The 2009 K Thread (1 Viewer)

[Mike Herman]

After all the critical acclaim for The 2008 K Thread, the much anticipated debut of the 2009 K Thread is finally upon us. Along the way we'll talk playoffs, free agency, the draft, minicamps, training camp battles, injuries, and all things kicker related.

Let the fun begin!

 

[Mike Herman]

2009 FREE AGENTS

Rob Bironas, Ten - re-signed by Tennessee to new 4-year deal

Shayne Graham, Cin - franchise tag

John Carney, NYG

Jay Feely, NYJ - re-signed by NYJ to 1-year deal

Mike Nugent, NYJ - signed by TB to compete with Matt Bryant

Jason Hanson, Det - re-signed by Detroit to new 4-year deal

John Kasay, Car - re-signed during the regular season

Matt Stover, Bal

Shaun Suisham, Was - tendered by Washington, will compete with Dave Rayner

Martin Gramatica, NO

 

[Hersh]

Is Taylor Mehlhaff pretty much done?

 

[Mike Herman]

Is Taylor Mehlhaff pretty much done?

It might depend on whether he continues to shank kickoffs...

The Vikings signed former University of Wisconsin kicker Taylor Mehlhaff to a two-year future contract. Mehlhaff, a sixth-round draft pick in 2008 for the New Orleans Saints, is a candidate to make the 2009 roster as a kickoff specialist, allowing veteran Ryan Longwell to focus on field goals. Longwell, who was signed to a five-year, $10 million contract in 2006, has had one of the best seasons of his career. He has made 29 of 34 field-goal attempts this season, including 6 of 6 from 50 yards or more, and has scored 127 points. But he has only six touchbacks this season and only 61 in his 12-year career.

link

 

[Anthony Borbely]

2009 FREE AGENTS

Jason Hanson, Det

Here is an unusual note about Jason Hanson's contract:Link

Even if the Lions do not extend Hanson's contract before the end of the regular season, an interesting contractual twist means Hanson will not enter unrestricted free agency.

In 1993, under terms of the collective bargaining agreement signed at the time, each team was given a franchise tag and, on a one-time basis, each team was given a transition tag to put on two players. The transition tag would stay with that player as long as his contract did not expire.

The Lions used those transition tags on Hanson and receiver Herman Moore. Because Hanson always extended his contract through the years -- and it never technically expired -- Hanson still is under the rules of that transition tag. It means that if the two sides cannot come to an agreement on a new deal, Hanson will be given a one-year contract that pays him an average of the top 10 kickers in the league.

 

[leave a whisper]

2009 FREE AGENTS

Rob Bironas, Ten

Shayne Graham, Cin

John Carney, NYG

Jay Feely, NYJ

Mike Nugent, NYJ

Jason Hanson, Det

John Kasay, Car

Matt Stover, Bal

Shaun Suisham, Was

Martin Gramatica, NO

Kasay re-signed with the Panthers during the season.always my favorite kicker to grab very late.

per CBSsportsline:

News: John Kasay stood in front of reporters four years ago to announce what he thought was his last contract extension with the Carolina Panthers. On Wednesday, two days after his 39th birthday and in the midst of a streak of 21 consecutive made field goals, the last original Panther decided he was far from finished, signing another four-year extension that keeps him entrenched as Carolina's place-kicker through the 2012 season. With Kasay still one of the NFL's top kickers, Carolina was happy to keep him - even if he'll be 43 at the end of the deal. Kasay negotiated the contract on his own and did not release financial figures. "I figured this would be a retirement speech a few years ago. But I've been very blessed and very thankful," Kasay said. "To have the opportunity to still do the very same thing that I was doing when I was 12 years old, I wouldn't have guessed it in a million years."

 

[Don Quixote]

I heard Zorn on the radio recently stating that the Skins would bring in competition for the kicking job next year.

 

[PewterFan]

Is it pretty much a given that Garrett Hartley will start for the Saints in '09? If so, I want him in every league I'm in.

 

[Mike Herman]

Is it pretty much a given that Garrett Hartley will start for the Saints in '09? If so, I want him in every league I'm in.

From interview with HC Sean Payton...

Do you see Garrett Hartley as the kicker for the future?

He has certainly made a good impression. Finishing 13-for-13 – he was a little inconsistent yesterday with the kickoffs, but I’ll say this: you guys have seen a limited amount because when you’re out to practice we’re not in the field goal drills, but as good as he’s been on gameday, he’s been better in practice and very consistent. That’s very encouraging that he’s a young player, a rookie, and it’s not too big for him and he’s handled it very well with a live leg. I’m encouraged with that a lot.

link

 

[Mike Herman]

Wild Card games kicker calculations

Using respective home or away kicking points per game scored times k-defensive factors...

ATL @ ARI

Elam: 6.8 ppg x 0.57 kdef factor = 3.9 projected points

Rackers: 8.5 ppg x 0.67 kdef factor = 5.7 projected points

IND @ SD

Vinatieri: 5.5 ppg x 0.59 kdef factor = 3.2 projected points

Kaeding: 8.8 ppg x 1.13 kdef factor = 9.9 projected points



BAL @ MIA

Stover: 8.6 ppg x 1.04 kdef factor = 8.9 projected points

Carpenter: 4.9 ppg x 0.93 kdef factor = 4.6 projected points

PHI @ MIN

Akers: 8.8 ppg x 0.71 kdef factor = 6.2 projected points

Longwell: 7.5 ppg x 1.08 kdef factor = 8.1 projected points

Then, assuming there are no two-point conversions or safeties scored, the resulting potential team scores would be as follows:

ATL: 10 or 28 points

ARI: 6, 24, or 42 points

IND: 3 or 21 points

SD: 16, 34, or 52 points

BAL: 9, 27, or 45 points

MIA: 17 or 35 points

PHI: 6, 24, or 42 points

MIN: 20, 38, or 56 points

 

[Mike Herman]

CAROLINA

The Carolina Panthers are the NFC South champions and have a first-round bye in the playoffs largely because they improved in several areas this season. There's no better example than on special teams with kickoffs. Rhys Lloyd wasn't merely an upgrade, he led the NFL in touchbacks. His 30 non-returnable kicks were eight more than any other kicker had this season, and were the most since the league changed its rules and introduced the K-ball in 1999. "It's a good achievement," Lloyd said earlier this week. "It's the only record I could have broken this year. It was the only thing on my mind as far as a goal for the season, other than making the Super Bowl, of course. It's not a big record, but it's the only one I could have broken, so it's a good feeling." This is what the Panthers hoped for when they decided to go against conventional NFL thinking and kept two kickers -- Lloyd for kickoffs, John Kasay for field goals and PATs -- on their 53-man roster this season. And this is the situation that Lloyd had been hoping to find after being waived seven times by various NFL teams in his first three seasons.

