Gost is a free agent next month

[BradyFTW!]

Gost's FA isn't really on my radar, tbh. If he leaves, I won't be worried. He's fine, and I'd like to see him stay largely because known is greater than unknown and you don't want to risk getting a rare Chargers-esque kicker situation. But I don't think he's so far above replacement level to elevate his free agency to the level of being something worth worrying about.

Basically, assuming your kicker isn't Justin Tucker or prime Adam Vinatieri, he's fundamentally replaceable if it comes down to that. You can screw yourself badly by getting a bad kicker, but the difference between a garden variety replacement-level kicker and a good one is fairly minimal all thing considered.

 

[BradyFTW!]

makes me nervous in the playoffs but is there really a better option? I don't know who is available in FA or any good kids in college

Matt Bryant just got released, so I guess he'd be a pretty decent alternative option. He is 43 though, so no matter how reliable he's been in the past there's some risk there.

 

[DaBruinz]

The difference between Ghost and Vinatieri at the point he left is that Vinatieri wasn't able to consistently get touchbacks in Foxboro by the end. He moved onto the indoor Colts where that wouldn't be an issue. Ghost can still do that except in the coldest of weather, and is able to hit the high arching kickoffs to the 1-2 when asked based on a team's kickoff return opponent.

It'll be interesting to see what happens. I'm leaning towards his returning based on the above, but someone could always make him a Danny Amendola-type offer that the Pats decide to pass on. I'll need to check out the draft forum to see if there's any interesting kickers available; I don't think it's a coincidence BB let Vinatieri go the year that Ghost was available.

Vinatieri hasn't done kick-offs in a decade. It's the only reason he's still in the league.

 

[ScottishPatriots]

I'd bet money he gets tagged, it's a cheap way to use the tag.

 

[PatsFan2]

Even though he's shaky sometimes Ghost would fetch a lot of $$$$ on the open market. I am not against Drafting a new Kicker who would be heck of a lot cheaper.

 

[PatsFan2]

I'd bet money he gets tagged, it's a cheap way to use the tag.

Hmmmm $4.8 money well spent on kicker who's Clutch from 40 and 0ut.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Vinatieri hasn't done kick-offs in a decade. It's the only reason he's still in the league.

It's basically an idle thought based on nothing in particular, but I've wondered for a while if handling kickoff duties contributed to Pat McAfee's health woes towards the end that caused his early retirement. That's always been one several explanations for why you wouldn't want one guy handling kicker and punter duties--the motions are so mechanically different that it drastically elevates the overall injury risk--and maybe that took its toll on McAfee.

Or maybe that has nothing to do with it, I dunno.

 

[WaterfallJumper]

This thread is ridiculous. Brady threw more interceptions than TDs in the last two games -- should we replace him, too? Who is better than Gostkowski out there? Realistically, no one.

 

[doesntmatter1]

I don't think we can do better than him so definitely sign him.

 

[Vatahala]

I'm curious as what other teams think his value is. How much does his experience in big games factor into their pursuit. At what point does age reduce the asking price of a kicker?

 

[Dagg]

Always seems like to me Gost is automatic at home when we are up 10 or 14. In big games or close seems like he always chokes one leading me to text my friends..thats going to cost us in the end watch!..All that said as a gambler bearing witness to some of the atrocious kicking situations some teams have the relative stability is appreciated. Just wish he had a higher clutch rating. Im on the fence and this would be highly dependent on other available kickers in FA or the draft if our staff likes then.

 

[Wheelman]

Unless you know how to get Justin Tucker from the ratbirds there's really no debate. Ghost is the best free agent kicker available.

 

[sportnik]

I wouldn't be throwing big money at Ghost. We can find a cheaper kicker to miss field goals & extra points in the Superbowl.

Even the 40 harder to seal this year's game was a nail biter...

 

[supafly]

Keep him. But sign a guy like Robbie Gould (Pending he's available) for the SB. I still can't believe BB didn't go for it on 4th and inches. There were very good odds of picking it up.

Why not just kick the FG and end the game like they did? I guess BB (and Brady) felt that the odds of making a 41-42 yard FG were better than risking getting stopped by a tough defensive front.

 

[borg]

Ghost is in a great position.
Teams are desperate for quality kickers given the in-season kicking malfunctions on so many teams. Quite a few teams with need, cap space, and playoff ambition could take a run at Ghost.
I wanna believe he enjoys NE and all its success and will work with NE to remain a Patriot.
A crazy money offer could be too enticing though.

 

[Uptown]

Let him leave and sign Cody Parkey

 

[Sciz]

This is supposed to be a good kicker draft, but predraft rankings have been very, very wrong in some cases lately.

 

[mgteich]

The patriots have been here before.

If we can't agree to a contract. Ghost will be franchised once or even twice.

Ghost is in a great position.
Teams are desperate for quality kickers given the in-season kicking malfunctions on so many teams. Quite a few teams with need, cap space, and playoff ambition could take a run at Ghost.
I wanna believe he enjoys NE and all its success and will work with NE to remain a Patriot.
A crazy money offer could be too enticing though.

 

[pats4life12]

As much as I like the Gost I think it time to move on. He has brought a lot of joy to Pats fans lives but at the same time a lot of stress. The way I look at it the morning of the Super Bowl I was talking with some friends about how we feared he was going to miss one we were just hoping it was not in the fourth quarter. Sure enough, we were correct and he missed that field goal on the second drive.

With a kicker any time I fear he is going to miss more than make, it is time to move on and give someone else a chance.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

At the right price hope hes back.