straight out of the box like that, it doesn't have the pop to it. Not that we were kicking amazing balls in college, but these ones were ... I used to always watch NFL games and wonder why they were kicking to the 10-yard line when it gets cold out, but now I understand why. It just doesn't pop off your foot like other balls do."

linkSAINT XAVIER UNIVERSITY

Shane Longest has been using a makeshift goal post area in the Shannon Center when weather doesn't permit him to kick outside. He kicks at a divider net that separates basketball courts in the facility. "It's amazing that the way the divider net is - the straps end up being a little narrower than an actual upright so I have something to aim at," Longest said. "I can go at all different angles from the gym. It actually turns out to be a pretty good workout - more than people would think."

Watching over Longest and advising him during these workouts is ... well ... nobody. He is truly on his own. [HC Mike] Feminis said he doesn't have the knowledge about kicking and joked that if he gave Longest advice, it would probably hurt the kicker rather than help him. "I haven't had a (kicking) coach basically my whole career," Longest said. "I used to go to (former University of Saint Francis standout) Piero Setta and he taught me some things. But it's mostly just me watching other people kick. Watching NFL guys kick. Looking at their mechanics. Knowing what's universal and not universal. What's style and what's not style. Basically, I went with a conventional way, and my dad (Rick) taught me when I was growing up to learn from watching the NFL kickers. I've always had to correct my own mistakes. Even when I first got here, coach Feminis said he was real excited to get me to come here but said, 'I don't know anything about kicking, so I'm going to leave you alone.' He did that, and I basically taught myself. I can't wait to get a coach."

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[Mike Herman]

SCOUTING COMBINE PARTICIPANTS

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ART CARMODY

Height: 5'9"

Weight: 168

College: Louisville

Overview: Called "Art-o-matic" by his teammates, Carmody ended his career in perfect fashion, nailing a 33-yard field goal with 20 seconds remaining to defeat Rutgers in the last game of the season and finishing as the NCAA career record holder with 433 points. While smaller and possessing a weaker leg than scouts would like, Carmody's consistency is tounding -- he made 67 of 79 career field-goal attempts and owns the NCAA record for most consecutive made extra points in one season (77 in 2004).

Positives: Rare accuracy. Made 67 of 79 career field goals and 253 of 255 extra-point attempts (both misses were blocked). ... Gets to the kicking point quickly and has good rise. ... Calm under pressure. ... Characterized as a normal guy who happens to be a kicker.

Negatives: Lacks prototypical size and leg strength. ... Only had one career attempt from beyond 50 yards (51) and missed it. ... Has only two kickoffs over the past two years. ... Attempted only one game-winning kick under 1:00 minute in his career (33-yarder to beat Rutgers in 2007).

SHANE LONGEST

Height: 5'11"

Weight: 176

College: St Xavier

Overview: The only NAIA prospect invited to the Combine, Longest was a one-man special teams crew for the Cougars, serving as the team's primary punter, place-kicker and kickoff specialist. Scouts have reservations about Longest's leg strength, but his improvement in accuracy over the past two seasons is enough to warrant a closer look.

Positives: Made significant gains in accuracy over the past two seasons, successfully making 42 of 55 field-goal attempts over the past two years after making only 50 percent (12 of 24) his first two seasons. ... Flashes the leg strength required, posting a career long 55-yard field goal in 2007. ... Recorded 20 touchbacks among his 87 kickoffs in 2007. ... Good initial rise on his kicks. ... Added punting to his resume in 2007, finishing third in the NAIA with a 43.2-yard average.

Negatives: Significant improvement in accuracy and depth of his kicks warrants a stronger look - especially as to what he could do with NFL caliber coaching. Still, Longest is viewed by some as a jack-of-all-trades, master of none type. ... Leg strength for kickoffs, directional accuracy and ability to handle pressure have earned moderate grades from scouts.

TAYLOR MEHLHAFF

Height: 5'10"

Weight: 185

College: Wisconsin

Overview: Taylor Mehlhaff teamed with punter Ken DeBauche to form what many experts felt was the best kicking tandem in college football in recent years. Mehlhaff finished his career as Wisconsin's second-leading scorer in school history (295 points) and tied for second all-time in field goals (50). He also holds the Badgers' all-time record by making 145-of-148 extra point attempts. The 2007 Lou Groza Award semifinalist, given to the nation's premier place-kicker, Mehlhaff also garnered All-American first-team honors as a senior. A three-year starter who handled all field goals and extra-point attempts, Mehlhaff was a major reason the opposition consistently had poor field position. In handling kickoff chores, 123 of his attempts were touchbacks and 160 of those kicks were returned for a 19.75-yard average, none for touchdowns.