The numbers are eye opening. Exactly one-third of Lloyd's 90 kickoffs were non-returnable, and none were returned for touchdowns. The average starting drive by Panthers' opponents after kickoffs this season was the 25-yard line -- 24.7, mathematically -- and that ranked third in the league. By comparison, the Panthers had four touchbacks in all of 2007, and three of the four were by Lloyd in the final regular-season game just six days after he joined the team. The opponents' average drive started at the 29 last season, which ranked 19th in the league. And, Lloyd's presence has clearly helped Kasay stay strong as the season has worn on. Kasay was 28 of 31 on field-goal attempts during the season, including a game-winning 42-yarder with one second left last Sunday in the Panthers' 33-31 win at New Orleans. Kasay was also a perfect 46 of 46 on extra points. "Obviously, John is doing a great job," Lloyd said. "He's doing his job and I'm doing mine...."

Lloyd's 30 touchbacks this season shattered the previous high of 24, by Olindo Mare in 2003 and 2006. The 30 are also the second-most since the NFL moved kickoffs from the 35-yard line to the 30-yard line in 1994. Mitch Berger established that record in 1998 with 40. But that was before the K-ball came along and drastically changed the dynamic for kickers, because they could no longer doctor the ball to ensure more distance. In Berger's first year kicking with the K-ball, for example, his touchbacks went from 40 to 13. That makes this record even more gratifying to Lloyd. "They don't get to work on the balls like they used to before the game and during the game," he said. "Back in the day, you used to see them beat the heck out of the balls. You used to see them on the sidelines almost working them down with sandpaper, almost. "The balls now are pretty much straight out of the wrapper and aren't always pumped up how they should be. And when cold weather starts affecting it, it's like cold weather on a tire. "It starts affecting it pretty quick. The sweet spot goes and it's one thing after another. At that point, it becomes just making sure you get a good strike on the ball."

link

 

[Mike Herman]

ATLANTA

To the Atlanta Falcons' benefit, Jason Elam has just gotten better with age. The Falcons roster doesn't have much playoff experience, but that certainly isn't the case with their kicker. The 38-year-old Brookwood graduate brings more than just experience into today's game at Arizona, though. Elam finished the regular season as the NFL's second most accurate field-goal kicker at 93.5 percent, making 29 of 31 attempts in his first year back home with the Falcons. As good as Elam was in his 15 stellar seasons with Denver, he was never quite this good. His most accurate season with the Broncos was in 2006, when he was 27-for-29 - 93.1 percent.

There were certainly many reasons for the Falcons' turnaround from 4-12 to 11-5. But Elam's contribution can't be ignored. "I don't have quite the distance I did when I was younger," Elam said late in the season. "But I really think that I'm as good or better otherwise." Elam shares the NFL record with a 63-yard field goal in 1998, but his percentage that season was 85.2 (23 of 27). This year he booted the 38th field goal of at least 50 yards in his career and stretched his record streak of never scoring less than 100 points to 16 seasons.

But best of all, Elam is back in the playoffs after winning two Super Bowls with the Broncos and making the postseason eight times. "This has been an exciting season to be a part of," Elam said. "This is a tight group and we've accomplished a lot together. And we're not through yet." The best may be yet to come for Elam, who thrives on pressure. He has always been at his most clutch with the most on the line. Elam is 15-for-18 in field-goal attempts in 14 career playoff games. His 51-yarder is the second longest in Super Bowl history.

LINK

 

[Imagine]

After all the critical acclaim for The 2008 K Thread, the much anticipated debut of the 2009 K Thread is finally upon us. Along the way we'll talk playoffs, free agency, the draft, minicamps, training camp battles, injuries, and all things kicker related.Let the fun begin!

Hi Mike,I'm a first year subscriber, and feel like my subscription was worth every penny. So I'm a happy customer. I do have a couple of questions about place kickers though. To be blunt, I didn't think the kicker projections were very good this year, and wondered if that was a fair assessment?In your estimation, was this just a bad year for kicker projections, or should I have used other data on the website?When I looked back at the mid-August projections (just before our fantasy draft), and compared them to the results after week 16 (end of our season), only two of the top ten projected place kickers finished in the top ten according to our actual stats.Two of ten? That was way less than any other position projection. And a couple of the highest projected kickers (Folk and Vinatieri) finished outside of the top 22. Amazing year.So I wondered if I used the wrong data (I used Dodds' data). I also clicked in to the Kickermania articles each week to get ahead of the game, but never felt all that confident with the projections there either. Here are two questions for you.1. Do you like the philosophy of taking a kicker after 6 to 8 have been drafted? I guess it seems reasonable to me since if I had grabbed Folk or Vinatieri early in our draft, I'm afraid I'd have been very disappointed! 2. Any observations or suggestions for a new guy trying to get better? Thanks a bunch!

 

[Mike Herman]

SEATTLE

transcript of Seahawks president Tim Ruskell's 45-minute session with the media Thursday afternoon:

After going with two kickers all season, where are you now?

We drafted (Brandon) Coutu and he was 7-for-7 during the preseason. There was a lot of talk about him and we thought we should hang onto him till at least the trade deadline. Olindo (Mare), coming off the year he had, we wanted to make sure he was healthy. He had two down years prior to coming here. Obviously, as the season continued, Olindo was fantastic. After the trade deadline, there was never any pressure that we had to have another roster spot, so we kept Brandon as insurance. Is Brandon coming back for training camp? Right now he is. I understand why people would question why we would have two kickers. The deadline was over so we didn’t have the pressure to make a change at that spot on the roster.

Will you bring back Olindo Mare?

Yes, we would be crazy not to. All those years when he was with the Miami Dolphins— the Olindo I had always known. It is these last two years prior to last season that didn’t make sense to me. When we tested him out, the leg is still there. All credit to him for working hard during rehab and for having a fabulous year. I wish it was a year where we were winning games and going to the playoffs, because he deserved it.

link

 

[Mike Herman]

Here are two questions for you.1. Do you like the philosophy of taking a kicker after 6 to 8 have been drafted? I guess it seems reasonable to me since if I had grabbed Folk or Vinatieri early in our draft, I'm afraid I'd have been very disappointed! 2. Any observations or suggestions for a new guy trying to get better? Thanks a bunch!

