K Jay Feeley released by the Dolphins - Competition for Gostkowski?

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

I think Feeley was one of the few bright spots in Miami last year as he was near perfect on FG tries and since I think BB sometimes has lack of trust in Gost from decent distance I think bringing in Feeley for some competition at K would be a great move - He won't last long on the open market with his excellent career and not far removed from his pro bowl type season in 2005.

http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5gutliQaYPFOY229yqr9NxRnFkzzQ

 

[Pats726]

I would be surprised if that was done....I do not think BB has a lack of confidence in him..I do think there were other factors in his non-FG decision of the Superbowl.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

I think Feeley was one of the few bright spots in Miami last year as he was near perfect on FG tries and since I think BB sometimes has lack of trust in Gost from decent distance I think bringing in Feeley for some competition at K would be a great move - He won't last long on the open market with his excellent career and not far removed from his pro bowl type season in 2005.

http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5gutliQaYPFOY229yqr9NxRnFkzzQ

If BB et al. have lost faith in Gostkowski, why has he been the only kicker on the roster since the day they released Gramatica? Why didn't they bring another kicker in, even for just a look?

[OK, so the Pats also have Welker. But still. . . .]

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

I would be surprised if that was done....I do not think BB has a lack of confidence in him..I do think there were other factors in his non-FG decision of the Superbowl.

I don't know about that - If I were to take time to go back the past 2 years I could think of many times where if Vinatieri were still on the team, BB would have kicked the FG instead of going for it on the 35 with a 4th and 8 or situations like that - most times in that situation I recall Brady and Co. on the field where pre-2005 it was not like that

 

[Rob0729]

I agree with the sentiment that if Belichick wanted competition for Gostkowski, there would already be another kicker on the roster.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

If BB et al. have lost faith in Gostkowski, why has he been the only kicker on the roster since the day they released Gramatica? Why didn't they bring another kicker in, even for just a look?

[OK, so the Pats also have Welker. But still. . . .]

I am not saying Gostkowski sucks,But if a guy with an excellent resume like Feeley comes along and is available, it definately makes sense to at least bring him in if its possible and he is not asking for boatloads of money - I think it would be healthy for a little competition at the K position - even if Gost is doing O.K.,Probably won't happen but I do like Feeley.

 

[Rob0729]

I don't know about that - If I were to take time to go back the past 2 years I could think of many times where if Vinatieri were still on the team, BB would have kicked the FG instead of going for it on the 35 with a 4th and 8 or situations like that - most times in that situation I recall Brady and Co. on the field where pre-2005 it was not like that

I disagree. If you look at Vinatieri's last year, Belichick went for it several times in 4th and long situations in makable field goal range. I think it is a myth that Belichick goes for it in a lot of these situations because of lack of confidence in Gostkowski. I think it has more to do with his confidence in Brady and the offense to convert these 4th downs.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

I disagree. If you look at Vinatieri's last year, Belichick went for it several times in 4th and long situations in makable field goal range. I think it is a myth that Belichick goes for it in a lot of these situations because of lack of confidence in Gostkowski. I think it has more to do with his confidence in Brady and the offense to convert these 4th downs.

I understand what you are saying and while I respect that ,I don't know if you or I are right about that - Only BB himself could answer that.

I do know that if you have a solid kicker and its not an impossible distance to make 3 points then it sure is more wise to try and kick it for 3 points than to try to convert a play as hard as something like a 4th and long even if Brady is the QB - Especially in a close game.

 

[dhamz]

I don't know about that - If I were to take time to go back the past 2 years I could think of many times where if Vinatieri were still on the team, BB would have kicked the FG instead of going for it on the 35 with a 4th and 8 or situations like that - most times in that situation I recall Brady and Co. on the field where pre-2005 it was not like that

You might want to go back and recall the Jacksonville playoff game in 2005 - Vinatieri's last home game.

2nd possession - 4th and 13 from the Jags 28 - pooch punt
3rd possession - 4th and 10 from the Jags 30 - went for it and failed.