Positives: Has a small frame, but shows good muscle tone, firm midsection and good thigh and calf development...Very poised under pressure, showing great confidence in his ability to kick for distance and in poor weather conditions...Has tunnel vision on the field, blocking out all distractions...Durable athlete with no health issues...Has the quickness, balance, agility and leg flexibility to put full force behind his kicks from either hash...Hits the ball with a quick stride, showing steady acceleration and trajectory on his attempts...Drives the ball deep on kickoffs, even when making attempts into the wind...Shows very good strength on contact with the ball, driving it deep and with very good hang time...Consistently gets the ball into the end zone on kickoffs and has the range to make field goals from the 50-yard area...Has adapted well to the swirling winds at Wisconsin's Camp Randall stadium and should not have any problems kicking into the wind...Makes proper adjustments in his approach to the ball based on field and weather conditions...Poised and in control in pressure situations, showing confidence and concentration coming through in the clutch...Lacks size, but is a tough open-field tackler who will square up, wrap and secure with good pop on contact...Has the athletic ability to break down and tackle in space (former defensive back in high school).

Negatives: Did not always get great height on his kickoffs, but as a senior, his hang time greatly improved from the previous season (4.54-second average in 2007, compared to 3.84 in 2005)...Needs to show a bit more quickness on his approach on field goals and conversions (bit deliberate in the past), but is much quicker when he uses a 2 1/2-step approach (note-he has never had a field goal or extra point blocked. The missed PAT in the 2007 UNLV was due to a muffed snap)...Might need some time to work with his holder and snapper at the next level, as he is a left-footed, soccer style kicker and the trio need to get comfortable with the kicker's approach and timing.

ALEXIS SERNA

Height: 5'7"

Weight: 168

College: Oregon State

Overview: The 2005 Lou Groza Award winner as the nation's best kicker, Serna leaves Oregon State as the Pac-10's second-leading all-time scorer with 383 points and has proven to be effective in poor weather situations. As impressive as Serna's career numbers are, he faces an uphill battle in getting drafted as his accuracy dropped each year of his career.

Positives: Good leg strength for a smaller kicker. ... Has demonstrated the ability to drive the ball on kickoffs and has a long field goal of 58 yards. ... Gets the ball up quickly. ... Best attribute might be a history of success in poor weather situations. ... Emerged as OSU's primary punter in 2007.

Negatives: Accuracy has dropped each year of his career after winning the 2005 Lou Groza Award. ... Serna may have bottomed out to end his senior season, missing five of his final seven kicks. ... While his leg strength is considered good for a smaller kicker, Serna only recorded two touchbacks out of 68 kickoff attempts as a senior.

 

[Mike Herman]

SEATTLE

Marcus Trufant is expected to be designated the team's franchise player today, the deadline for NFL teams to apply the tag. The transaction was not among the league's official transactions Wednesday, but the team notified Trufant. The designation is expected to become official today. The move also means kicker Josh Brown — the Seahawks' franchise player last year — is headed toward unrestricted free agency when the signing period begins Feb. 29. Tackle Sean Locklear and wide receiver D.J. Hackett, still unsigned, are, too.

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[QuizGuy66]

good to see this thread linked with the offseason team threads

-QG

 

[Mike Herman]

SEATTLE

I just spoke with Josh Brown's agent, who said he has spoken with the Seahawks but no deal obviously was able to be reached. He did not want to get into specifics but he did not sound optimistic about where things stand with negotiations. The issue, as always, is compensation. This is not from the agent, but I think that Brown is seeking something near what Adam Vinatieri signed with Indy, around $2.5 million per season. The Seahawks are coming in under that, obviously. The agent said that he has no future negotiations scheduled, though he was confident he would meet with the Seahawks at the combine here in Indianapolis. I spoke with one person with a pretty good feel for the situation who said he would not be surprised to see the Seahawks let Brown go and then go after a kicker in the later rounds here, particularly because having to franchise Trufant puts them in a tough spot cap-wise. I think the feeling there is that given the money, a talented kicker can be found in the draft, the same way that Brown was drafted after letting Rian Lindell go.

