Kicking The Curse
February 12th, 2019
Targeted?
Joe is trying to forget the Bucs passing on Kareem Hunt to help resolve a sorry area of the team by thinking of another sorry area of the team.
That would be kicking.
Since the Bucs decided to penny pinch kicker Matt Bryant, the Bucs (aside from a handful of years with basketball-playing Connor Barth) have been a complete laughing stock at kicking.
It seems at times the Bucs changed kickers about as often as the shift changes at Hooters brought in a new round of waitresses.
(Or is a better analogy that the Bucs changed kickers nearly as quick as Bucs fans went through pitchers of beers at Hooters to try to forget the latest kicking failure?)
Of course, Bryant, who has been money for the Dixie Chicks ever since he was released by the Bucs in 2009, was told recently he won’t be part of Atlanta’s plans for the 2019 season. As a result, Jenna Laine of ESPN believes the Bucs need to seriously consider signing Bryant to fix the ills of the kicking game.
The Falcons informed Bryant on Wednesday they would be releasing him (he was to make $3.5 million in 2019). Bucs fans know him well, even including him in the team’s so-called “kicking curse.” Since the Bucs’ unceremonious release of Bryant in 2009, they have had the league’s worst field goal percentage (77.3 percent) and gone through more kickers than any other NFL team. Bryant made 250 of 282 field goals (88.7 percent) with the Falcons and was 36 of 46 from 50-plus yards. He also missed only three extra point attempts in 10 seasons (Bucs kickers missed four last season). Bryant, who will turn 44 in May, is still making big kicks and has no plans to retire.
Yeah, Joe knows Bryant is in his mid-40 and coming off a hamstring injury and a bum back. Joe doesn’t think Laine is off base here.
If new Bucs coach Bucco Bruce Arians is about winning now, why not go with a proven kicker, even though he is six years away from getting AARP junk mail?
By the way, thanks to info pumped out by jet-flyin’, kiss–stealin‘, data-analyzin’, Bucs-film-studyin’, limousine-ridin’, why-man Thomas Bassinger of the Tampa Bay Times, in the opening weekend of the AAF games, AAF kickers made 15 of 17 field goals.
One of the kickers who missed a field goal? That would be Nick Folk, who doinked a left upright.
February 12th, 2019 at 10:06 am
wait? …so why did the Falcons release a good kicker when good kickers are hard to find? This doesn’t pass the smell test.
February 12th, 2019 at 10:38 am
think bryant & his leg are done, but with licht track record he will prolly throw $10 mil at him
February 12th, 2019 at 11:07 am
His numbers are filthy.
Sign the man. Vinateri is 46 and still clutch.
His made averages around 90% of field goals.
His ex special teams coach is here.
Kicked two 57 yarders last year
Give physical and if ok. Sign him.
This is a no brainer
Captain obvious is in the building.
February 12th, 2019 at 11:07 am
I agree Bryant is worth a serious look. He came back from that injury around week 10 and picked right up where he left off.
February 12th, 2019 at 11:07 am
If we want to win now then it makes sense to pass on Hunt when he wouldn’t be available until late in the year anyway. Signing Hunt = a playoff depth move or 2020 season move.
February 12th, 2019 at 11:09 am
But Joe!!! We just signed a Danish kicker, Andersen…….he may not be able to kick but he probably has a hot girlfriend.
February 12th, 2019 at 11:17 am
no thank you….1 teams trash is another teams garbage….
#REALISTKNOWSNOTHING!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!
February 12th, 2019 at 11:26 am
Atlanta cut Bryant in a cap move. They have a young inexpensive kicker that played well last year. Bryant has a strong leg still but more importantly he is accurate. Someone mentioned the 57 yard field goal last season. That was against the Buccaneers as I recall. Morten Anderson could only kick 45 yards at the end of his career but kept his job because he almost never missed. It’s not your money. If Bryant is a bust it’s not going to cost much.
February 12th, 2019 at 11:37 am
813
So stick with Santos over Bryant? We have the former specials teams coach of the falcons. So if we sign him then that to me means he has alot left. Sign him.
February 12th, 2019 at 11:42 am
Bryant nearly tore his hamstring kicking a 50 + yard FG against the Bucs in the first match up. Connor Barth choosing to play a charity basketball game ( cut a check instead, Connor ) is the curse/jinxy. Going back to Bryant and expecting dome-like accuracy is a mistake in my opinion.
February 12th, 2019 at 12:03 pm
@Jean, The same reason the Bucs released that very same Kicker…
February 12th, 2019 at 12:09 pm
bring in bryant for a workout and see how strong leg really is.
February 12th, 2019 at 12:21 pm
darin
there’s a reason why bryant and his ST coach were let go from the falcons….if we sign him, that means we whiffed again on a kicker and we’re settling for another kicker that no one wants…..
#REALISTKNOWSNOTHING!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!
February 12th, 2019 at 12:33 pm
Falcons also have a bad ass punter Matt Bosher who also kicks off, saving Bryant from kick offs.
February 12th, 2019 at 1:03 pm
Time to start a new legacy, a new era. The only curse around here is LOSING! You don’t have these problems when you hire or draft the RIGHT people.
Lets stop chasing the past.
February 12th, 2019 at 1:47 pm
NO NO NO NO ! Thank you, that train has already went past the depot. So if we sign him and his first kicking attempt he blows his hammy, where would we find ourselves again? Looking for his replacement. Move forward not backwards. Move on from Bryant. His time as a buc has passed many seasons ago.
February 12th, 2019 at 3:20 pm
The only people who believe in curses are those that believe in Santa, the Easter Bunny, Jesus, and that Obama wasn’t a U.S. Citizen
February 12th, 2019 at 4:58 pm
The Bucs should look for a new punter too.
February 12th, 2019 at 6:54 pm
Matt is one 50+ yard FG attempt away from the I.R. list! Then we would be scrambling around for another crappy kicker to lose games for us! Pass!
February 13th, 2019 at 6:41 am
Kennnywood Park. What a great memory. Thanks Joe.