[alex83]

I was thinking about this the other day and it came to my attention kickers may not be getting the recognition they deserve for the job they do.

For as long as i can remember kickers have been the butt of the jokes in training camps, OTA's and any time players mention the strenuous exercise they go through when it comes to keeping fit for games. And though we occasionally see a kicker treated like a God for a few hours after kicking a game winning field goal, they don't don't seem to get the praise or the respect that other players get.

Maybe this is just me but I believe that kickers should be on par with almost every player on the field. Yeah a QB can throw a pass 60 yards off his back foot...but a kicker can kick a 50 yard field goal against the wind, in the snow, with 11 players rushing at and only 9 players protecting him, after he has spent most of the game freezing his 'special places' off on the sidelines

So i pose the question to everyone...do kickers get the respect they deserve?? and if no, then why not?

[legend]

It is called "Foot"ball.

[alex83]

Originally Posted by legend

It is called "Foot"ball.

ooooooo k...what's your point??

[Bette]

Apparently the fans on this forum think the kicker is important because when I asked for advice on playing fantasy football, they told me to use my first three picks on a kicker.

But the serious answer to your question is:
No, No and No some more. They dont get respect from the media, their teammates, the fans, ex-players. I would like to smack Rod Woodson once in a while on NFL Access. How many times is the game won or lost on the foot of the kicker? If the rest of the team had done their job as well as they seem to think they do compared to the kicker, he wouldnt be standing out there with the game on the line and resting on his foot.

[alex83]

Originally Posted by Bette

Apparently the fans on this forum think the kicker is important because when I asked for advice on playing fantasy football, they told me to use my first three picks on a kicker.

But the serious answer to your question is:
No, No and No some more. They dont get respect from the media, their teammates, the fans, ex-players. I would like to smack Rod Woodson once in a while on NFL Access. How many times is the game won or lost on the foot of the kicker? If the rest of the team had done their job as well as they seem to think they do compared to the kicker, he wouldnt be standing out there with the game on the line and resting on his foot.

Bette with comments like that it makes me want to marry you ...i totally agree Woodson is an ass and unless you have been a kicker you cant comment on how tough it is to make those kicks and you are correct in saying they shouldn't be in the position to win the game with one kick. A kicker should be a "in case of emergency" option, not someone you rest your entire season on...i mean that's like me saying "well Rod old pal, if YOU hadn't shut out the opposing offense the entire time you were on the field, your own offense would only need to make one play to win the game so in all actuality YOU are to blame for losing the game...HA!"

[Seahawker 562]

They get plenty for just kickin a ball once or twice during a quarter

[Bette]

Originally Posted by Seahawker 562

They get plenty for just kickin a ball once or twice during a quarter

We're not talking about financial reimbursement Seahawker. We are talking about respect and being treated like an equal.

[simple simon]

i voted yes .... i think in many times kickers get all the credit and blame they deserve

they are talking about putting Adam Vinatieri in the HOF .... which i believe is deserved

although (possibly to contradict myself) i think most of them get way more credit and blame then they deserve as well ... if the offense and defense always did their jobs the game would never be decided by a kicker .... for every win and loss there should be plenty of credit or blame to go around ...... for every kick a kicker misses, while you may blame him, keep in mind the offense also didnt do their job ..... for every kick a kicker makes to win a game 9-6 (give or take) remember the defense also played a heck of a game

so i suppose what i really believe is that in most cases credit and blame is overrated and over-done

[Quack Attack]

The NFL kicker is now one of the most important positions in football. Yes, you can now compare kickers to QB's. Why? QB's are the first one to blame when your teams loses and the first one you praise if your team wins! Ok, compare this with the kickers. How many times in NFL games this day and age come down to a FG? Kickers now can take a lot if not all the blame for a missed winning kick and will receive a ton of praise if he kicks the winning FG. Kickers are very very important...just ask Bill Parcells? I would not say this about college football though but kicking game is still very important.

In Conclusion, the Kickers really don't get enough credit for all the pressure kicks they are required to make. Their kick has won and lost so many games in the NFL in the last few years and throughout history.

[Dusty]

What about kickers in the HOF? Jan Stenerud (forgive my spelling) is in there right? Morton Andersen is a lock too I would think.

[NASCAR Gnome]

Kickers and punters aren't really considered "football" players even though what they do is, literally, the definition of the sport they play!

Throughout all aspects of the game, from OTAs (organized team activities) in the offseason, to training camp to camp to the start of the season, kickers really don't do a whole lot of anything strenuous compared to the other players. In that regard, most will never get the respect they truly deserve and that's just how it is...

[Lefty Noob]

See, this is a tough one to answer for me. Like Gnome, I'm tempted to say they get more than enough respect for how little physical effort punters and kickers put into the game, in OTAs, training camp, etc. Most of them couldn't tackle to save their lives, though there are a few who could say a lick on a returner. But Ray Guy isn't in the Hall of Fame. Adam Vinatieri probably is a long shot. Until both those guys are in Canton, I have to say no, they don't get enough respect for what they do.