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[Mike Herman]

COMBINE

The punters and kickers were the first to take the field at the RCA Dome with a Friday afternoon workout. Louisville kicker Arthur Carmody proved to be the most accurate with perfection on all 15 of his kicks. Wisconsin’s kicker Taylor Mehlhaff missed one field goal, but proved to have the strongest leg of the bunch.

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[Mike Herman]

COMBINE

Louisville's Art Carmody was 15-of-15 on kick attempts, which definitely showed his accuracy and consistency. In particular, his form looked the same on every attempt. However, the ball did not jump off his foot and Carmody did not show good leg strength. His 50-yard attempts barely made it, despite the fact he was kicking indoors.

Oregon State's Alexis Serna surprised evaluators with his leg strength. For a tiny kicker -- Serna is 5-6 -- he showed surprising snap and power on his place-kicking attempts, as well as kickoffs. But Serna struggled some with his accuracy, missing four or five attempts.

St. Xavier's Shane Longest had an interesting day. A punter during his junior season, he chose to work out with the punters before doing place-kicks. He struggled greatly as a punter, and clearly it rattled him a bit, as he missed his first three place-kick attempts. However, Longest recovered to nail the next 12 kick attempts. He intrigued NFL teams by showing a strong leg, both on kick attempts and kickoffs.

Wisconsin's Taylor Mehlhaff was the best kicker of the day. He showed comparable accuracy to Carmody, hitting 14-of-15 attempts, and also showed a strong leg. Mehlhaff was on his game from start to finish. He showed solid, consistent technique, and the ball jumped off his foot.

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I caught up with a scout for an NFL team between interview sessions. Here are his thoughts on the early days of the NFL Combine.

This is the worst set of kickers and punters I have seen, and I have been doing this for 10 years. I stopped writing things down about halfway through their workouts it was so bad. And many of the other NFL personnel walked out of the workouts before they were even over.

There are two good kickers who weren't even invited here (Steven Hauschka of N.C. State and Connor Barth of North Carolina). They could end up being good. The N.C. State guy is an interesting story. He kicked at Middlebury College in Vermont before kicking last year at N.C. State. He had some good numbers from long range.

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[Mike Herman]

ST. LOUIS

Jeff Wilkins indicated at the end of last season that he was considering retirement. "One of the things we've got to see is how he feels," Linehan said. "He's got a little bit of a (leg) issue that he's got to get squared away medically, to make sure he's OK." Linehan didn't specify the exact nature of the leg problem, but said he didn't think it was anything serious and wasn't anything that would require surgery. "I think when you start getting up there, you want to evaluate it," Linehan said. "You say, 'Hey, are the years catching up with me?'" Wilkins, 35, has been with the Rams since 1997, second in team tenure to wide receiver Isaac Bruce. "Jeff can still get it done," Linehan said. "He was three of four from outside 50 yards last year. He was like the rest of our team. … Here's one of the greatest kickers ever and he has a down year. He misses kicks that he's never missed."

linkDENVER

The team is making progress in contract talks with place-kicker Jason Elam and defensive end John Engelberger.

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[The Hank]

good to see this thread linked with the offseason team threads-QG

Its such a great section, Herman does a great job answering/providing info on everything kickers.Keep up the good work MH!

 

[Mike Herman]

ATLANTA

Morten Andersen, 47, has been automatic within 45 yards the past two seasons but the Falcons are going to explore other options, again, before calling on the reliable veteran. "He's on our radar screen but there are a number of guys here, in terms of college guys that kicked that we were very impressed with," [HC Mike] Smith said. "We are going to make a determination, as we go through this process, looking at the college guys, the free agents that are available, and make our decision. There's definitely going to be competition, not only at the kicker position but I believe that competition is what makes a football team. It's going to be an open competition at all positions."

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[Jeff Pasquino]

If Broncos kicker Jason Elam enters free agency, expect Atlanta to make a push for Elam, who has family in Georgia. . . .

denverpost.com

 

[Mike Herman]

DENVER

All potential free agents consider 10 p.m. MST Thursday to be a hard deadline for negotiations with their current teams. It's an especially firm threshold for the Broncos and kicker Jason Elam. If Elam isn't re-signed by Friday, he will put his career on hold as he continues his travels abroad. Having just returned from Iraq, Elam is leaving this weekend for Israel, where he will be part of a Holy Land group that will also include Broncos center Tom Nalen, and former linemen Matt Lepsis and Dan Neil.

