Rackers' season....

[Stout]

I voted trash him, but I think we should only cut him if we sign a viable alternative. IF we can do that, then he should be shown the door IMMEDIATELY. If not, we keep him, and pray this year was a fluke.

You can say all you want about him having average kicking numbers, but when a kicker has the highest percentage of his misses decide the game, then he's toast. Let's face it, he's been a choker this year. Do you want that to decide your season? The kicker? Remember when the 'Butler' did it? Yeah, painful.

 

[JasonKGME]

Jason:

Check your math. If he's 24-32 overall, he can't be 25-28 under 50 yards....

Sorry then your original #'s were off, he is 26-35 overall per NFL.com. Inside the 50 he is 25-28 per NFL.com.

 

[Assface]

Oh, Player's gotta go! If for no other reason than to once and for all eradicate the single bar facemask!

You don't like hearing the commentators talk about the single bar every single game?

 

[Assface]

I still get a kick out of someone having "Player" on the back of his jersey like a generic video game.

 

[azmike74]

Dude, he's got that stupid facemask, that stupid mustache and a friggin major overbite with a fat face. He looks like a damned cartoon character!!!

He actually looks a bit like your avatar. I say gotta keep Rackers, maybe he will work his way out of his funk, he's still decent, and he makes a few tackles on special teams.

 

[azmike74]

I still get a kick out of someone having "Player" on the back of his jersey like a generic video game.

Rumor has it he is changing his name to "Playah" this offseason due to his new moustache.

 

[Goldfield]

Dude, he's got that stupid facemask, that stupid mustache and a friggin major overbite with a fat face. He looks like a damned cartoon character!!!

He is Elmer Fud with a blonde Fu Manchu CUT HIM TODAY! CAPSHAW PLZ!

 

[Goldfield]

Keep him.

Bring in Capshaw.

I approved this message...

Rackers is on shaky ground with me. I would probably cut him if he didnt have such a great year lst year, and the fact that he does cover & tackle very well for a K'er...

I think we give him another year to get back on track, but it would take me long to pull the trigger if he starts flopping next year.

CUT PLAYER!

 

[john h]

Keep him. We have other needs to concentrate on.

Did we not just sign him to an extended long term contract early in the year at a good salary? Keep the guy. He has a leg that can kick it into the endzone and his accuracy will return.

 

[football karma]

Keep him -- but he is on a short leash

all of his misses have been left and low

his 40 yarders go straight and high and would be good from 50+

his 50 yarders get pulled left and are low

he reminds me of a golfer who is trying to hit the ball too hard

 

[NEZCardsfan]

Is it his mechanics or in his head??

If it is in his head.....cut him.

 

[john h]

Is it his mechanics or in his head??

If it is in his head.....cut him.

In todays USA Today Rackers is #7 in scoring by kickers. We could do one heck of a lot worse than Rackers. Several teams have fired kickers mid season this year.

 

[Indiana Hoosier]

No, if's and's or but's. He is our kicker! Last year he spoiled us, he is a very sound kicker. I will agree we have many other pressing issues, other than Rackers. " WHO IS OUR NEXT COACH"!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[abomb]

What would be the cap hit of cutting him?

 

[Stout]

In todays USA Today Rackers is #7 in scoring by kickers. We could do one heck of a lot worse than Rackers. Several teams have fired kickers mid season this year.

None of that matters. None of it! He can score 1 billion points in a game, but if he misses a winning or tying field goal, he's a failure. And he's done that more than once this year. You should NOT lose games because of your kicker, and we have done so.

I'm begging you all...remember back in, oh, I think it was 1995? When Butler missed all those field goals to basically ruin our season? Heck, even in the army overseas, getting just the Stars and Stripes, they were printing articles entitled 'The Butler Did It', he was that bad. Bad kicking can ruin a team and ruin a season. He has given us bad clutch kicking. 'Nough said.

 

[Treesquid PhD]

Isn't he the hokiest football player you've ever seen?

Not only does he have the stupid single bar facemask, but what's with the Hulk Hogan moustache lately?

I love that handlebar mustache, but he needs to wax that thing up and twirl it old west style.

 

[40yearfan]

Keep him. Anyone can have a down year.

 

[jw7]

None of that matters. None of it! He can score 1 billion points in a game, but if he misses a winning or tying field goal, he's a failure. And he's done that more than once this year. You should NOT lose games because of your kicker, and we have done so.

Disagree. A football team should not put itself in a position where they are dependent on the kicker in the first place.

