Tag: Mason Crosby

The Green Bay Packers placed three players, including two likely starters, on the COVID-19 reserve list.

The team added kicker Mason Crosby, tight end Jace Sternberger and defensive lineman Treyvon Hester to the reserve list, according to Thursday’s transaction wire.

The list is for players who have either tested positive for coronavirus or are in need of quarantine after being exposed to an infected person. However, teams will not publicly reveal if a player has tested positive.

Adding Crosby, Sternberger and Hester brings the Packers’ total to four players. Outside linebacker Greg Roberts was added to the list on Tuesday.

Veteran players arrived at camp starting on Tuesday. All players will be tested three times over a four-day span, and must pass all three tests before gaining full-time access to the team’s facility.

Receiver Devin Funchess opted out of the 2020 season because of family health concerns over the coronavirus.

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Big day for former Colorado Buffs. Congrats to @crosbykicks2 agreeing to a 3 year contract with the @packers. 14th year in GB!

— Mike McCartney (@MikeMcCartney7) February 22, 2020

The Green Bay Packers re-signed veteran kicker Mason Crosby to a three-year deal, according to agent Mike McCartney.

Crosby, who turns 36 in September, connected on 22 of 24 field goals during the 2019 season. His field goal percentage of 91.7 tied the franchise record. Crosby, the franchise’s all-time leader in points, was a first-team alternate for the Pro Bowl.

Packers GM Brian Gutekunst expressed confidence in re-signing Crosby several times since the end of the 2019 season.

The deal will keep Crosby in Green Bay through the 2022 season.

The Green Bay Packers are confident they’ll be able to re-sign soon-to-be free agent kicker Mason Crosby.

GM Brian Gutekunst told the team’s official website that he’s “very hopeful” Crosby will be back in Green Bay in 2020 and beyond.

“I think when you have a guy who has been through the fire like Mason has, for a guy in my position it makes us feel very comfortable,” Gutekunst said, via Mike Spofford of Packers.com. “He obviously had an excellent year last year. He’s a big part of our team, a big part of what we’re trying to do here. I’m very hopeful that will reach the right ending.”

Crosby, who turns 36 in September, connected on 22 of 24 field goals, tying the franchise record for field goal percentage in a single season at 91.7. He missed just three kicks all year and hit 46 of 47 extra points, including the postseason.

Bringing back Crosby will cost the Packers a chunk of their available cap space, but having a reliable kicker with leadership qualities is worth the cost to Gutekunst.

In January, Gutekunst expressed confidence in Crosby’s ability to remain an effective kicker for several more years.

“From my scout’s eye, his leg strength, his power, his accuracy, it’s all there. Mason is going to kick for quite a while longer if he wants to,” Gutekunst said at his season-ending press conference.

The Packers made Crosby a sixth-round pick in 2007. He is now the franchise’s leader in field goal made, extra points made, points scored, 50-yard field goals made and consecutive field goals made. He’s also kicked the seven longest field goals in Packers history.

Crosby’s previous deal paid out $16.1 million over four years, including a $5 million signing bonus. The NFL’s highest-paid kicker by average salary is Justin Tucker, who makes $5 million per year. Robbie Gould, a fair comparison for Crosby, makes $4.75 million per year on a deal signed before the 2019 season.

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The Green Bay Packers must determine whether or not they’re ready to move onto a new era at kicker this offseason.

Mason Crosby, the franchise’s leader in points scored, will be an unrestricted free agent when his contract expires in March. He turns 36 in September but is coming off a season in which he was named a Pro Bowl alternate.

Here’s the case for and against re-signing Crosby:

Case for 

Crosby, who has spent his entire career in Green Bay, is coming off his best NFL season. He hit 22 of 24 field goals, tying the franchise record for field goal percentage in a season, and he hit 46 of 47 extra points overall, including the postseason. Despite trying off-the-field circumstances, Crosby remained mentally strong and as trustworthy as ever. Since last year’s disaster and Detroit, he’s been nearly automatic. During both wins over the Lions, Crosby hit the game-winner. His leg strength is no longer elite but it’s still good enough. He finished sixth in the NFL in touchback percentage in 2019 and has six field goals over 50 yards since 2018. Crosby has kicked in the cold and unpredictable conditions in Green Bay since 2007 and knows exactly how to handle adverse weather at Lambeau Field.  He’s also playoff-tested, with 26 made field goals over 20 career postseason games, and well respected in the locker room. Kickers aren’t often considered “tough,” but Crosby has rarely shied away from getting into the mix and making a tackle on kickoffs, and he’s never missed a game in 13 seasons. GM Brian Gutekunst is confident he can be an effective kicker for several more years.