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[Jeff Pasquino]

DENVER

All potential free agents consider 10 p.m. MST Thursday to be a hard deadline for negotiations with their current teams. It's an especially firm threshold for the Broncos and kicker Jason Elam. If Elam isn't re-signed by Friday, he will put his career on hold as he continues his travels abroad. Having just returned from Iraq, Elam is leaving this weekend for Israel, where he will be part of a Holy Land group that will also include Broncos center Tom Nalen, and former linemen Matt Lepsis and Dan Neil.

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If this happens, Matt Prater will be in line for a sweet job.

 

[Mike Herman]

TENNESSEE

Agent switch: Kicker Rob Bironas is on his third agent in just more than two months. The Pro Bowl player is now represented by Joby Branion of Athletes First after previously being represented by Harold Lewis.

linkJACKSONVILLE

Kicker Josh Scobee missed much of the season with a leg injury he sustained in pregame warm-ups for the season-opener. John Carney did a competent job in Scobee’s stead and after Scobee returned he missed only one kick the rest of the way. “Obviously, he was better than the year before. I feel good about him. We have to get him healthy for an entire OTA, training camp and regular season. We have to get him to where he understands that he’s got to be a good workout guy in the offseason,” [special teams coordinator Joe] DeCamillis said of Scobee.

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[Mike Herman]

DENVER

The Denver Broncos’ top unrestricted free agent, kicker Jason Elam, hasn’t secured a contract to return to the team with only a few days remaining before the NFL free agency period begins. There hasn’t been much communication with the Broncos lately, Elam said in an e-mail Tuesday. The last talks between the sides were Thursday. “Nothing new,” Elam said.

linkWISCONSIN

As impressive as Taylor Mehlhaff's kicking numbers were at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis last week, it might've been the number he was least pleased with that sent the clearest message of what the former University of Wisconsin kicker is all about. That number: 13, as in 13 bench-press reps of 225 pounds — fewer than he'd hoped for but far more than any other specialist ... because he was the only one to even attempt the test. "I did 15 the week prior at school. I was hoping to get 16," Mehlhaff said Tuesday. "(Doing the bench press) doesn't say a whole lot about your kicking, but I guess people were saying I created a little buzz by doing it since none of the other kickers or punters did it."

Mehlhaff's kicking was just as buzzworthy. He made 14 of 15 field goal attempts from 30 to 50 yards, and his miss came from 45 yards on a poor snap and poor hold. And even that worked to his advantage, he said. "I think it was actually a good thing, because (NFL scouts) want to see how you bounce back," said Mehlhaff, one of four kickers to participate in the Friday workout at the RCA Dome. "And I bounced back and hit two in a row from 45 and then hit three in a row from 50. "With some kickers, that miss could mess with your head. All the scouts and coaches are behind the goalpost, and they have you live on TV on the NFL Network. That's a pressure situation, and for me to respond like that after a miss, I think that was good for me."

Mehlhaff, who made 21 of 25 field-goal attempts (84 percent) last season and 50 of 65 (76.9 percent) in three years (he only did kickoffs his freshman year with Mike Allen handling placements), was hoping his kickoffs would be deeper at the combine, although they too were the best of the bunch. "I didn't kick off as well as I wanted to," said Mehlhaff, who said his hang times were between 4.3 and 4.4 seconds but the kicks only reached the 5-yard line instead of the goal line. "I can hit those hang times in the end zone. So I was a little frustrated."

He'll get another chance to kick at UW's annual pro day on March 5, although he's not sure what the NFL talent evaluators will ask him to do during that workout. He has been kicking NFL K-balls throughout his draft preparation — the Green Bay Packers' equipment staff just sent him another shipment Tuesday — and hasn't seen much change in his accuracy or distance compared to the college ball. "It's really not that big of a deal," he said. "With kickers, I think it's more in your head than anything." And that might be the part of Mehlhaff's makeup that NFL teams will like the most. He played quarterback, outside linebacker, kicker and punter in high school at Aberdeen (S.D.) Central, and prides himself on his non-kicker mentality, as evidenced by his decision to waltz into the weight room and do the bench press shortly after his kicking session ended. "I like to think of myself not as a kicker but as an athlete that kicks," said Mehlhaff, who ended his UW career tied for second in career field goals (50, with Rich Thompson and 15 behind Todd Gregoire), second in field-goal accuracy (only by Matt Davenport, at 86.8 percent, was better) and second only to Ron Dayne in career scoring (295 points).

