Tag: Stephen Gostkowski

Grade for Titans signing veteran kicker Stephen Gostkowski

What grade do the Titans get for signing Stephen Gostkowski?

The Tennessee Titans announced the signing of veteran kicker and former New England Patriot Stephen Gostkowski on Thursday, and in a corresponding move they waived fellow kicker, Greg Joseph.

After posting the worst field goal success rate in the NFL in 2019, the Titans entered training camp with a major question mark at kicker and a competition between two players who lacked experience in Joseph and Tucker McCann.

Joseph, who was Tennessee’s kicker at the end of last season, only had 21 career attempts (including playoffs) and one field goal try with the Titans during his short tenure. Meanwhile, McCann is a rookie who was signed as an undrafted free agent earlier this offseason.

To make matters worse, both kickers looked shaky during training camp, which led to the Titans holding tryouts for both Gostkowski and Stephen Hauschka. At that point, it was just a matter of time before Tennessee brought a veteran in.

And that veteran is Gostkowski, who brings a ton of past experience and success to the table, which is a far cry from what the Titans had. He will immediately slot in as the team’s starter for the 2020 campaign and provides some much-needed stability to the position.

The 36-year-old has quite the track record of making clutch kicks in big spots and has nailed an impressive 87.4 percent of his career attempts, the fifth-best success rate in NFL history. He’s also been a Pro Bowler four times and a First-Team All-Pro twice.

The only real concern is that Gostkowski is coming off a 2019 season that ended early due to a hip injury that required surgery.

Obviously the Titans wouldn’t have signed him if that were still an issue, but past hip problems are always something to keep in mind, especially for a kicker in his mid-thirties.

Even with that said, this was a move the Titans had to make. They simply couldn’t risk having another season of kicking woes and Gostkowski was easily the best bet left on the open market to avoid that.

Grade: A

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Titans agree to terms with Stephen Gostkowski, waive Greg Joseph

The Titans have agreed to terms with kicker Stephen Gostkowski and waived Greg Joseph.

The Tennessee Titans are adding veteran kicker and former New England Patriot Stephen Gostkowski, the team announced on Thursday.

In a corresponding move, the Titans waived kicker Greg Joseph, which fully paves the way for Gostkowski to be the starter. Tucker McCann is the only other kicker on Tennessee’s roster.

The 36-year-old is a four-time Pro Bowler and two-time First-Team All-Pro. He has posted an impressive career field goal success rate of 87.4 percent and has notched a conversion rate of 90 percent or better five times.

Gostkowski’s 2019 season ended early due to a hip injury that required surgery. Clearly he’s now healthy and ready to try and help turn around a kicking unit that was the NFL’s worst last season.

The addition of a veteran kicker was inevitable. Both Joseph and McCann, the two kickers originally vying for the starting job, lacked experience and didn’t do much to instill confidence that they’d be a viable solution at the position for the 2020 season.

Gostkowski, who already owns a home in Tennessee and went to college at Memphis, also has connections to head coach Mike Vrabel, who was his former teammate, and general manager Jon Robinson, who spent time in New England’s scouting department.

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Titans’ Greg Joseph believes ‘the competition is between me and me’

The Titans’ kicker competition could get a lot more interesting real soon.

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Tennessee Titans kicker Greg Joseph is currently in the midst of a competition for the starting job with Tucker McCann — and it’s a competition that could get a lot more interesting real soon.

That’s because the Titans are working out a pair of veteran kickers in Stephen Gostkowski and Stephen Hauschka, and one of them could be added to the mix in due time.

However, no matter who is competing against him, Joseph feels he’s really just competing against himself, as he said on Sunday after practice.

Joseph and McCann have been “neck-and-neck” throughout camp, according to special teams coordinator, Craig Aukerman, and the numbers certainly bear that out.

According to an unofficial count through Sunday, Joseph has made 43-of-50 attempts, while McCann has nearly matched him, making 43-of-49 kicks.

Joseph feels like he’s having a good camp and is trying to do everything necessary “to make sure I’m here to stay.”

However, earning the starting job is more than just about making kicks in practice. There’s also an “eye test” element involved, and so far it doesn’t seem like McCann or Joseph are passing that test.

That could be one of the reasons why the Titans are giving the aforementioned veterans a look.

Not to mention, the lack of experience McCann and Joseph bring to the table is troubling for a team that finished with the worst field goal success rate in the NFL last season.

Should either Hauschka or Gostkowski get signed, they’d immediately be the favorites to win the job thanks to their extensive history of being reliable to elite kickers.