My thoughts on different approaches to drafting kickers can be found in the Kickology link in my signature below. See section 23 "Drafting a Kicker". When a league's waiver wire rules facilitate it, I typically work the waiver wire on a weekly basis during the regular season for my kicker.

 

[Mike Herman]

SAN DIEGO

Kicker Nate Kaeding also missed the [Friday] morning practice before the Chargers boarded their charter flight for Pittsburgh. And although his status was listed as “probable,” his absence did raise questions. “I hope Nate is able to go and do everything we hope to do,” coach Norv Turner said. “I'm worried about it, but I'm comfortable with the situation right now.” Hope? If Kaeding can't kick, who will? Turner said the backup kicker is Mike Scifres – who attempted five field goals in college and none since – and the Chargers have no plans to bring in another kicker. “I'll be ready,” Kaeding said. “In a perfect world, I'd probably have been doing my thing in practice. But it's not like I haven't kicked before. And this way, I'm saving some of my bullets.” Kaeding seemed unconcerned about the groin injury he suffered during a mid-week practice before the Indianapolis game.

Perhaps the bigger question facing Kaeding, an Iowa native who kicked for the Hawkeyes as a collegian, is the conditions he expects to see Sunday – it will be cold and Heinz Field is notorious for its sloppy surface in inclement weather. “A field is a field,” said Kaeding, who missed a 41-yard field-goal attempt at Pittsburgh during the regular season. “It's tougher to kick in the cold. We probably won't see a 60-yarder this week.”

link

 

[Mike Herman]

FLORIDA STATE

As an incoming freshman at Tate High School in 2001, Graham Gano wasn't sure about this whole football thing. Like his four older half-brothers, he was soccer from head to cleat. At 14, he had never put his toe to pigskin. And if that combination wasn't enough to keep Gano away from trying out as a kicker for the Aggies, there were other pressing issues. "I didn't want to wear the tight pants, really," Gano said with a laugh. "I think that was one of my major concerns when I first started playing. I didn't want to play in those." He got over soccer, started kicking field goals and even looked past the pants problem. It's a good thing he did. From novice to high school All-American to Florida State standout to Lou Groza Award winner, Gano continues his meteoric rise and is preparing for a shot at the NFL during the next three months.

When Gano stepped onto campus as a freshman, it was like starting over. A celebrated high school kicker just a season before, Gano was redshirted for his first eight games in Tallahassee. He became the team's kickoff specialist for the final five games, a stretch that included the ACC Championship and the Orange Bowl. His sophomore and junior seasons, he couldn't pry the placekicking job away from incumbent starter Gary Cismesia. He did, however, take over the punting duties in 2006 and 2007.

In August of 2008, with Cismesia — an All-American kicker in 2007 — now graduated, Gano was in line to become the first player in school history to be the team's starting kicker, punter and kickoff specialist. Then, two weeks before his senior season began, Gano tore the meniscus in his left knee, putting what looked to be a banner season in jeopardy. "At the beginning of the season, I didn't even think I was going to play (in 2008)," Gano said. "I talked to coach Bowden about redshirting for a few weeks and he said just to wait it out and see how things go." "It was agonizing," Mark Gano added. "He had such a great summer, he was kicking really well." Gano had surgery and worked his way back. By the third game of the season, against Wake Forest, the coaches asked Gano to kick. If he couldn't handle the pain, they could get him a medical redshirt to bring him back in 2009. He was 1-of-2 on field goal tries, hitting a 37-yarder.

"Since then, I've just been kicking," Gano said. "And (the coaches) didn't really think about redshirting after that." The injury actually became a blessing in disguise. It required Gano to slow down his leg speed instead of kicking every ball hard, which in turn dramatically improved his accuracy. There was pain initially, but by his results, you wouldn't know it. Starting with that third game, a 12-3 loss, Gano had an 11-game stretch unmatched by any college kicker this season. Gano made 24-of-26 field goals including an NCAA-leading five from 50-plus yards. His 105 points in 11 games (9.55 ppg) led all kickers nationally. Those numbers led Gano to the Lou Groza Award — given to the nation's top placekicker — and capped off a rags to riches senior season.

If that wasn't enough, Gano put on one of the best punting performances of all time during FSU's 42-13 win over Wisconsin in the Champs Sports Bowl. He placed three consecutive punts inside the Wisconsin 3 and became the first punter to ever win a bowl game MVP award. "Before the game, I was punting horrible," Gano recalled. "I thought it was going to be one of my worst punting games. I couldn't hit a spiral to save my life. Everyone was just telling me leading up to the game, my dad, my mother Brenda, my family, my girlfriend (Brittany Osmon) ... just to have fun with this game and have a good time. That's what I went out there and did."

The future

With the monster 2008 season, Gano could be one of the small handful of kickers taken during April's NFL Draft. Most pro teams look at Gano as a kicker, but he does have the ability to punt as well. After Saturday's East-West Shrine Game, Gano make his way to Jacksonville to work out with Oakland Raiders kicker and former FSU standout Sebastian Janikowski along with Jacksonville Jaguars kicker Josh Scobee in preparation for the NFL Combine February 20-26.

link

 

[Mike Herman]

DRAFT RANKINGS

Scott Wright, NFL Draft Countdown

1. Graham Gano, Florida St.

2. Jose Martinez, U.T.E.P.

3. Louie Sakoda, Utah

4. Ryan Succop, South Carolina

5. Sam Swank, Wake Forest

6. Jason Bondzio, Arizona

7. Conor Lee, Pittsburgh

8. Jeff Wolfert, Missouri

9. David Buehler, USC

10. Pat McAfee, West Virginia

11. Austin Starr, Indiana

12. Patrick Shadle, Syracuse

13. Dan Kelly, Hawaii

Mel Kiper, ESPN

1. Louie Sakoda, Utah

2. Sam Swank, Wake Forest

3. Graham Gano, Florida St.

4. Jose Martinez, UTEP

5. Swayze Waters, UAB

 

[Mike Herman]

EAST-WEST SHRINE GAME

David Buehler, USC, kicked field goals of 49 and 21 yards for the west.

Graham Gano, Florida St., kicked a 24 yard field goal for the east.