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[the_sig]

Mike, outstanding work on keeping the FBG community up to date on K news. I know a lot of guys look at K's as an after thought, but its nice to have a resource such as yourself keeping us updated on what is going on.

Do you have a 'short list' of guys that could break out in 2008 to be the next Folk, Gostkowski or Crosby?

Two guys I think have a shot would be Justin Medlock if Wilkins does indeed retire or Matt Prater if Elam signs elsewhere. Any other candidates you like that should be on our radar? Your opinions of Medlock or Prater if they do get the starting gig??

 

[Mike Herman]

NEW ORLEANS

The Saints have released kicker Olindo Mare after one turbulent season in New Orleans. He became expendable after the Saints re-signed veteran Martin Gramatica earlier this month. Mare is still recovering from a season-ending hip injury he suffered in December.

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[Jeff Pasquino]

Mike, outstanding work on keeping the FBG community up to date on K news. I know a lot of guys look at K's as an after thought, but its nice to have a resource such as yourself keeping us updated on what is going on. Do you have a 'short list' of guys that could break out in 2008 to be the next Folk, Gostkowski or Crosby?Two guys I think have a shot would be Justin Medlock if Wilkins does indeed retire or Matt Prater if Elam signs elsewhere. Any other candidates you like that should be on our radar? Your opinions of Medlock or Prater if they do get the starting gig??

Don't know if he wans mentioned here, but Billy Cundiff signed in KC for 2 years.

 

[the_sig]

Mike, outstanding work on keeping the FBG community up to date on K news. I know a lot of guys look at K's as an after thought, but its nice to have a resource such as yourself keeping us updated on what is going on. Do you have a 'short list' of guys that could break out in 2008 to be the next Folk, Gostkowski or Crosby?Two guys I think have a shot would be Justin Medlock if Wilkins does indeed retire or Matt Prater if Elam signs elsewhere. Any other candidates you like that should be on our radar? Your opinions of Medlock or Prater if they do get the starting gig??

Don't know if he wans mentioned here, but Billy Cundiff signed in KC for 2 years.

You know I'm searching for scraps Jeff.

 

[Jeff Pasquino]

Mike, outstanding work on keeping the FBG community up to date on K news. I know a lot of guys look at K's as an after thought, but its nice to have a resource such as yourself keeping us updated on what is going on.

Do you have a 'short list' of guys that could break out in 2008 to be the next Folk, Gostkowski or Crosby?

Two guys I think have a shot would be Justin Medlock if Wilkins does indeed retire or Matt Prater if Elam signs elsewhere. Any other candidates you like that should be on our radar? Your opinions of Medlock or Prater if they do get the starting gig??

Don't know if he wans mentioned here, but Billy Cundiff signed in KC for 2 years.

You know I'm searching for scraps Jeff.

at the WSL4 Reference....After about 30 kickers, you're best to look at a rookie.

Seattle isn't retaining Josh Brown because they plan on drafting a kicker, a philosophy that Jerry Jones has used for years (Cundiff, now Folk). I'd take the top one from the combine, but it's a shot in the dark. Many said that the kickers weren't very good in Indy, and frankly I'd be angry if I was a kicker and wasn't invited. Jeremy Ito from Rutgers is considered a Top 10 PK (Top 5 on some lists) and wasn't invited. That's terrible.

 

[Mike Herman]

CHICAGO

The Bears also have been in discussion for some time about a deal for kicker Robbie Gould, who is represented by Brian Mackler, the same agent who brokered Clark's deal. Gould is entering the final season of a four-year contract. ''It's a unique situation with Robbie,'' Mackler said. ''I can't recall the last time a kicker has come out and in his second year gone to the Pro Bowl and put his team in the Super Bowl. He just had another tremendous year. "Most of the kickers bounce around and then some of them have success at about 30. Robbie has had tremendous success in his first three years. It's a challenge for the Bears and it's a challenge for me. We spent a lot of time at the combine talking about it.'' The all-time most accurate kicker in franchise history, Gould is 63-for-72 (87.5 percent) over the last two seasons. Special-teams coordinator Dave Toub said he wants Gould to improve his leg strength on kickoffs. Gould said at the end of the season he would like a new deal, but would be patient for the right one.

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[Mike Herman]

NY GIANTS

The Giants haven't officially announced the signing of K Lawrence Tynes, but it's on the books. Here's a rundown of his base salaries:

2008 $625k

2009 $900k

2010 $1.1 mil

2011 $1.2 mil

2012 $1.3 mil

The contract also includes a $1.25-million signing bonus. Plus. Tynes will be due small roster bonuses in 2008 ($120k), 2009 ($130k) and 2010 ($50k).