And that could also spell the end of Joseph’s short tenure in Nashville.

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Buccaneers to add ex-Titans Ryan Succop, Cody Parkey to competition

The Bucs are taking a look at a pair of former Titans kickers.

After seeing lackluster performances in their kicker competition at training camp, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are bringing in a pair of former Tennessee Titans kickers.

According to the Tampa Bay Times’ Rick Stroud, the Bucs will give both Ryan Succop and Cody Parkey a look after they complete COVID-19 testing.

Parkey and Succop were part of the Titans’ kicking carousel in 2019, which led to Tennessee having the worst field goal unit in the NFL.

Succop started off last season on Injured Reserve after his knee still didn’t feel all the way back following offseason knee surgery, but he was ineffective upon his return, making just 1-of-6 field goal attempts. He ultimately landed back on IR to end his season.

Parkey was one of the kickers the Titans brought in to cover for Succop during his initial IR stint, and he was the only one to have any semblance of success. Parkey was 3-of-3 on his tries, but was later cut after Succop returned.

As we revealed on Saturday, the Titans also appear to be exploring their options at the position after working out veteran Stephen Gostkowski, who could get added to the competition between Greg Joseph and Tucker McCann in camp.

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Tennessee Titans worked out K Stephen Gostkowski

The Titans worked out kicker Stephen Gostkowski.

The Tennessee Titans are apparently exploring other options at the kicker position.

Per the transaction wire, the Titans worked out veteran kicker and former New England Patriot, Stephen Gostkowski.

Gostkowski’s 2019 season was cut short due to a hip injury that required surgery. Prior to that he was one of the most reliable kickers in the league for years.

Tennessee currently has a competition going on at camp between Greg Joseph and Tucker McCann, which has been close throughout. However, neither kicker has much, if any experience.

Gostkowski would certainly change that, as he’s made several big kicks in clutch spots during his career. If signed, he’d immediately be the favorite to win the starting job.

It makes sense for Tennessee to do their due diligence at the position. After all, the Titans had a disastrous revolving door at the position in 2019 that led to them having the worst field goal unit in the NFL.

Jon Robinson says Titans would consider signing Stephen Gostkowski

Stephen Gostkowski is the best kicker available on the open market.

If the Tennessee Titans want to add a veteran to the kicker competition set to take place in training camp between Greg Joseph and Tucker McCann, Stephen Gostkowski is the best option still available.

And it’s an option that general manager Jon Robinson would consider, as he told Paul Kuharsky on Tuesday night.

“We certainly have confidence in Greg Joseph, I thought Greg did a great job for us, came in there at the end of last year and did a great job for us and helped us,” Robinson said. “It’d be his job to lose but we want as competitive a position there as possible. (Gostkowski) is another guy who’d we’d have to come in and check, but yeah, absolutely (we’d consider him.)”

Gostkowski underwent offseason hip surgery after his 2019 campaign was cut short.

The Titans would have to bring him in for a physical before even considering such a signing, though. Unfortunately, that isn’t possible at the moment due to the restrictions in place because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The problem with the Titans’ current competition is that both participants lack experience. McCann is a rookie and Joseph has only attempted 21 field goals during his career, including just one with the Titans in 2019.

One season after having the worst field goal unit in the NFL, the Titans need to make sure they have the right man for the job going into 2020. The best way to do that is to have as much competition as possible.

Adding Gostkowski is the most ideal way to go about it. The veteran has tons of experience making big kicks and has been one of the NFL’s premier kickers during his 14-year career with the New England Patriots.

Gostkowski isn’t the only kicker the Titans would consider. Robinson has also said the door isn’t closed on the team’s former kicker, Ryan Succop, returning at some point after he was cut by the team this offseason.

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5 kickers Giants could sign to replace Aldrick Rosas

With Aldrick Rosas facing some serious legal problems, here’s a look at five kickers the New York Giants could sign.

New York Giants kicker Aldrick Rosas was arrested and charged with a hit and run in California earlier this week, but that may be just the beginning of his legal problems.

In addition to a hit and run, Rosas was charged with driving with a suspended license and could also face DUI charges after fleeing the scene of the crash and later being discovered walking roughly a mile away covered in blood.

At the very least, Rosas can expect to hear from the NFL regarding a suspension for violating the league’s personal conduct policy, which means the Giants are in a pickle.

Here’s a quick look at five kickers the team could potentially sign to replace Rosas or bridge the gap on any potential suspension.

George Walker IV / Tennessean.com, Nashville Tennessean via Imagn Content Services, LLC

Ryan Succop

The Tennessee Titans remain open to bringing Ryan Succop back in 2020, but they may have competition for his services now.

