Gargantuan Night For Matt Gay
August 23rd, 2019
Despite an impressive training camp and standout field goals in two preseason games, the cold reality for rookie kicker Matt Gay is that his Bucs future could come down to one home game tonight.
It’s probably unfair, but that’s the NFL.
If Gay, for example, misses an extra point and a 39-yard field goal against the Browns, kicker-battered-and-bruised Bucs fans will freak out. Bucco Bruce Arians and general manager Jason Licht also will have to take a long look in the mirror — and/or enjoy a liver-straining, whiskey-pouring session just to clear their heads.
That’s what it’s come to in Tampa.
Arians said he’s playing the Gay-Cairo Santos kicker battle to the finish. But Joe and legions of Bucs fans want it to be over now. Fans are yearning to run out and purchase Gay jerseys, but it’s just not that simple for skittish Tampa Bay faithful. Preseason may be meaningless, but it’s certainly not when it comes to kickers.
Santos could flip the script tonight if both kickers get opportunities. Joe hopes that doesn’t happen. Nothing against Santos, but Gay settling in for consistent rookie season would be such a sweet tonic.
August 23rd, 2019 at 11:46 am
I think they’ll alternate kicks between them with Santos getting the long ones tonight. I’ll be rooting for both of them. Gay with his draft status, youth and leg strength will get the nod. And if they both do well and Santos will hook up with another team. I like to see that too.
August 23rd, 2019 at 11:47 am
There is always next week….a FG & Xtra points are the same no matter who the opponents player are….and no matter who your players are…..a kick is a kick.
August 23rd, 2019 at 11:49 am
In my mind, Gay will be our kicker this year.
August 23rd, 2019 at 11:51 am
That’s nice Joe, but depending on how the game goes he might not get much of a chance. He’s the kicker, hopefully for longer than 6 weeks. Best thing to do is have patience since this guy doesn’t seem to get the jitters and is about as mentally solid a kicker as I’ve seen. Anyone read his interview on ESPN?
Santos has some minor trade value, especially with some kickers struggling around the league (looking at you, Jets and Falcons). If they can get a half-eaten sandwich for him it’s a big plus.
August 23rd, 2019 at 11:53 am
damn dude find a better picture of our savior kicker please looks like he just escaped golden corral in that one…
let’s just hope he has it mentally for crunch time kicks lord knows that the opponents defense will be scoring right up to the end meaning lots of 4th qtr kicks
August 23rd, 2019 at 11:56 am
^^^^opponents offense will be scoring
August 23rd, 2019 at 11:59 am
“LOL even he misses tonight it doesnt matter
as long he isnt that much worse than Santos, gay will be the kicker
Gump has been GM for 6 years now. You should know better
Gay like all rookie kickers will have problems and mess up”
Kobe Faker
August 23rd, 2019 at 12:28 pm
One was a draft pick by this team. One wasnt.
Gay has already won the job, they’re just holding on to Santos to try and get a draft pick out of another team
August 23rd, 2019 at 12:30 pm
If things are close to even,,,,Gay will be chosen……..draft pick, money, age, stronger leg……and if he has a miss or two…..can be blamed on rookie status….there is no excuse for Cairo.
I agree there is some minor trade value for Santos…..folks that say….why trade….just wait for the Bucs to cut him…..well…..what if you don’t want competition?
A seventh round pick would be a good deal for both teams.
We could actually go into the season for a game or two with both kickers waiting for a trade possibility.
August 23rd, 2019 at 12:36 pm
Matt Gay is confident. Period. When i see his interviews he doesn’t have doubt in his eyes.
August 23rd, 2019 at 12:49 pm
joe we should cheer for santos and gay to both do well. i want gay to win the job but nobody is talking about getting a potential draft pick for santos if he does well for many kicking needed teams. the bucs need to play well overall pre season or not for special teams. it has been a killer for this team forever..