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[Mike Herman]

DENVER

Denver Broncos kicker Jason Elam is still waiting for a contract offer. Elam told me at 2:30 today, he expects to talk with the Broncos later today. Elam, who’s one of the last links to the Broncos Super Bowl Titles, kicked 4 game winning field goals this season. If a deal doesn’t workout in Denver, the 37 year old could consider retirement. Elam has played his entire NFL career with the Broncos and is hesitant to move his family to another city. However, he would consider his hometown of Atlanta.

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[Mike Herman]

TENNESSEE

The Titans are busy tendering their restricted free agents before Thursday’s deadline and have given tackle David Stewart a first-round tender worth $2.017 million, while tight end Bo Scaife received a second-round tender worth $1.47 million. Kicker Rob Bironas was also given a second-round tender by the Titans.

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[Mike Herman]

DENVER

Jason Elam, Denver's leading career scorer, is no longer property of the Broncos, after 15 years of service. Elam is a free agent, which seemed an unlikely scenario at the end of a season that saw him kick four game-winning field goals. Talks between Elam's agent and the Broncos did not develop Thursday, and Elam became free to sign elsewhere. "I'm more than a little surprised, given that Jason is coming off his two best seasons and what he means to the Broncos," his agent, Jack Reale, said Thursday night. "It's puzzling to me." Reale said the two sides are far apart. Elam is leaving the country Saturday for two weeks, going on a trip to Israel with some Broncos teammates, and will not be available to visit other NFL teams during that time. The only team he would likely sign with in the next two weeks is Denver, but Reale said he doesn't know if that's possible. Asked if Elam, who turns 38 on March 8, will return to the Broncos, Reale said: "It remains to be seen. It takes two hands to clap." Because he's so settled in Denver, retirement is an option for Elam if he doesn't re-sign with the Broncos.

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[President Tim] Ruskell also said that Seattle's two most high-profile free agents — kicker Josh Brown and wide receiver D.J. Hackett — were likely to test the market as the hours ticked down toward Thursday's 9 p.m. deadline. Brown's agent has been in serious negotiations with the Seahawks, but Ruskell said Thursday afternoon that no deal was imminent. "We're still aggressively pursuing Josh, and we'll work up to the 11th hour," Ruskell said Thursday afternoon. "But we kind of have the feeling that he's going to test the waters." Brown was the team's franchise player last season, but the Seahawks have been unable to sign him to a long-term deal.

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The Falcons contacted Seahawks kicker Josh Brown and also tried to convince Chargers running back Michael Turner to make a visit on Friday.

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Kicker Dave Rayner, a restricted free agent, will not be tendered a contract. He was signed as a kickoff specialist after Nate Kaeding fractured his plant leg in a win over Denver on Dec. 24. Kaeding continued to kick field goals and PATs.

 

[Mike Herman]

ST. LOUIS

On Friday morning, the team announced that place-kicker Jeff Wilkins was retiring after 14 seasons in the NFL, including 11 with the Rams. "Throughout my 11 years with the Rams, everybody in the organization has been fantastic -- from the top to the bottom," Wilkins said in a statement. "But my retirement is best for me, my family and the Rams." Wilkins is the Rams’ all-timer leading score with 1,223 points, and also holds franchise marks for field goals attempted and field goals made. He ends his career with 371 career extra points, tied with Denver’s Jason Elam for the NFL record.

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[Mike Herman]

JOSH BROWN, freeagentguy

Word is that Kansas City, St. Louis, and Atlanta are pursuing Mr. Brown.

 

[Mike Herman]

ST. LOUIS

The Seahawks grew accustomed to turning to Josh Brown in moments of suspense the past five years. Well, this week, they got turned down by Brown, an unrestricted free agent, who instead will sign with division rival St. Louis. Friday evening Brown's agent confirmed his client signed with the Rams, the team Seattle beat twice in 2006 on last-minute field goals by Brown. According to league sources, the contract is a five-year agreement worth $14.2 million, including a $4 million signing bonus. It is the largest ever for an NFL kicker. That ends what was by all indications a negotiation with the Seahawks that lasted more than a year, concluding with the team apparently willing to offer Brown the largest contract for a kicker — thought to be $14 million for five years — but still unable to make a deal. The Chiefs were interested in Brown, according to The Kansas City Star, and the Falcons previously requested information about Brown from Seattle.

linkWhat have we learned?