 

[Mike Herman]

PHILADELPHIA

"When you get into these games," a still frustrated Andy Reid said afterward of Akers' misses, "those are the kinds of plays you have to make." The Eagles' coach clearly was not pleased with the performance of his kicker, especially one with 10 years of NFL experience. And it was not even the misses that seemed to irritate Reid the most. That moment came instead after the Eagles had scored the first of the three second-half touchdowns they quickly bunched together to grab a 25-24 lead. As David Akers converted the extra point, Arizona's Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, who seemed to be at the center of everything, ran into him, incurring a 5-yard penalty. Akers was about to kick off. When he saw Arizona's J.J. Arrington was the lone return man, he audibled. With the 5-yard advantage, he thought, he could kick the ball through the end zone and prevent a return. The kick landed short of the end zone, took a loopy hop, and bounded out of bounds. Instead of being buried deep in their territory, the Cardinals got the ball at their 35. As Akers, head down, walked to the sideline, the normally taciturn Reid sought him out, barking uncharacteristically at the player while moving toward him. Akers, wanting to avoid a confrontation, kept moving away from his coach. "I was trying to make a play on that," Akers said. "Obviously, that was my fault, too. . . . I've often been able to make those plays in the past. . . . I did it five or six times this season and got touchbacks out of it. It's a game of inches. But I guess sometimes when you try to make a play like that, you try to play outside your means."

Was he aware of Reid's displeasure? "Obviously, he didn't want me to kick it out of bounds," Akers said, his face reddening again. "Neither did I." On the field goal, missed when the Eagles trailed by 7-3, Akers said he thought he'd made the kick. "I don't know, man. I looked up and it was wide right," Akers said. On the extra point, replays appeared to show that Sav Rocca never got the ball's laces turned away from the kicker. "It wasn't the laces," Akers said as Rocca silently dressed alongside him. "I just missed it. Sometimes things happen. It's inexcusable. I don't know what happened."

Akers knows that NFL kickers come and go like the glittery victory confetti workers swept off University of Phoenix Stadium's field last night. His long tenure won't guarantee him a job this summer. And, after a final game like the one he had, this summer will come slowly. "All in all, you look at this season and it was a pretty good season to watch," he said. "But we got within a game of the Super Bowl. You have to get there. Everybody will be looking at themselves. That's what you do as a team. And I'll be the first. . . . But it's really disappointing. That's not a big enough word. But that's all I got."

link

 

[Mike Herman]

CINCINNATI

Of all the free agents that the Bengals will throw out to the free agency market, we haven't spoken much about Shayne Graham. Since joining the Cincinnati Bengals in 2003, Graham has converted no less than 83.3% of his field goals in any season, missing only 27 of 194 field goal attempts as the Bengals place kicker. Graham is the third-highest scorer in Bengals history, recording 604 points, 56 points from Doug Pelfrey and 547 points from Jim Breech's record of 1,151 points. Graham holds the the top-three spots for most points scored in a season (131 in 2005 is the top), most points averaged per game (8.19 in 2005) and a franchise record 21 straight field goals made (21 in 2007). His career 87.5% conversion is 10% ahead of second place (Doug Pelfrey) for most accurate kicker in franchise history. He also recorded the top four most accurate kicking seasons (91.2% in 2007 is the top). From 20-29 yards, 30-39 yards, 40-49 yards, Graham is far and away the most accurate, converting only 50% from 50 yards and beyond.

However, his records as, arguably, the Bengals best place kicker, are backseat drivers compared to the nickname he's received from Bengals fans as: choker. And actually, there's two games that are most notable in that argument.

Graham missed a 47-yard field attempt against the Philadelphia Eagles with 13 seconds remaining in overtime, resulting in a 13-13 tie on November 16, 2008. During the 2006 season-finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Graham missed a 39-yard field goal that would have sent the Bengals into the playoffs for consecutive seasons. Instead, Ben Roethlisberger hit Santonio Holmes on a quick pass that went 67 yards and the game winning score in overtime. The Bengals missed the playoffs. He also missed a 62-yard game-winning field goal against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers -- but a mythical roughing the quarterback, and pass interference calls, were largely to blame for that stupid loss.

In truth, having scanned every game played since 2003, only two games that we could find in which Graham missed a field goal, in the closing seconds, that would have won game with the conversion. Again, we scanned them, so you might want to double-check and see yourself. And even if you want to blame Graham fully for the missed field goal against the Steelers that essentially eliminated the Bengals from 2006 playoffs, we have to say that's a bit unfair, considering the Bengals fumbled the ball 10 times in those last three games, losing four, with two interceptions, an awful defense against the Colts, terribly turnover-prone and inconsistent on offense against the Broncos, and the Bengals rush defense against the Steelers.

On the other hand, Graham has three-game winning field goals in his career in the closing seasons; against Miami (9/19/2004), Baltimore (12/5/2004), and Cleveland (12/11/2005).

We support the Bengals decision to sign Graham to a contract, and we have no reason to believe that the contract would be heavy. Graham's not that type of person. He's community driven, known for his awesome charity work. That's the type of guy we want, right? He's good both on and off the field. For those that complain about character on this team, then Graham is your man. On the other hand, as some have suggested that Graham will be franchised, I disagree with tagging him.

link

 

[Mike Herman]

BALTIMORE

Matt Stover rebounded from a 4-for-7 start to finish with a 31-for-37 conversion rate. Stover said he and coach John Harbaugh discussed his returning but acknowledged that retirement is an option. "Retirement's been an option for 10 years," Stover said. "My family needs to come first. If that needs to be done, it needs to be done. But right now, I'm going to take some time off and we'll see where we land in March and see what the ravens want to do and see what else is out there in the league, too."

link

 

[saintfool]

Is it pretty much a given that Garrett Hartley will start for the Saints in '09? If so, I want him in every league I'm in.

From interview with HC Sean Payton...

Do you see Garrett Hartley as the kicker for the future?

He has certainly made a good impression. Finishing 13-for-13 – he was a little inconsistent yesterday with the kickoffs, but I’ll say this: you guys have seen a limited amount because when you’re out to practice we’re not in the field goal drills, but as good as he’s been on gameday, he’s been better in practice and very consistent. That’s very encouraging that he’s a young player, a rookie, and it’s not too big for him and he’s handled it very well with a live leg. I’m encouraged with that a lot.

link

i'm sure that payton will have someone competing with hartley going into next season. payton showed little loyalty or patience for guys over the regular season. hartley has the inside track, no doubt, but is hardly a sure thing.the good news is that hartley can be had pretty cheap.

 

[iSnitch]

I loved last year's thread.

 

[Mike Herman]

SENIOR BOWL

Louie Sakoda from Utah kicked a 38 yard field goal for the north.

Pat McAfee from West Virginia kicked a bunch of extra points for the south.