 

[BPF]

I think Feeley was one of the few bright spots in Miami last year as he was near perfect on FG tries and since I think BB sometimes has lack of trust in Gost from decent distance I think bringing in Feeley for some competition at K would be a great move - He won't last long on the open market with his excellent career and not far removed from his pro bowl type season in 2005.

http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5gutliQaYPFOY229yqr9NxRnFkzzQ

I doubt it. In addition the comments he made about the Pats on spygate will not really make him a locker room favorite. Alos, this guy is already looking ahead to his next career at ESPN, he makes too many comments to the press and is not a good teammate.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

I understand what you are saying and while I respect that ,I don't know if you or I are right about that - Only BB himself could answer that.

I do know that if you have a solid kicker and its not an impossible distance to make 3 points then it sure is more wise to try and kick it for 3 points than to try to convert a play as hard as something like a 4th and long even if Brady is the QB - Especially in a close game.

Actually, as Christopher Price pointed out in The Blueprint, someone analyzed this, and found the reverse is true; it's almost always better to go for it than to kick/punt.

And, to sum things up--while the Pats have made a veritable habit of rescuing stranded Dolphins the last few years, Feely's one I'll gladly leave to someone else.

 

[emoney_33]

Expected Value... go for it!

 

[italia44]

yikes!......already people are overlooking the effect of the 80 man training camp roster.

Now,bring a fg kicker for competion for Gost?
ummmmm...let me think.....NO.

This is the reason BB put 12 players on pup and couldn't bring in those 2 extra punters.

I'm amazed how that SB loss has skewed the fan's viewpoint of this team.A lot of us seem to be trying to replay that game with this year's roster moves.

"Welcome fans to the Rod Serling Twilight Zone Perpetual Deja Vous replay of SB XLII"

.....ya know..."How can I miss you,if you won't go away"

Gost is fine,Asante is gone,Hobbs is ok.
New season...last year never happened.

 

[WhiZa]

yikes!......already people are overlooking the effect of the 80 man training camp roster.

The 80 man point is correct. Why waste a spot on an extra kicker when there are much worse off positions at this point that could use the extra bodies.

 

[Pats726]

The 80 man roster limit certainly plays into it...with injuroes and such unless there was REAL competition needed..no reason to have an extra one in camp...Surprising how these last 5-6 openings (when there were NFLE exemptions) matter

 

[JoePats]

The 80 man point is correct. Why waste a spot on an extra kicker when there are much worse off positions at this point that could use the extra bodies.

Absolutely right. But the 80-man roster aside, the Pats are obviously banged up at a few positions. It's easy to say sign this guy, but you have to have a guy to cut. You can't cut an OL or DB at this point. Makes no sense to cut a QB yet either. You still want to have enough guys to be able to limit everyone's work in a preseason game too.

Now, if BB wanted to bring a kicker in for a tryout, ok great. But it doesn't have to be Feely either. Could be anyone, and who knows it may have happened already.

 

[JoePats]

Surprising how these last 5-6 openings (when there were NFLE exemptions) matter

Definately. I have to admit I never really gave it much thought but it's obviously a big deal for a lot of teams, to the point where Goodell issued a memo to stop complaing about it. Wonder what's so hard about just expanding the preseason rosters to 86 anyway. I imagine the competition committee will take a look.

 

[Deus Irae]

I'm amazed how that SB loss has skewed the fan's viewpoint of this team.A lot of us seem to be trying to replay that game with this year's roster moves.

That really sums up a lot of what's going on, even today. I can't recall the last time I saw such vitriol towards a backup quarterback or #4 receiver over exhibition game #1.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Definately. I have to admit I never really gave it much thought but it's obviously a big deal for a lot of teams, to the point where Goodell issued a memo to stop complaing about it. Wonder what's so hard about just expanding the preseason rosters to 86 anyway. I imagine the competition committee will take a look.

Maybe I'm missing something, but why did they keep the rosters to 80 in the first place? [I understand it was 80 + exemptions; I'm wondering why, when they ended the exemptions, they didn't make it 83 or somesuch.]

 

[Jackson 2]

I think Feeley was one of the few bright spots in Miami last year as he was near perfect on FG tries and since I think BB sometimes has lack of trust in Gost from decent distance I think bringing in Feeley for some competition at K would be a great move - He won't last long on the open market with his excellent career and not far removed from his pro bowl type season in 2005.

http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5gutliQaYPFOY229yqr9NxRnFkzzQ

I'm fine with Gost and I think BB is also. No disrespect to Feeley, but I think if the team felt any dissatisfaction with Gost, they would have brought in some competition for him before camp.