POLL: Brian Billick argues "Kickers aren't football players" ...... Do you agree?

[Fencer]

Anybody who makes blocks, makes tackles, gets blocked or gets tackled is a football player. The claim isn't just wrong, it's stupid.

 

[Fencer]

I guess a placekicker who let somebody else (e.g. the punter) do kickoffs might approach being "not a football player". And in this horrible year for kickers, some team might sign or retain a guy who is too old/fragile for much contact. But such guys, if any exist at all right now, would be in a small minority.

 

[Joker]

How about this...Windbag Billick ain't even a real head coach...."we got Brian Billick here!!...he's available for ANY head coaching gig...anybody???? anyone want Brian Billick to coach their team?? How about you, University Of Butte Barfaloes, you want Brian Billick as your head coach?? OK, we'll entertain kiddie league positions..anybody? It's Brian Billick...you all know him....he's the guy who figured out to play Ray Lewis at linebacker...he's a genius!...anybody????

I hate these ex-has been blowhards pontificating on subjects while possessing the brain power of a common wood tick.

 

[Satchboogie3]

It's pretty amazing to think that Ghost has been better than Vinatieri and put up more points with the Patriots in nearly 2 less seasons. Vinatieri is currently 3rd all-time scoring at 42. Ghost, in comparison, is 37th at just 31 years of age. The youngest active kicker ahead of him on the list is 36, Brown, and just a few spots ahead of him. And he's played almost all his games outdoors in NE. Just about everyone else on the list was a dome/warm weather/dry team kicker. He's also 3rd all-time for FG%, behind two guys who've been in the league just a couple of years AND one plays in a dome. Hell, there are just 2 other guys in the top 10 that haven't primarily played for dome/warm weather teams. Insane.

 

[Gumby]

The fact that this comes from someone who is no longer a coach speaks volumes.

Speaks volumes not only about his ability to get hired, but also TONS about the effort he maybe put into grading /selecting his kickers. Funny how BB drafted/signed kickers seem to participate in the coverage units and glory be, actually TACKLE when returners break free.

 

[kudzif]

i am going to disagree with everyone else and agree with Billick. Kickers never learn a playbook like every other football player has to , and never run any proper practices competing against other players.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

It is just one of these semantics questions where everyone has a different definition. Is Pluto a planet?

Who the F cares? I think we all know what a kicker does and what sport he plays. I know this: the kicker sure as he11 influences the outcome of the game, and he wears a uniform and helmet and is one of the 11 guys out there.

Is the answer to this question going to enhance your experience on earth is either a spiritual, intellectual or emotional way?

Let's spend our time on more important rhetorical questions. Should Serena Williams be classified as a woman?

 

[Wordsmyth]

While not as daunting and studly and intimidating as other dudes on the team, these guys are gifted with a special talent that transcends such petty Billickian analysis.

 

[convertedpatsfan]

As Deus already mentioned, some argue pitchers aren't baseball players, and goalies aren't hockey players. A lot of sports have a weird position, but that doesn't mean they're not valuable players.

It's especially weird to hear this from a former football coach because football is especially ridiculous in terms of specialization. It's rare to see a 195 lb guy on the DL, just as you don't see a 300+ lb guy at cornerback (unless it's Wilfork).

And even that doesn't cover all the specialization. Some big guys play in a 3-4 but not a 4-3, some can play certain techniques in a 4-3 but not others, some corners are good in zone but not man, or man but not bump and run. Some QBs work well in one system but not another, some LBs will rush but can't cover, while others it's the opposite.

And yes, there's a guy who specializes in kicking. It's important enough to justify it's own roster spot and a full-time person practicing it. Kickers often lead their team in scoring, and it isn't just because of the extra points. Consider that Marshawn Lynch led the league in scoring among non-kickers last season. Ghost had more points via FG than Lynch.

And kickers have worked to improve significantly over the years. In 1967, 51% of FGs were made. Nowadays, that figure is over 80%, even after the worst week in kicking. Range has also increased. The percent of kicks made from 50+ yards has gone up each decade, from 13% in the 60s to 36% in the 80s to 53% in the 2000s up to 56% this year, which also is on pace to set the most attempts from 50+ record.

There may not be exactly the physical training that goes into some positions, but the mental training is incredible. The situations they face are some of the most stressful in the game.

Can't imagine Matt Stover is feeling a lot of love towards his old coach today...