 

[Chase Stuart]

Do the Jets resign Nugent or Feely?

 

[Mike Herman]

Do the Jets resign Nugent or Feely?

That's probably the biggest question on most peoples' minds this off-season. Here's what each of them had to say recently:"I am very happy for Coach Mangini. I wish him luck for the rest of his career in football. I think he will do a great job in Cleveland. Ohio has great fans who will give him nothing but their best support."

- Mike Nugent

"I try to have a broad perspective, and I care about the direction of this country. I don't love any of the candidates, but I'm a conservative thinker and lean in that direction. I read both of Barack Obama's books and have a lot of respect for his life story, his hope, his optimism, but I just disagree with his policy. I think McCain is an American hero and a guy who can reach across party lines."

- Jay Feely (not quite as recent as Nuge's comment)

 

[Chase Stuart]

Do the Jets resign Nugent or Feely?

That's probably the biggest question on most peoples' minds this off-season. Here's what each of them had to say recently:"I am very happy for Coach Mangini. I wish him luck for the rest of his career in football. I think he will do a great job in Cleveland. Ohio has great fans who will give him nothing but their best support."

- Mike Nugent

"I try to have a broad perspective, and I care about the direction of this country. I don't love any of the candidates, but I'm a conservative thinker and lean in that direction. I read both of Barack Obama's books and have a lot of respect for his life story, his hope, his optimism, but I just disagree with his policy. I think McCain is an American hero and a guy who can reach across party lines."

- Jay Feely (not quite as recent as Nuge's comment)

 

[Mike Herman]

3rd ANNUAL TEXAS vs. THE NATION ALL-STAR CHALLENGE

Roster

Jose Martinez, UTEP

12/10/08 - 2008 ALL-CONFERENCE USA FIRST TEAM: Placekicker - Jose Martinez, Jr., UTEP, has been selected All-Conference USA football First Team for the 2008 college football season as voted by the league head coaches. Martinez led the squad with 105 points. The Lou Groza Award semifinalist was 20-for-27 on field goal attempts and 45-for-46 on PATs. He hit a 64-yard field goal against UCF, the second-longest without a tee in NCAA history. Martinez is tied for fifth nationally in field goals (1.7 avg.) and 17th in scoring (8.8 ppg). - UTEP football

11/21/08 - PLAYERS TO WATCH: K Jose Martinez has made 15 consecutive field-goal attempts since missing a 41-yarder in the third quarter against New Mexico State back on Sept. 20.

11/17/08 - GROZA AWARD WEEK 12 STAR OF THE WEEK: UTEP senior and 2007 Lou Groza Award semi finalist Jose Martinez is recognized as a "star of the week" for the third time this season after a exceptional 5 field goal performance in the Miners 36-10 defeat of SMU last Saturday. The San Jose, Ca. native tied a school record with his five field goals in the game and his 20 made field goals is second in the nation one behind fellow semi-finalist Ryan Harrison of Air Force. - Lou Groza Award

linkSwayze Waters, UAB

Swayze Waters, who earned All-Conference USA honors as both a junior and senior for the Blazers, has been invited to participate in the 3rd Annual Texas vs. The Nation All-Star Challenge. Waters, a placekicker/punter from Jackson, Miss., concluded his UAB career in November with one of his finest performances as he connected on all five of his field goal attempts in the Blazers' 15-0 win against UCF in Orlando. waters concluded his senior campaign with 19 field goals in 24 attempts. His average of 1.58 field goals ranked No. 9 in the country, according to the latest NCAA statistics. He also handled the Blazers' punting duties for the second consecutive season and had a banner 2008 campaign as he averaged 43.6 yards per punt. Waters was named first-team All-Conference USA as a punter and earned second-team all-league honors as a placekicker in a vote of C-USA's head coaches. As a junior in 2007 when he hit 22-of-28 field goals, Waters was named the league's first-team placekicker by the media and was second-team by the coaches. Waters finished his UAB career with 50 field goals in 64 tries. His career percentage of 78.1 is a UAB school record. His career average in two seasons as the team's regular punter was 42.4 yards per boot.

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[Mike Herman]

SUPER BOWL FLUFF

"My pregame will be the same. I'll have my pasta with three meatballs beforehand, and I'll just keep it the same and treat it as if it's Week 16 and we're playing the Seahawks."

- Neil Rackers

"I told my teammates if we made the playoffs I would dye my hair blond.... I shave it every offseason, and then I come to camp with it bald."

- Jeff Reed

 

[Mike Herman]

11th Annual College All-Star Football Challenge

The placekickers took part in both accuracy and distance competitions. West Virginia’s Pat McAfee won the accuracy competition, in which kickers had to make field goals from distances of 40-55 yards. Florida State’s Graham Gano won the long distance competition, kicking a field goal of 54 yards to win the event. In warm ups Gano was routinely making field goals of 60+ yards. Gano is both a placekicker at FSU as well as a punter, which should greatly raise his NFL draft stock. He also won the Lou Groza award during the regular season, which honors the nation’s top placekicker. Pittsburgh’s Connor Lee and Utah’s Louie Sakoda also took part in these events.

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[Mike Herman]

3rd ANNUAL TEXAS vs. THE NATION ALL-STAR CHALLENGE

There are seven Conference USA players participating in the game, including both kickers. UTEP's Jose Martinez represents the Texas team, while UAB's Swayze Waters is the Nation's kicker. Waters was the second-team C-USA kicker behind Martinez as selected by the coaches after each of the past two seasons. "Jose is a great kicker, I've been right behind him since I've been place kicking," Waters said. "It's nice out here (in El Paso) when the wind isn't blowing. Jose will be the best kicker I've ever kicked against." Waters was a kickoff specialist in 2005 when his UAB team played UTEP in the Sun Bowl. Martinez was in junior college then.

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Jose Martinez, K, UTEP. Martinez showed a strong leg, kicking 40-yarders into the wind with room to spare. However, he was inconsistent with his accuracy, pulling a couple to the left.

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[Mike Herman]

SUPER BOWL HISTORY

Super Bowl XXV was to be the start of dynasty. Instead it turned into a day that Scott Norwood, and Bills fans alike, will never forget. Lining up with eight seconds remaining on the clock, the Bills kicker proceeded to push a game-winning, 47-yard field goal wide right to send the Bills to the first of their record four consecutive Super Bowl defeats. Widely marked as one of the worst moments in Super Bowl history, it gave Scott Norwood a legacy unlike any kicker before or after him. It is a legacy that Scott Norwood would proudly give up.