August 23rd, 2019 at 12:53 pm
In 2018 alone 73 games where decided by 3 points or less.
August 23rd, 2019 at 12:55 pm
hate to break it to you no one is giving the bucs a pick for a throw away kicker from a basement dweller. there will be much better options than a bucs cast off available.
August 23rd, 2019 at 1:31 pm
Gay’s won the job. The basics alone in his power and consistency is already far better than that of Santos. I am hoping Gay gets a shot to kick PATs because we need to see the first team offense at work. I think they’ll split the reps though.
August 23rd, 2019 at 1:32 pm
Joe had two directions he could have presented this article.
positive and glowing or doom and gloom
which way did Joe choose?
August 23rd, 2019 at 1:33 pm
The only GM that would trade a draft pick for a kicker is Licht so lets put that to rest. All the other GMs know Santos will be on the street in 2 weeks and I suspect Chicago may be looking. There is no competition here rather this is Arians with classic coach-speak and the media sucking it up as real. This was over before camp when they spent a 5th round pick on a kicker. Here is the other variable: Santos was a 75% kicker last year – average at best. His NFL long is 53 yards and Gay can do that with his non-kicking foot.
Be Gay that Gay is our kicker. He will be a difference maker this year. Count it. If I had to guess what game he will play a role, it will be week 2 at Carolina.
August 23rd, 2019 at 1:34 pm
The past 10 years, the Bucs have given fans a reason to be positive are… ?
This team should be raked over the coals multiple times daily. They have more than earned it. Frankly, Joe thinks he’s been easy on them. No apologies.
August 23rd, 2019 at 1:40 pm
We are 2 weeks away from opening a new season. …smh
I get the smearing their nose into their own feces but c’mon man 24 – 7
August 23rd, 2019 at 2:02 pm
JOE
“Fans are yearning to run out and purchase Gay jerseys.”
lol. Maybe in the future but not with those ugo’s
August 23rd, 2019 at 2:07 pm
Hopefully Santos is gone before the final cuts. Need to pay some OL, even if they’re backups. Did Evan Smith get picked up?
August 23rd, 2019 at 2:14 pm
That’s a good point about the possibility the Bears could be looking for a kicker. They cut Fry already and Eddie Pineiro missed a few kicks in game one. If he continues to struggle and Santos nails a bunch of kicks tonight it’s not far fetched that Jason could get a 5-6 round pick for Carlos. The bears recently missed out on Vedvik. They brought in 9 kickers this off-season in a lord of the flies style competition and none of them impressed. They don’t want to miss out again after cut downs.
August 23rd, 2019 at 2:24 pm
Say you wear a digital alarm clock jersey that spells Gay on the back, is that a double entendre?
If a man wears this jersey to a game with his boyfriend, is that a triple entendre?
August 23rd, 2019 at 2:32 pm
Bucco Bruce Arians said that if we have a opportunite to kick a long FG tonight, he will give that chance to Santos
August 23rd, 2019 at 2:51 pm
I know of one male Buc cheerleader who will be waving his Pom poms like crazy for Gay!
August 23rd, 2019 at 3:07 pm
The boys are cheering for you love!!!
August 23rd, 2019 at 4:39 pm
You go boy! We are all behind you!!! We wish!
August 23rd, 2019 at 4:54 pm
lol@ Tmax! That picture has Matt Gay looking more like a TE than a kicker! In the matter of fact that what Hudson need to do is bulk up and work on his blocking in order to make the roster instead of practice squad. There should be no reason that Santos should be on the roster after what we been seeing from M Gay’s strong leg unless like few posters noted out it could be for a possibie trade potential .
August 23rd, 2019 at 5:48 pm
Too late, Gay is already an official member of my Fantasy roster and ready.to help be cruise to the championship with 65 yard game winners baby!!!!!
August 23rd, 2019 at 5:50 pm
Even if he has a bad night tonight I dont give a damn, his leg and ceiling you keep that guy. Confidence theough the roof he better