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Case against

Crosby will be 36 years old to start next year, and physical decline can creep up quick on kickers. His value would drop substantially if his leg strength goes into rapid decline. While reliable over the long term, he’s been prone to down years, and often the misses come in bunches. Between 2017 and 2018, Crosby missed nine field goals and four extra points and had a field goal percentage of 80.4. Changes at punter and long snapper really affected his consistency, and turnover is common at both spots. What will be his price tag? Kickers of his experience and quality are worth $4 million or more per season. Barring a big home-town discount, the Packers will likely need to pay $10-15 million over 2-3 years to keep him. Can the Packers find a similar talent at a much cheaper price?

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Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst didn’t see any signs of regression from 35-year-old kicker Mason Crosby during the 2019 season, and he confirmed the Packers want the veteran back with the team in 2020 and beyond.

Crosby, who turns 36 in September, connected on 22 of 24 field goals and all but one extra point in 2019, but he has an expiring contract and will be an unrestricted free agent come March.

“We’d certainly love to have him back. He’s done it at a high level for a long time, and he’s become a pretty big leader in our locker room as well,” Gutekunst said at his season-ending press conference.

Crosby set a career-best and tied a franchise record with a 91.7 field goal percentage this season. Counting the postseason, Crosby hit 68 of 71 kicks and connected on two game-winning field goals, including the go-ahead field goal as time expired in Week 17 that clinched a first-round bye for the Packers.

“Mason had a fantastic year this year, one of his best,” Gutekunst said. “From my scout’s eye, his leg strength, his power, his accuracy, it’s all there. Mason is going to kick for quite a while longer if he wants to.”

The Packers want Crosby – who was drafted by Ted Thompson in 2007 and is now the franchise’s all-time leader in points scored – to continue his decorated career in Green Bay.

Gutekunst complimented Crosby’s “laser focus” as he worked through personal struggles away from the field.

Crosby hit all 14 field goal attempts from 40 yards or in. He also connected on a 54-yard field and ranked sixth in the NFL in touchback percentage.

Gutekunst expressed confidence Crosby will continue being a reliable kicker for several more seasons, noting how several veteran kickers have continued to perform into their 40s.

Not only that, but Crosby has rare experience kicking in the cold, a necessity for a team that plays its home games at Lambeau Field.

Over the final five outdoor games of the 2019 season, Crosby hit all four field goal attempts and all 16 extra points.

It’s possible the Packers could use the franchise tag to keep Crosby for another year. A multi-year deal probably won’t be cheap, at least in kicker terms. As a point of reference, Robbie Gould signed a four-year, $19 million deal with the San Francisco 49ers in 2019. It averaged almost $5 million per season and included a $3 million signing bonus.

The final kick of Mason Crosby’s 2019 season ensured the veteran Green Bay Packers kicker would tie the franchise’s record for field goal percentage in a single season.

Crosby connected from 33 yards out as time expired Sunday, sending the Packers to a 23-20 win over the Detroit Lions and clinching a first-round bye for Matt LaFleur’s team.

The kick also improved Crosby to 22 of 24 on field goals to finish 2019, tying Jan Stenerud’s record field goal percentage of 91.7.

Like Crosby, Stenerud also made 22 of 24 field goals in 1981.

Crosby made 40 of 41 extra points in 2019. He finished the season making 62 of 65 kicks overall.

Crosby’s previous high for field goal percentage of 89.2, set in 2013.

Crosby, who is a free agent following the 2019 season, now owns five of the top 10 seasons in terms of field goal percentage in team history.

Kicker	Season	FG	%
Mason Crosby	2019	22/24	91.7
Jan Stenerud	1981	22/24	91.7
Mason Crosby	2013	33/37	89.2
Ryan Longwell	2002	23/26	88.5
Ryan Longwell	1998	29/33	87.9
Ryan Longwell	2000	33/38	86.8
Mason Crosby	2016	26/30	86.7
Mason Crosby	2011	24/28	85.7
Mason Crosby	2015	24/28	85.7
Ryan Longwell	2004	24/28	85.7

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