Tag: pressley harvin

Giants work out several punters with Jamie Gillan injured

The New York Giants worked out Nolan Cooney and four other punters after Jamie Gillan (hamstring) popped up on the injury report.

New York Giants punter Jamie Gillan was a surprise addition to the injury report on Friday, being listed as questionable with a left hamstring strain.

With only two days before their Sunday night kickoff, the Giants hosted several punters in the event Gillan is unable to play against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Among those in attendance was Nolan Cooney, a former Syracuse punter who has played for the New Orleans Saints, Arizona Cardinals, Indianapolis Colts, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

In four career games, Cooney has punted 13 times for 592 yards (45.5 ypp) with two being downed inside the 20-yard line.

Punters Pressley Harvin, Matt Haack, Lou Hedley, and Ty Zentner were also in attendance for the private workouts.

None of the five punters who worked out were immediately signed but that could come on Saturday if the Giants opt to place linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux (wrist) on injured reserve (IR).

Given that Gillan also serves as the team’s holder on point after and field goal attempts, whoever the Giants sign would also have to take on that responsibility.

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Steelers ST coordinator Danny Smith gushes about his new punter

Danny Smith took a shot at his old punter after practice on Tuesday.

Perhaps the most under-the-radar move the Pittsburgh Steelers made this offseason was moving on from punter Pressley Harvin III and adding Cameron Johnston in his place in free agency.

After the first day of mandatory OTAs, special teams coordinator Danny Smith addressed the media and subtly threw Harvin under the bus in his praise of Johnston.

I love him. He’s a real pro. He’s strong. He’s got game and I call game different types of punts. We could do a lot of things with him in that game,” Smith said. “He’s a pro. I love him. I really do. He’s going to really help us. I think you’re going to see a big improvement in that area with him.

It was a real head-scratcher as to why the Steelers kept Harvin as long as they did but the past is the past and Johnston is going to be the difference maker on special teams this group has been lacking.

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Chiefs make roster move that could land Steelers a new punter

The Steelers could get a huge boost in punting if they sign Tommy Townsend.

This week the Kansas City Chiefs made something of a controversial move when they signed free-agent punter Matt Arazia. The move means the Chiefs are unlikely to pursue former starting punter Tommy Townsend. This could be a huge plus for the Pittsburgh Steelers who are in the market for a punter.

After three lackluster seasons, the Steelers finally decided to cut ties with Pressley Harvin III. This was a move long overdue and now leaves the Steelers with a significant need on special teams. We’ve talked about potential replacements available via the draft or free agency but specifically, Townsend might be just what the team needs if he can recapture his former glory.

The signing of Arazia was as much financial as it was anything else. Townsend had a down year but hardly a bad season. Realistically, it is all about if the Steelers want to pay what Townsend will demand in a contract as one of the best punters in the league. Six punters are set to make at least $3 million in 2024 and I’m sure Townsend wants to make it seven.

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2024 NFL draft: Top 5 punters for the Steelers to consider

These are the five best punter prospects in the 2024 NFL draft.

After long last, the Pittsburgh Steelers have released punter Pressley Harvin III and can now focus on getting that aspect of special teams in order. There are several free-agent punters Pittsburgh could sign but if they look to the draft, here are the five best in the 2024 NFL draft.

6 Steelers salary-cap cuts to kick off the offseason

These are the first six Steelers who need to go.

The first order of business when comes to working on the Pittsburgh Steelers roster this offseason is to get the salary cap in order. The Steelers are currently $15.6 million over the cap so here are the first six guys the team needs to jettison so they can be buyers in free agency.

Pittsburgh Steelers’ Pressley Harvin III delivers beauty of a punt

Pressley Harvin delivered a spectacular punt in the Hall of Fame Game for the Steelers

Pressley Harvin III was taken with the 254th pick in the 2021 NFL draft out of Georgia Tech by the Pittsburgh Steelers.

No matter what happens in the Yellow Jacket’s NFL career, he will be hard-pressed to top his debut in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game.

Check out the beauty of a punt by the 6-0, 255-pounder from Sumter, S.C.

Harvin came in with an impressive resume from his senior season:

2020 RAY GUY AWARD WINNER
2020 UNANIMOUS ALL-AMERICA
2020 FIRST-TEAM ALL-ACC

Harvin is the first African-American to win the Ray Guy Award in its 21-year history.

Harvin is in select company when it comes to Georgia Tech; became the third Yellow Jacket to earn unanimous All-America honors (joining Ken Swilling – 1990 and Calvin Johnson – 2006).

The punt in the Hall of Fame Game would seem to give Harvin, um, a leg up in the battle for the role.

On the other end of the kicking spectrum, was this field-goal attempt by Dallas’ Hunter Niswander, who has to be thrilled that he also is in the battle for the punting role on the Cowboys after this.