 

[PatsFanSince74]

I always find it ironic when people argue that Kickers aren't "football players," when the game of "Football," puts contact between the "foot" and the "ball" at the heart of its definition.

If Kickers aren't football players, then: do away with "Kick"-offs, do away with Field Goals, do away with punts, do away with Drop Kicks (tip of the hat to Doug Flutie) and do away with "kicked" extra points. Then, Kickers would no longer be football players.

Then we can get to the business of doing away with activities performed by other players who do things that, by our own personal definitions, aren't part of the game. Like, running the ball. Passes are a lot more fun to watch, so let's start a movement to say that "Running Backs" aren't football players...

 

[jah]

If you're a kicker, you shouldn't be scared of running after the returner and making a tackle. So yeah. Stupid ass statement by a former HC.

 

[Nehalem]

Someone should ask Belichick this question just to see his reaction

 

[Wretch]

http://deadspin.com/5823788/chris-kluwe-responds-can-i-kick-it-yes-i-can

It's about more than just a kicker being a football player but Kluwe puts a player who says kickers aren't real football player in his place.

"I freely admit I'm not a receiver, or a lineman, or a DB, or a quarterback, but why should it matter what position I play? Have I not spent 16 years of my life honing my craft (just like you)? Have I not spent countless hours running sprints, lifting weights, trying to stay awake during boring-ass special teams meetings (just like you)? Have I not suited up for a game, gotten my clock cleaned by a blindside block on a punt return, tried and failed to tackle Devin Hester (just like a lot of people)? Tell me, when it comes to breaking down who gets to talk, what's the order? Should linebackers not be able to talk before safeties, or are they allowed to talk after the centers? When does the longsnapper get to chime in? Does the X go before the Z or after?"

From Wikipedia:
"During a Week-13 game in Detroit, Lions safety Vernon Fox dove towards Kluwe during a punt and collided with Kluwe's plant foot. Although initial concerns were that Kluwe had a broken ankle, tests showed Kluwe had a sprained ankle. What the tests did also show was that earlier in the game when the ball was snapped over Kluwe's head and he had to make a running and jumping rugby style kick to avoid being blocked, he tore his right ACL when he landed after the kick. Kicker Paul Edinger was the punter for the remainder of the game, but a few days later the Vikings signed 42-year-old veteran Darren Bennett for 1 week. Kluwe then returned to play the final 3 games of the 2005 season with a torn ACL in his kicking leg, which prompted his then coach Mike Tice to reply to a reporter's question about Kluwe's injury that "My punter is a tough guy."

 

[Tony2046]

How about this...Windbag Billick ain't even a real head coach...."we got Brian Billick here!!...he's available for ANY head coaching gig...anybody???? anyone want Brian Billick to coach their team?? How about you, University Of Butte Barfaloes, you want Brian Billick as your head coach?? OK, we'll entertain kiddie league positions..anybody? It's Brian Billick...you all know him....he's the guy who figured out to play Ray Lewis at linebacker...he's a genius!...anybody????

I hate these ex-has been blowhards pontificating on subjects while possessing the brain power of a common wood tick.

Brian Billick = Lester Munson.

 

[Bella*chick]

Kickers aren't football players just seems like an extension of the notion that special teams is somehow lesser and shouldn't be paid as much attention. I KNOW BB disagrees with this and coaches who disregard special teams do so at their own peril.

 

[RayClay]

Lou Groza, Tom Tupa, Tom Yewcic.

 

[Clonamery]

How about this...Windbag Billick ain't even a real head coach...."we got Brian Billick here!!...he's available for ANY head coaching gig...anybody???? anyone want Brian Billick to coach their team?? How about you, University Of Butte Barfaloes, you want Brian Billick as your head coach?? OK, we'll entertain kiddie league positions..anybody? It's Brian Billick...you all know him....he's the guy who figured out to play Ray Lewis at linebacker...he's a genius!...anybody????

I hate these ex-has been blowhards pontificating on subjects while possessing the brain power of a common wood tick.

Jeezus, why you putting down the poor ol' wood tick?

 

[dannydyn]

I voted for ....

Yes, kickers are essentially a different breed of athletes that you have to treat differently

Some football players kick...and some kickers play football. I think the latter is the norm.

Ndomonkong Suh says hi...

 

[archstanton543]

Is Brian Billick currently coaching a football team? If not, I guess he has no plans on being one in the future as all his kickers and punters are going to do is miss all the time just to mess with him.

 

[Joker]

smarter than Billick =