[Bette]

Sometimes it seems to me kickers get a bad rap and no respect from the other players. Yeah, I know, they spend their time reading the paper and drinking coffee. I dont have the stats but how many times does the outcome of a game rest on the toe of a kicker? How many times is he the only one on a kickoff to stop a run back for a t.d.? It seems to me if the rest of the players had been doing their job a little better, it wouldnt happen. So at least a little respect, huh?
And why are they sitting in there drinking coffee? Why dont coaches require them to do a little more physical conditioning and training? Not only for their own protection, but also to make them more effective for the team? On that play that broke down with the Seahawks, Grammatica grabbed at that Seahawk like a girl. (I hated to say that)
Or maybe dont the kickers care? ? After all, they are getting paid pretty good money and they dont have the risks the rest of them take.

[ThePundit]

Originally Posted by Bette

Sometimes it seems to me kickers get a bad rap and no respect from the other players. Yeah, I know, they spend their time reading the paper and drinking coffee. I dont have the stats but how many times does the outcome of a game rest on the toe of a kicker? How many times is he the only one on a kickoff to stop a run back for a t.d.? It seems to me if the rest of the players had been doing their job a little better, it wouldnt happen. So at least a little respect, huh?
And why are they sitting in there drinking coffee? Why dont coaches require them to do a little more physical conditioning and training? Not only for their own protection, but also to make them more effective for the team? On that play that broke down with the Seahawks, Grammatica grabbed at that Seahawk like a girl. (I hated to say that)
Or maybe dont the kickers care? ? After all, they are getting paid pretty good money and they dont have the risks the rest of them take.

You're 100% correct Bette. And with the parity in the league, kickers decide the game much more than the regular players would care to admit.

[alex83]

yeah i totally agree with you, for so long people talk about how "the game now rests on the toe of this kicker..." and im a Titans fan so i know how important a kicker can be particularly after last season ha ha but i think kickers get a bad rap becuase they dont have to work as hard as everyone else and if they put on a few pounds its ok and they dont train as hard and they dont play as many minutes, but when your 1 or 2 points down on a 4th and 10 with 3 seconds to go and your 23yarda out who does everyone turn to and pat on the back and say good luck etc etc...and who is the person the fans want on the field at that time?

i think that people also think its easier being a kicker, with other positions if you dont grip the ball hard enough it slips out when you throw or it wobbles in the air, if you dont hold it tight enough it can be stripped when you run, if you dont push hard enough you wont make it to the QB, if you slip you might miss the guy you are defending...there is such a need to be an all round technical player and some think kicking is just kicking but its harder than it looks and there is just as much chance of error if you dont prepare yourself as it is in any other position

[Gman84]

Kickers are paid to be clutch in pressure situations. Sure, they do little but what they do do counts big time. I'm a Skins, fan, have failed to see a half decent kicker in DC since Chip Lohmillers prime so I appreciate what a good kicker means. Any Dallas fans out there should to given their recent troubles at the kicking spot. I'm hoping the guy we got - Shawn Suisham - can be the solution to our long problem!