However, Norwood's place in history is hardly the only example of a kicker taking center stage for all the wrong reasons in the Super Bowl. The Super Bowl history books are dotted with kickers who have imprinted their unforgettable images into our memory banks for all eternity.

All kickers realize that at some point in time, they are going to have a kick blocked. However, most kickers, being non-physical specimens, have the commen sense to fall on the ball if it comes back to them following the block. That was not the case for Garo Yepremian. Yepremian, playing for the perfect 1972 Dolphins, almost cost his team that notoriety when he retrieved a blocked, 42-yard attempt and tried to heave the ball downfield. His feeble attempt at a throw flew all of three yards before being intercepted and returned for a touchdown that cut the lead to seven points before the Dolphins pulled it out.

A football field is 53 feet 4 inches wide, so it is understandable why the NFL has rules in place that penalize kickers for not putting kick-offs in bounds because there is no reason for them to not be able to do it. However, someone forgot to tell Carolina Panthers kicker John Kasay that he was expected to keep the kick from sailing out of bounds. During Super Bowl XXXVIII against New England, Kasay sent a kick-off out of bounds, allowing the Patriots to start their eventual game-winning drive on the 40-yard line.

Rich Karlis of the Denver Broncos has the dubious distinction of have the shortest missed field goal in the history of the Super Bowl, when he shanked one a 23-yard chip shot in the Broncos 39-20 loss to the Giants in 1986. Missing from 47 yards out with all the pressure in the world is one thing. Missing from 23-yards away in a game where your team has been wiped all over the field is a whole other level of notoriety.

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[Mike Herman]

3rd ANNUAL TEXAS vs. THE NATION ALL-STAR CHALLENGE

Jose Martinez, UTEP, made a 27 yard FG for Texas. Three of his four kickoffs went for touchbacks. He also had an unsuccessful onside kickoff attempt at the end of the game.

Swayze Waters, UAB, had the first two scores of the game, with FGs of 34 and 26 yards for The Nation.

 

[Mike Herman]

NFL COMBINE INVITEES

Matt Fodge, Oklahoma, kicker

Jode Martinez, UTEP, kicker

Louie Sakoda, Utah, Kicker

Sam Swank, Wake Forest, kicker

Justin Brantly, Texas A&M, punter

Britton Colquitt, Tennessee, punter

Graham Gano, Florida State, punter (also a kicker)

Kevin Huber, Cincinnati, punter

David Buehler, USC, kickoff specialist

Tim Masthay, Kentucky, kickoff specialist

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[Mike Herman]

BALTIMORE

Matt Stover rebounded from a 4-for-7 start to finish with a 31-for-37 conversion rate. Stover said he and coach John Harbaugh discussed his returning but acknowledged that retirement is an option. "Retirement's been an option for 10 years," Stover said. "My family needs to come first. If that needs to be done, it needs to be done. But right now, I'm going to take some time off and we'll see where we land in March and see what the ravens want to do and see what else is out there in the league, too."

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"He's [41] years old, he's a free agent, and he's still a really good kicker. We're not really too interested in weakening ourselves if we don't have to, but that remains to be determined as well.... If we can bring him back, we will, and if we can't we're going to have to move in another direction."- HC John Harbaugh

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[Mike Herman]

WASHINGTON

The Redskins have signed kicker Dave Rayner, who has played with five NFL teams, as well as kick returner Domonique Dorsey, the CFL's top special teams player in 2008. Today's moves followed the signings in January of former Chicago and Tennessee long snapper Jeremy Cain and punter Zac Atterberry, who was in camp with the Bears as a rookie from NAIA school Lindenwood (Mo.) last summer. Redskins kicker Shaun Suisham and punter Ryan Plackemeier finished at the bottom of the NFL rankings at their positions last season while Antwaan Randle El struggled on punt returns for a second straight year. Suisham is a restricted free agent while Randle El is a candidate for a restructured contract. Long snapper Ethan Albright had another superb season in 2008, but he'll be 38 in May and doesn't have a contract for 2009. Rayner, 26, who finished his Michigan State career in 2003 as the Spartans' alltime leading scorer, has kicked for Indianapolis, Green Bay (for whom he kicked a franchise-record 54-yard field goal), Kansas City, San Diego and Cincinnati. Rayner has converted 42 of 59 career field goal tries (71.2 percent).

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Fun Dave Rayner Facts!

* His parents' attorney lives across the street from legendary NFL kicker Eddie Murray.

* He knows how to rugby punt, was recruited as a D-1 soccer player, and also played high school basketball.

* He takes epic vacations. From the Wisconsin State Journal in 2007:

The Green Bay Packers' kicker was in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, during last month's NFL draft, vacationing with teammate Noah Herron and the New England Patriots' cheerleaders, whom they'd met during a Super Bowl promotion in Miami. The cheerleaders, on location for a photo shoot for their calendar, had invited Rayner and Herron to come along on the junket, which began April 28, the first day of the NFL draft. It wasn't until six days later, on May 4, that Rayner - in a tropical paradise, surrounded by gorgeous women in bikinis - decided to see if his cell phone worked. When it did, he had eight messages. "The fourth one is, 'Hey Dave, this is (Packers special teams coordinator) Mike Stock, calling to just let you know that we've drafted a kicker in the sixth round ...'" Rayner recounted Friday following the first practice of the team's full-squad mandatory minicamp. "And I look at Noah like, 'This is not good.'"

* When he got cut from the Packers in favor of Mason Crosby the next season, he went all Derrick Frost and teed off on the decision.

"I thought I had done enough to deserve to be there longer," Rayner told the Capital Times. "They drafted Mason, but I was told from Day 1, 'It's your job to lose.' Then, I kicked well in the preseason, led the league in kickoffs and made all my field goals. With the crap they were doing in practice and how much they kicked us, I don't think there's a reason why I should have lost that job. It's not like I was a problem in the community. It's not like I had issues with any of the coaches or anything. I was just really disappointed in the way they handled it, and if it's a performance business, then I guess they looked at the performance different than I did."

* His next stop was Kansas City, where Coach Herm Edwards was initially impressed. "There's a thump when it comes off his foot," he said.

* After some struggles in November of that year, Herm Edwards seemed to endorse Rayner. "I want to say we want to ride it out," Edwards said. "I don't want to get into kicking contests." Eight days later, Rayner was cut.

* He isn't into visualization. "I hear people say to visualize it going through the uprights," Rayner once told the Grand Rapid Press. "But if I see it in my head and don't do it on the field, it doesn't do anything for me."

