How important are kickers? Well, I guess it depends which one you’re talking about. Justin Tucker probably gives the Ravens an extra win or two every year by making some miracle kick. It probably matters. You just don’t want a kicker that’s going to miss the easy ones. The Patriots were in a little bit of a crisis after Stephen Gostkowski hit injured reserve. Eventually, New England signed Mike Nugent to replace him.
How big of a deal is this? If you ask Stephen A Smith, the Patriots no longer have a chance to go to the Super Bowl:
“I think it’s going to cost them a Super Bowl. I think it’s going to cost them a trip to the Super Bowl,” Smith said Thursday on ESPN’s “First Take.” “It’s not to say that he’s been great. When you think about the Patriots, think about who they’ve had. They’ve had basically, since 1996, Adam Vinatieri, a Hall of Famer as far as I’m concerned. They had this game named Shayne Graham or whatever his name was for like eight games in 2010 and other than that Gostkowski, who they drafted in the fourth round in 2006. Those are the only three, and he’s pretty much been the man since 2006 with the exception of those eight games. He’s missed some, he’s made some big-time field goals, including in the Super Bowl. He’s missed his share. This year he’s missed four extra points, which has just annoyed Patriots fans. We get all of that. But when you got a guy that experienced, you’re not worried as much about them in the big moment because they find a way to figure it out and get it done when it really, really counts.
“They’re considering Mike Nugent. That’s a former Oakland Raider if I remember correctly. You really, really feeling good about that one? I’m not. So when you look at that, along with the things we’ve been lamenting about the New England Patriots offense because
obviously Antonio Brown is no longer there. Josh Gordon, eligibility issues. So far he’s good, but we don’t know whether that’s going to continue. We pray and hope that will stay that way. Julian Edelman has played but hasn’t been 100 percent. (Rob) Gronkowski retired. Tom Brady, age, attrition, etc., even though I have confidence that he’ll show up when it really, really counts. It’s really about putting all that pressure on that No. 1 defense. Number one in yards, No. 1 in points allowed, No. 2 against the rush, No. 2 against the pass. We get all of that. In the end, usually with the Patriots, unless they have a juggernaut, it comes down to the wire and field goals have saved them on many, many occasions. To lose this guy for the season, I thinkis a tremendous loss and when I look at Kansas City, how potent they are and are going to be even more so once Tyreek Hill comes back now that he’s back at practice. I’m sorry, I don’t see the New England Patriots with a questionable field-goal game beating a Kansas City Chiefs team.”
One day I hope to have just one day where I can sit on the other side of Stephen A Smith to debate. Oh, would I pity the
Hell of a take. A field goal kicker that’s missed 4 extra points this year is going to cost the Patriots a trip to the Super Bowl. Might go down as the most irrational thing I’ve heard all year. If the
SIDE NOTE: How the fuck does anyone watch this show? My IQ went down 10 points just listening to this.
