Kicked out? Looks like Medlock’s time is up.
According to ArrowheadPride.com, the Chie
fs might have pulled the trigger on upgrading their pathetic Special Teams. Dave Rayner, placekicking predecessor to Green Bay’s Mason Crosby, is reported to have signed a contract with the Chiefs. While Carl’s front-office boys haven’t reported it, it seems that the rumors have some substance; Rotoworld, NFL Network, and even Wikipedia are confirming the report.
Does this mean the end of Justin Medlock? One might wonder if a practice squad spot might open up for Sir Shank-a-lot so the Chiefs can give this kid another opportunity to prove himself next season. Either way, Rayner looks like a definite upgrade from the youngster. Rayner’s statistics are pretty alright - 26 for 35 last season in Green Bay (74%, just under Tynes’s percentage last year), including a 54-yarder. He also did pretty well with kickoff last season, earning 11 touchbacks. Seems to me like the Chiefs did the obvious thing here and upgraded their Special Teams immediately through the signing of one guy.
In similar news, Fat Ass Pasquarelli reports that Jacksonville is also looking for a new kicker after Josh Scobee hurt his Quad during warmups of their game versus the Titans. Interestingly, the big three that the Jags are looking at are relatively infamous: former Saint John Carney, former Cowboy Billy Cundiff, and former drunken-horse Mike Vanderjagt! The latter of these three intrigues me, as Vanderjagt earned a reputation as the NFL’s most accurate kicker, statistically. Wonder why KC didn’t take a look at him… or did they?
**UPDATE… KINDA** Somehow I must have missed this when it came out a few days ago, but the Chiefs actually did work out six kickers other than Rayner: the previously mentioned Carney, Josh Huston, Shane Andrus, Nick Novak, Kevin Lovell, and Conner Hughes. No mention whatsoever of Vanderjagt. Oh well.
- Swap market: Place-kickers face constant change (via ESPN)
- Chiefs, Jaguars kicking around options (via NFL Network’s Adam Schefter)
- Dave Rayner’s RotoWorld Page
- Wikipedia’s Dave Rayner entry
- Kansas City Chiefs Agree to Terms with Kicker Dave Rayner (via Arrowhead Pride)c
- Chiefs notes: Team brings in six kickers to work out (via KansasCity.com)
Thank God!! The team has no confidence in Medlock. It is a shame for us to lose a 5th round. However, it must be done. I feel sorry for the guy, and hope he catches on somewhere next year. But business is business and we cannot wait for him to get his accuracy back. We were looking good that first drive against the Texans, and to shank a 30 yarder set the tone. I wish Medlock well. (By the way, Tynes looked great yesterday. I miss him so much right now!!!!!! lol..
September 10th, 2007 at 3:10 pmThis would be a move that has my support. Tynes looked like he did pretty well yesterday for NY, but I supported him leaving too.This guy seems to know the presures of being an nfl kicker better than Medlock.In hindsight maybe just awarding him the kicking job was a bad idea, and might be a bad idea to do with most rookie kickers?
September 10th, 2007 at 4:16 pmI think they should have kept Tynes. He may have not been the greatest kicker of all time, but he was a lot better then what we have now.
September 10th, 2007 at 7:43 pm