* He grew up in Oxford, Michigan. That's about 59 miles from Shaun Suisham's hometown of Wallaceburg, as the football flies. Can't hardly wait for training camp kicker battle coverage to begin.

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[Mike Herman]

FLORIDA STATE

Graham Gano, the standout specialist who handled all the kicking duties at Florida State University during the 2008 season, is now setting his sights on the NFL Combine. Gano is training at the IMG Performance Institute in Bradenton, FL. IMG Performance Institute Director, Trevor Moawad, who has worked with many first-round draft picks said, “We are excited to have Graham out here at the academy. He had a magical season at FSU and is one of the top specialists to enter the draft in recent history. This is a critical time for him and IMGA is the right spot for him. He continues the great tradition of FSU athletes training at IPI.” FSU alums Chris Weinke, Javon Walker, and Anquan Boldin all trained at IPI.

IMG Performance Institute develops the world's best athletes by integrating six essential athletic and character development disciplines, providing a customized approach to total athletic development to fully maximize potential. This unique total athlete development program is founded upon six disciplines: physical conditioning, mental conditioning, nutrition, leadership, communication, and athletic regeneration. IMG Performance Institute has trained numerous #1 and first-round draft picks, including Alex Smith, Eli Manning, LaDanian Tomlinson, Chris Spencer, Heath Miller, Darren McFadden, Drew Brees, Chad Pennington, Roy Williams, and Tony Romo to name a few. Currently, other athletes training at IPI include Maria Sharapova, Tommy Haas, Josh Fields, Joey Votto, Jamie Moyer, and Casey Kelly to name a few.

Vinnie Burns, a former stand out punter at Virginia Tech who is now a performance specialist at IMG Academies and Dave Langworthy, who was hired out of The University of Nebraska will be training Gano. In addition, Gano will receive specialized guest training by IMG Performance Institute alum, Martin Gramatica. Gramatica said, “It’s great to be working with the coaches at IPI. I spent over two years here as an athlete and know how beneficial it is before the NFL Combine. You can clearly tell that Gano has the leg strength and the physical and mental tools to have a long and productive career in the NFL. My goal is to help him be as prepared as possible for the Combine.” Gano has already seen progress while at the IMG Performance Institute, saying, “I’ve already seen improvements in my strength and flexibility. I really believe that IMG is the best place to train both mentally and physically. They are helping me to be as prepared as possible for the Combine.”

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[Mike Herman]

ATLANTA

Adam Schefter of the NFL Network is reporting that the Atlanta Falcons plan to use the franchise tag on punter Michael Koenen. Regarded as one of the NFL's most consistent punters, Koenen helped Atlanta's punt coverage unit lead the NFL by allowing just 49 return yards in 2008, nearly 100 yards less than the next closest team. Koenen has additional value to the Falcons as a kickoff specialist. Over his four seasons in Atlanta, 18% of Koenen's kickoffs have resulted in touchbacks, and the Falcons have finished in the Top 10 in touchbacks in each of the last four seasons. The one-year tender is worth $2.483 million dollars, the average of the top five highest-paid kickers and punters in 2008. Koenen is still free to talk to other teams, but any team that signs him to an offer sheet would have to compensate the Falcons with two first-round draft picks.

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[bcr8f]

ATLANTA

Adam Schefter of the NFL Network is reporting that the Atlanta Falcons plan to use the franchise tag on punter Michael Koenen. Regarded as one of the NFL's most consistent punters, Koenen helped Atlanta's punt coverage unit lead the NFL by allowing just 49 return yards in 2008, nearly 100 yards less than the next closest team. Koenen has additional value to the Falcons as a kickoff specialist. Over his four seasons in Atlanta, 18% of Koenen's kickoffs have resulted in touchbacks, and the Falcons have finished in the Top 10 in touchbacks in each of the last four seasons. The one-year tender is worth $2.483 million dollars, the average of the top five highest-paid kickers and punters in 2008. Koenen is still free to talk to other teams, but any team that signs him to an offer sheet would have to compensate the Falcons with two first-round draft picks.

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Any chance the Raiders do the same? They probably don't have the cap space to franchise Asomugha.

 

[Mike Herman]

NY GIANTS

John Carney’s performance on Sunday, when he made all three of his field goals for the NFC and became the oldest player in Pro Bowl history, was almost certainly his last performance as a Giant. It should come as no surprise that the Giants are going to let the 44-year-old kicker become an unrestricted free agent on Feb. 27. According to one team source and one league source, the Giants’ kicking job in 2009 will once again be a one-man show — as long as he‘s healthy — starring Lawrence Tynes.

The Giants weren’t happy about carrying two kickers last season anyway, but they were forced into it when Tynes suffered a left knee injury in early August. They signed Carney on Aug. 30 and expected him to be a temporary replacement only. But then Tynes suffered setbacks and Carney kept making field goals. In one of the finest seasons of his 20-year career, he converted 92.1percent of his attempts (35 of 38) during the regular season. His first two misses were blocked. In fact, he didn’t miss outright until his final kick of the regular season during the Giants’ loss in Minnesota. Carney did miss two of his five attempts in the playoffs, though, contributing to the Giants’ divisional playoff loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

As good as he was most of the year, though, Carney is going to be 45 in April. Tynes will be 31 in May. Plus, Tynes still has four years left on a five-year, $7 million contract he signed last February. Tynes — who made 82.4 percent of his attempts (28 of 34) in 2007 including five of seven during the Giants’ Super Bowl run and the 47-yard game-winner (after two misses) in the NFC championship game — was only active for three games last season. And he only attempted one field goal — a 19-yarder he made against Baltimore on Nov. 16.

Carney, by the way, isn’t giving in to Father Time just yet. His agent, Tom Mills, said Carney plans to kick somewhere in 2009. “No reason to quit now,” he said.

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The agent for K John Carney said today the Giants have informed his client they're not going to re-sign him before the start of free agency, meaning Lawrence Tynes is currently the only kicker on the Giants' roster. "They're not going to keep him off the market," said Carney's agent, Tom Mills. "So we're approaching free agency with an open slate." Mills said Carney, a 20-year veteran, understood the Giants' decision. "He's the consummate pro in that sense," Mills said. "He's not offended by this or anything like that." Mills said Carney still believes he has a few seasons left in the tank and would accept a multi-year deal with guarantees right out of the gate when free agency starts on Feb. 27. But there's also the option of waiting until training camp or the start of the regular season (like he did last year) to know exactly what opportunities are available. "He doesn't need to take short money and have to beat out a young guy in camp," Mills said. "But there are teams with needs out there - certainly with bigger needs than the Giants, who have a pretty good guy (Tynes) already under contract.