1. St. Louis has a dome. Seattle and Kansas City do not.

2. St. Louis' dome is more appetizing than Atlanta's.

3. The price for an established clutch kicker just went up.

4. Justin Medlock's NFL career took another hit.

 

[Mike Herman]

SEATTLE

He [Josh Brown] wasn't even on the Rams' radar until it became apparent a couple of weeks ago that veteran kicker Jeff Wilkins was serious about retiring. When Wilkins made it official Friday, the Rams went into full-court press mode to get Brown to town and sign him. It capped what Seahawks president Tim Ruskell labeled "the most-weird negotiations I've ever been involved with." Each time Brown and his agent, Rob Roche, would ask for something, the Seahawks would go there, according to Ruskell. The Seahawks are believed to have offered Brown a five-year, $14 million contract that would have made him the highest-paid kicker in the league, but even that didn't get it done.

What's next for the Seahawks? They plan to sign a veteran kicker, although the free-agent class didn't offer much after Brown. They plan to draft or sign a rookie, and that group includes Louisville's Art Carmody (very accurate and the NCAA record-holder with 433 points) and Wisconsin's Taylor Melhaff (strong leg, but inconsistent last season). They will then go at it in training camp and the preseason to determine who replaces Brown.

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[Mike Herman]

ST. LOUIS

"Strange turn of events," Josh Brown said Saturday at his introductory press conference at Rams Park. "St. Louis wasn't even on the radar. Got a call late Friday morning, and was on a plane later that night. Had dinner with everybody that night, and they just blew me away with their offer." Brown wasn't on the Rams' radar either until about a week or so ago. When Devaney was hired Feb. 9 by the Rams, he wasn't aware that Jeff Wilkins was contemplating retirement. But the subject came up when Devaney was going over the Rams' roster, position by position, with Linehan and president of football operations-general manager Jay Zygmunt. Devaney had a possible solution. He had been tracking Brown for quite some time, back to when he worked for Atlanta. The Falcons would have pursued Brown a year ago, but he was given the franchise tag by the Seahawks.

This year, the Seahawks put that tag on cornerback Marcus Trufant instead. That made Brown available, but as one of the top young kickers in the game, the Rams knew they had to act quickly once Jeff Wilkins decided to retire. While Linehan was at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis last week, Wilkins met with Rams doctors about his nagging leg and back injuries, and spoke with special teams coach Al Roberts. "The concerns came up that (the injury) was not improving," Linehan said. "Jeff was discouraged. ... Al got the feeling that Jeff was leaning towards retiring. So that started to really factor into our free agency plan." According to Linehan, the injury started in Wilkins' leg but then caused discomfort in his back. At first, Wilkins began to feel pain on longer field goal attempts. The condition progressed to the point where he began to feel discomfort just sitting down. A couple of injections of medication didn't help.

The Rams got their answer from Wilkins on Friday, the first day of free agency. "It was a hard thing," Linehan said. "Because you don't want to force a person's decision, but you have to at least have an idea because you have to have a plan." Wilkins, 35, had hoped to finish the final two years of his contract. "The Rams family lost arguably the best kicker in franchise history due to retirement," Linehan said. "That was a tough thing to deal with. An even tougher thing was what were we going to do to replace such a guy?"

Thus began the brief but intense courtship of Brown. Until he received the call from the Rams, his free agent discussions had centered on Kansas City and Atlanta, as well as possibly re-signing with Seattle. "Out of nowhere, my agent calls me and says, 'Hey, Jeff Wilkins just retired,'" Brown said. In St. Louis, Brown is much closer to his parents' home in Tulsa, Okla., than he was in Seattle. And no kicker doesn't prefer working in a climate-controlled dome. Those were pluses about playing with the Rams. So was $14 million. "I was kind of nervous about (going to) another team in the division," Brown said. "I was like, 'I'm going to get massacred by the Seattle fans now.'"

From a St. Louis perspective, Brown no longer will be able to massacre the Rams. His first 24 hours in St. Louis featured plenty of ribbing about those game-winning kicks. "Some of the guys were like, 'We have nicknames for you, and we're all going to have to change our thoughts,'" Brown said. "I took that as a sign of respect and a complement. Yeah, it's kind of crazy. Now they're going to have me on their side, and I get the opportunity to kick some game winners for you guys."