Rackers had an off year. But I think this perception is only because he had such an incredible 2005. He still can consitently make it within 40, doesn't miss extra points, kicks touchbacks and plays defense on ST whereas most other teams give up a 10 vs 11 disadvantage.

Who would you replace him with? Do you want to spend another 4th rounder on a Gramatica type? Do you want to bring in Vanderjagt?

 

[Assface]

Bring back Gramatica!

 

[Stout]

Disagree. A football team should not put itself in a position where they are dependent on the kicker in the first place.
Rackers had an off year. But I think this perception is only because he had such an incredible 2005. He still can consitently make it within 40, doesn't miss extra points, kicks touchbacks and plays defense on ST whereas most other teams give up a 10 vs 11 disadvantage.

Who would you replace him with? Do you want to spend another 4th rounder on a Gramatica type? Do you want to bring in Vanderjagt?

Okay, I have to respond to that bolded part first. Are you joking? Teams constantly have to kick field goals late in the game...important field goals, game-winning field goals. It's not about avoiding putting the team into such a position. Poppycock. It happens, and you need a kicker to deal with it. That sounded like a really bad excuse for Rackers's lousy clutch kicking.

And no, I'm not saying bring in Vandy, or use a 4th on a kicker. If there is an upgrade, I'm saying we frickin' upgrade. If not, then we have to pray to the football gods Rackers will get us through. Do what we can to replace him, but don't cut him until we do.

 

[jw7]

Okay, I have to respond to that bolded part first. Are you joking? Teams constantly have to kick field goals late in the game...important field goals, game-winning field goals. It's not about avoiding putting the team into such a position. Poppycock. It happens, and you need a kicker to deal with it. That sounded like a really bad excuse for Rackers's lousy clutch kicking.

OK, I will meet you 1/2 way. Give a kicker a chance within 40, and I agree.

Who are the clutch kickers out there? Adam Vinatieri and who else?

Everyone knows Scott Norwood for his miss. And Gary Anderson who was perfect until it mattered.

Offer a name of someone else available and I'm open to discussion.

 

[blindseyed]

Okay, I have to respond to that bolded part first. Are you joking? Teams constantly have to kick field goals late in the game...important field goals, game-winning field goals. It's not about avoiding putting the team into such a position. Poppycock. It happens, and you need a kicker to deal with it. That sounded like a really bad excuse for Rackers's lousy clutch kicking.

And no, I'm not saying bring in Vandy, or use a 4th on a kicker. If there is an upgrade, I'm saying we frickin' upgrade. If not, then we have to pray to the football gods Rackers will get us through. Do what we can to replace him, but don't cut him until we do.

I gotta agree with Stout here. Vinatieri pretty much cliched 2 Super Bowls for the Patsys plus numerous other games to get 'em there.
True, a team shouldn't be put in that situation BUT the kicker should be able to do his job more often than not

 

[lobo]

another non issue...compares to the warner issue...let's move along to important stuff...

 

[joeshmo]

Winning Teams do not put their kickers into those situations of having to kick a field goal of over 40 yards. The top 10 Winningest teams have kicked on average for the season so far 8.5 field goal attempts.

The 10 lossingest teams have had to kick field goals of over 40 yards on average for the season so far 11.8 times. AZ has had to try 17, which is tied for league worst. thats not good.

So there is a coorelation between winning and lossing teams and who has to kick more field goals and longer field goals.

But having to kick field goals over 40 yards when it concerns winning and losing teams isnt the point, Rackers below average year is the point. I at least expect him to at least hit the league average of 47% of his 50+ yarders not 15%. Thats utter crap. He isnt even average on his 40-49 yarders hitting 70% of them when the league average is 74%. How many times he has had to do it doesnt really matter, its all about the percentages and he isnt living up to even the league average right now. And after his big pay day for a kicker and all. Rackers should have been able to make 3-4 more attempts just to be average at those lengths.

 

[Jersey Girl]

I gotta agree with Stout here. Vinatieri pretty much cliched 2 Super Bowls for the Patsys plus numerous other games to get 'em there.
True, a team shouldn't be put in that situation BUT the kicker should be able to do his job more often than not

And Rackers DID do his job more often than not this season. Did he muff some FGs when we really needed them? Hell yeah. Did he have a worse year than last? Of course, how could he not, really?

I'd rather keep him and see how things pan out than cut him in the off season or pull a Bill Parcels midway through 2007.