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[Mike Herman]

DETROIT

When the Lions released six players Monday, it was just the start of an off-season overhaul. Other players are waiting to see if they will return, particularly those set to become unrestricted free agents Feb. 27. Kicker Jason Hanson’s agent, Jack Mills, said in an e-mail Tuesday he has had “some dialogue” with president Tom Lewand but the sides are “significantly apart.”

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The Detroit Lions are trying to work out a new contract with kicker Jason Hanson by Feb. 19, the deadline for teams issuing franchise or transition tags. According to Tom Mills, one of Hanson's representatives, negotiations are underway but nothing is imminent. The Lions already hold a transition tag on Hanson, but the Lions would likely opt to put the franchise tag on Hanson if he's not signed by Feb. 19. There are two reasons for that: One, it won't cost much more and, two, the Lions don't have any other free agents they deem worthy of the franchise tag. Under the transition, Hanson would be guaranteed a one-year, $2.26 million contract while, if he's franchised, he'll be guaranteed a one-year deal worth $2.48 million. Hanson is not expected to play under any of the tags because he'll likely sign a long-term deal -- Hanson said he wants to stay in Detroit and the Lions want him back. The reason the Lions will likely go to the franchise tag is because it will eliminate any possibility that Hanson could leave. Under the transition tag, the Lions would have the right of first refusal and could match any offer, but the possibility of a "poison pill'' exists (that's how the Vikings got Steve Hutchinson away from the Seahawks). Hanson is going into his 18th season, but he's not slowing down at all. In fact, he's getting better. Hanson set an NFL record last season by hitting all eight of his field goal attempts of 50 yards or more. He only missed two kicks all season -- a point-after attempt when he slipped in the mud in Chicago and a short field goal attempt that was blocked because of a blown assignment at the line. Overall, Hanson was 21-of-22 on his field goal attempts.

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[Mike Herman]

TENNESSEE

No progress: Contract talks between the Titans and kicker Rob Bironas remain stagnant, increasing the probability that he'll receive the team's franchise tag later this month. Bironas is one of 14 Titans scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent Feb. 27.

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[Mike Herman]

DETROIT

Lions kicker Jason Hanson isn’t going anywhere. Hanson is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent Feb. 27. But if the Lions can’t re-sign him by Feb. 19, the deadline to use transition or franchise tags, they will designate him their franchise player. “We hope to get something done,” general manager Martin Mayhew said today. “Frequently, a deadline kind of moves things along, and the franchise deadline’s coming up next week. I think we’ll get something done prior to that. If we don’t, then we’ll franchise Jason.”

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"When you look at where we are in terms of the contract, there's not that much difference from his average and the franchise tag," general manager Martin Mayhew said. "If we were just dealing with numbers and doing the thing that's logical from a numbers standpoint, we'd just franchise him. I mean, he's 37. We wouldn't give him a long-term deal. We'd franchise him this year and franchise him next year. But it's Jason Hanson. We appreciate everything he's done for us, and we're trying to work out a long-term deal with him."

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[Mike Herman]

PITTSBURGH

Steelers kicker Jeff Reed was cited with disorderly conduct early this morning after damaging a towel dispenser at a Sheetz convenience store in Westmoreland County. Pennsylvania State Police reported today that Mr. Reed, 29, was in the restroom of the convenience store on Route 22 in New Alexandria at 2:50 a.m. when he began making loud noises, then "used profane language towards a Sheetz employee stating that there were no towels in the restroom. "Reed continued using profane language in a loud manner outside the store," police said. "Reed caused damage to a towel dispenser as he was infuriated at the fact that there were no towels in it." Police issued summary citations for disorderly conduct and criminal mischief to Mr. Reed. A hearing date has not been set.

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[3C's]

PITTSBURGH

Steelers kicker Jeff Reed was cited with disorderly conduct early this morning after damaging a towel dispenser at a Sheetz convenience store in Westmoreland County. Pennsylvania State Police reported today that Mr. Reed, 29, was in the restroom of the convenience store on Route 22 in New Alexandria at 2:50 a.m. when he began making loud noises, then "used profane language towards a Sheetz employee stating that there were no towels in the restroom. "Reed continued using profane language in a loud manner outside the store," police said. "Reed caused damage to a towel dispenser as he was infuriated at the fact that there were no towels in it." Police issued summary citations for disorderly conduct and criminal mischief to Mr. Reed. A hearing date has not been set.

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Roid rage

 

[stevegamer]

PITTSBURGH

Steelers kicker Jeff Reed was cited with disorderly conduct early this morning after damaging a towel dispenser at a Sheetz convenience store in Westmoreland County. Pennsylvania State Police reported today that Mr. Reed, 29, was in the restroom of the convenience store on Route 22 in New Alexandria at 2:50 a.m. when he began making loud noises, then "used profane language towards a Sheetz employee stating that there were no towels in the restroom. "Reed continued using profane language in a loud manner outside the store," police said. "Reed caused damage to a towel dispenser as he was infuriated at the fact that there were no towels in it." Police issued summary citations for disorderly conduct and criminal mischief to Mr. Reed. A hearing date has not been set.

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"No sheets at Sheetz: Reed angry after taking a ..."

 

[Steelers]

Roethlisberger just made this quote to the Pittsburgh media, "Liquored Up Idiot Kicker" details at 11................

 

[Mike Herman]

PITTSBURGH

More on the big news story...

Jeff Reed has been cited for disorderly conduct and criminal mischief, offenses similar to traffic tickets that carry a maximum fine of $300 and 90 days in jail each.

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Police issued summary citations for disorderly conduct and criminal mischief to Mr. Reed. The charges were referred to Bradenville District Judge Mark Bilik. Steelers spokesman Dave Lockett said the team was still gathering information on the matter last night and had no comment. Mr. Reed could not be reached yesterday. A woman who answered the door at his townhouse on the South Side said he was not there.

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[Mike Herman]

NFL SCOUTING COMBINE

18th-21st Day 1 Arrivals*: Grp 1(PK, ST, OL), Grp 2(OL), Grp 3(TE)

Wed: Travel, Registration, Pre-exam & X-ray, Orientation, Interviews

Thur: Measurements, Exams, Media, Psych Tests, Interviews

Fri: NFLPA Meeting, Psych Tests, *PK/ST Workout*, Interviews

Sat: Workout (timing, stations, skill drills), Departure

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