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[Mike Herman]

JASON ELAM - freeagentguy

NFL.com reported that Elam was going to take his show on the road in the next couple of weeks. One of the teams reportedly on his list is the Kansas City Chiefs, but per our source in the organization, it appears KC’s only gameplan might be to get Denver to overspend to retain Elam.

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Free-agent kicker Jason Elam is expected to take some visits when he returns from Israel in two weeks. The only team he logically would re-sign with in the meantime is the Broncos, but that seems unlikely for now. Retirement also is a possibility for Elam. Kansas City may pursue Elam when he returns.

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[QuizGuy66]

Guess this should go here.

Bengals Resign Punter Larson For 5 Years

Good Move



-QG

 

[Mike Herman]

BUFFALO

Steve Christie longed for the proper closure to his outstanding football career, even though he filed his retirement papers with the NFL office last summer. So Christie signed a one-day contract with the Buffalo Bills on Wednesday and then officially retired as a Bill. “Growing up in Oakville [Ont.], the Bills certainly were my hometown team,” Christie said. “Even though I played for a couple teams after leaving Buffalo, the Bills were always my team and they still are. So it was very important to me to close things out and retire here.”

Christie is the greatest place-kicker in Bills history. He played nine of his 15 seasons in Buffalo, from 1992 to 2000. He holds the team records for points (1,011), field goals (234) and the longest field goal in team history (59 yards). He played two seasons in Tampa before joining the Bills then played three seasons with San Diego and one with the New York Giants after leaving Buffalo. He ranks 13th in NFL history in field goals made (336) and 15th in points (1,476).

His fellow kicking mate in Buffalo, punter Chris Mohr, about a year ago also signed a one-day contract to retire as a Bill. “In an age where loyalty really isn’t seen that often, I thought what Chris did was great,” Christie said. “He didn’t want a big deal. He just wanted closure. He just felt, ‘I had the best years of my football life here, and I just want to do what I feel is right.’ I’m on the same page with him. We both loved playing here. It was a special team. We really loved our coaches, Bruce DeHaven and Marv Levy, especially.”

Christie’s last NFL game was in the 2004 season with the Giants. He said he waited a year or two to file his retirement papers just in case a team had called him in an emergency. He wanted to retire as a Bill last summer, but the team didn’t have an open roster spot at the time.

Christie said the friendship of the players on the Bills’ teams in the 1990s was the best thing about his career. “The camaraderie with the guys, especially in the early 90s was something special,” he said. “We had a really fun group. Marv kept things loose, but we also were very efficient in getting things done, and we certainly prepared very well. We were a tight-knit group and had a lot of fun together.”

Christie was arguably the most clutch kicker the Bills ever had. With the Bills, he was 19 of 22 on game-tying or go-ahead field goal attempts in the final two minutes of the game or overtime. That did not count playoffs. He was 22 of 25 overall in the postseason. Christie’s most memorable kick wasn’t a long one. It was a 32-yarder that capped the greatest comeback in NFL history, the 41-38 overtime win over Houston on Jan. 3, 1993. “It was my first playoff game, and coming from Tampa and not even sniffing the playoffs, it was a big deal for me to just take part in a game like that,” Christie said. “I was like, just get it through and get out of here.” Christie still holds the record for the longest field goal in Super Bowl history, a 54-yarder in the second game against Dallas.

Christie, 40, still lives in Ellicottville with his wife, Kelly, and their two children.

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[greenf7cat]

Mike,

Would KC take an interest in Elam in your opinion, considering they signed Cundiff?

 

[Mike Herman]

Mike,Would KC take an interest in Elam in your opinion, considering they signed Cundiff?

They are rumored to be a team he'll visit when he returns from Israel (see post #95 above). KC also has Nick Novak on the roster.

 

[Mike Herman]

JASON ELAM, freeagentguy

Agent Jack Reale also represents Broncos longtime kicker Jason Elam, whom the team allowed to become a free agent. He said Elam, who would like to remain in Denver, will begin making a series of visits to other teams next week.

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Jack Reale said he and the team talked about free-agent kicker Jason Elam while he was in town this week. He said he hopes to continue talking next week with the team about Elam. Still, Reale said Elam might take trips to visit other teams. Seattle, Atlanta and Kansas City are all looking for a kicker. Elam said talks with the Broncos are not dormant but there are some parts of the team's contract proposal that he believes need to be significantly adjusted. "We talked but we're still a ways away," Reale said.

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