Succop was derailed by injuries last season, seeing action in just six games while making two stints on injured reserve. Prior to that, the veteran had not missed a single game in his career and was a fairly reliable placekicker.

Succop has connected on 82.2% of his field goal attempts and 97.1% of his point after attempts throughout his 11-year NFL career.

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There’s one weakness on the Bucs Tom Brady has never dealt with before

The Tampa Bay Bucs offense looks unstoppable with Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski leading the charge. But this one area is cause for concern.

The Buccaneers added more pieces to their ever-growing roster of talent through the NFL draft, the most notable being offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs of Iowa.

The Buccaneers have championship expectations heading into 2020 after the signing of quarterback Tom Brady and the trade for tight end Rob Gronkowski, who will come out of retirement to reunite with Brady in Tampa. The offense seems all but unstoppable right now, and postseason expectations are high for Bruce Arians’ squad.

But, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows for the future Hall of Fame QB’s new team. The Bucs have had issues over the years finding a reliable kicker, and last year, rookie Matt Gay had a nightmare performance in Week 3’s loss to the New York Giants that brought back memories of Roberto Aguayo.

During his time in New England, Brady had only two kickers for almost the entirety of his 20-year run: Adam Vinatieri and Stephen Gostkowski. With stability like that at the position, it made two-minute drills and pressure situations more manageable knowing there was a reliable kicker waiting in the wings. After all, Vinatieri kicked game-winning field goals in the Patriots’ first two Super Bowl championships.

But how much faith should the Bucs have in Gay entering 2020? The 2019 fifth-round pick missed eight field goals last season, going 27-for-35, while also going 43-for-48 on extra points. Tampa Bay will obviously go into training camp with Gay, but competition could be good to ensure the team finds the best kicker they can for this championship run.

Oh, by the way, Gostkowski was released by the Patriots last month. Just saying…

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Stephen Gostkowski looks to continue NFL career after being released by Patriots

“I’m not ready to just hang it up.”

The New England Patriots will miss two instrumental players in 2020 who had an incredible imprint on their dynasty.

Tom Brady, of course, and Stephen Gostkowski. The 36-year-old kicker was released by the Patriots last month after spending 14 seasons with the team. He had an extremely difficult task in replacing Hall of Famer Adam Vinatieri, but he did his job and earned his place as one of the NFL’s greatest kickers.

Gostkowski was placed on the injured reserve list in the beginning of last season and could’ve let his NFL career go after being released by New England. While speaking with NBC Sports Boston’s Tom E. Curran, he said he doesn’t plan on letting go of the game just yet.

“I’m not ready to just hang it up,” Gostkowski said. “I’m going to try to play. It’s going to be tough to show teams what I can do right now or work out or do a physical, but I’m not too worried about it. I’m not concerned. I kind of take things day by day.

“I feel good. I’m starting to feel better. I’m trying to keep getting in better and better shape, and I’ve probably done more so far this year (than) I would heading into a normal season. So I feel like I’m ahead of where I usually am, and I have nothing but time.”

The Patriots have not yet replaced Gostkowski, but they still have the NFL Draft and Nick Folk in free agency — who was the team’s most reliable replacement last season.

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Stephen Gostkowski points out one positive from getting released from Patriots

Getting cut stinks, but…

The New England Patriots may enjoy success, but they don’t always take the time to soak it and enjoy it. Now that Stephen Gostkowski is no longer a Patriot, he’s taking a moment to truly reflect upon all that he’s accomplished with the team — even if he’s on to 2020 when he hopes to sign with a new team.

“We’ve been so successful as a team, there’s nothing for me to complain about,” Gostkowski said on the Patriots Talk podcast, as transcribed by WEEI. “… We have had it really good and finally being done with the Patriots it’s fun to actually look back at it and be able to talk about it in a positive way.  Because when you’re in it and in the mode, you can never like, sit back and pat yourself on the back or talk about how good it was because you’d win, get drunk at the parade and after that you’re like, ‘OK, can’t talk about it anymore.’

“It’s fun to look back and everything I look back at is all positive memories.”

The Patriots drafted Gostkowski in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL Draft to replace Adam Vinatieri, one of the greatest kickers of all time. During 14 regular seasons in New England, Gostkowski hit 374 of 428 attempts (87.4%) on field goals and 98.3% on extra points. During the postseason, he was 88 of 92 on extra point attempts (95.7%) and he was 39 of 44 on field goal attempts (88.6%) on the way to three Super Bowl wins.

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