Report: Patriots To Release Stephen Gostkowski

[Mack Herron]

I’m ready and waiting by the phone.

 

[Patsfanin Philly]

2nd round ... it's where Bill usually has a brain cramp.

Luckily that won't be an issue this year unless they trade up or down (Sanu)

 

[stcjones]

Not surprised here of course but sad to lose such a tremendous overall kicker and a Great Patriot!!!! Won’t forget him....just like Adam!!’Thanks for everything you did for Pats Gost and best wishes for the future!!!!

 

[FreeTedWilliams]

Use one of the late 3rds on Rodrigo Blankenship.

 

[PlainOldEd]

Don’t know about that. People on here were trashing the idea of releasing him.

Has there ever been an idea on here that someone wasn't trashing?

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Now it makes even less sense.

EDIT: Apparently there is offset language for this guarantee, so if another team signs him, whatever they pay him offsets this $2M. That said, it's quite likely he'll only get the minimum salary (a bit over $1M), which means the Pats would save about $1.9M.

 

[Wilfork#75]

Use one of the late 3rds on Rodrigo Blankenship.

I know Blankenship is the big name at K in this draft and has a bit of a cult following because of his look. To me though the best K in the draft is Tyler Bass from Georgia Southern. The kid has a monster leg, consistently hits from 50+ yards and is an excellent kickoff man. I wouldn’t be shocked to see him go in the 4th round.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

I know Blankenship is the big name at K in this draft and has a bit of a cult following because of his look. To me though the best K in the draft is Tyler Bass from Georgia Southern. The kid has a monster leg, consistently hits from 50+ yards and is an excellent kickoff man. I wouldn’t be shocked to see him go in the 4th round.

The only potential stumbling block for Bass is size (BB prefers bigger kickers; Bass is roughly Olszewski's size).

 

[Froob]

So it only saves 780k? It might cost us more to have a guy like Folk than it would to keep Gostowski. Strange move considering.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

So it only saves 780k? It might cost us more to have a guy like Folk than it would to keep Gostowski. Strange move considering.

I have edited my post.

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

Let’s not forget Belichick decided to go for a 4th & 13 instead of letting Ghost kick a 48 yard field bowl in the 2007 seasons Super Bowl.

On turf.

Indoors.

Less than fifty yards.

In a close game.

With everything on the line.

Ghost was fine.

Not hurt.

Healthy.

Active.


All this went through my mind at the time, along with the cardinal rule of football:

Don't ever take points off the scoreboard

...which is what you do to yourself when you pass up an easily makeable field goal in favor of a fourth down and needlessly improbable.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

All this went through my mind at the time, along with the cardinal rule of football:

Don't ever take points off the scoreboard

...which is what you do to yourself when you pass up an easily makeable field goal in favor of a fourth down and needlessly improbable.

As an aside, I think it was also Belichick's tendency to try to not rely on younger players if he can rely on veterans instead (e.g., Shane Vereen being inactive in 2011). If Gostkowski misses that kick (and, BTW, a 48-yarder, at that point in his career, was a 50-50 proposition), it probably ends his career.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

BiLlZ a GeNiUs
TwElVe AnD fOuR
gO sTiDdY!!!

 

[supafly]

Strap on the goggles. We’re going to select Blankenship next month in the draft.

 

[supafly]

On turf.

Indoors.

Less than fifty yards.

In a close game.

With everything on the line.

Ghost was fine.

Not hurt.

Healthy.

Active.


All this went through my mind at the time, along with the cardinal rule of football:

Don't ever take points off the scoreboard

...which is what you do to yourself when you pass up an easily makeable field goal in favor of a fourth down and needlessly improbable.

Certainly one of the more questionable decisions of the Belichick era, no doubt.

 

[captain stone]

On turf.

Indoors.

Less than fifty yards.

In a close game.

With everything on the line.

Ghost was fine.

Not hurt.

Healthy.

Active.


All this went through my mind at the time, along with the cardinal rule of football:

Don't ever take points off the scoreboard

...which is what you do to yourself when you pass up an easily makeable field goal in favor of a fourth down and needlessly improbable.

Technically, the playing surface was grass, but the remainder of the point stands.

 

[supafly]

Strap on the goggles. We’re going to select Blankenship next month in the draft.

No reason to be sad, Captain. It would be a great young leg. He’s the best kicker in the draft, and boy, does he boom it.

 

[captain stone]

No reason to be sad, Captain. It would be a great young leg. He’s the best kicker in the draft, and boy, does he boom it.

I'm tired of seeing Billy waste draft capital on Specialists...Let him sign here as a UDFA, like the OVERWHELMING MAJORITY of Ks/Ps/LSs do...

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

As an aside, I think it was also Belichick's tendency to try to not rely on younger players if he can rely on veterans instead (e.g., Shane Vereen being inactive in 2011). If Gostkowski misses that kick (and, BTW, a 48-yarder, at that point in his career, was a 50-50 proposition), it probably ends his career.

He made a 52 yarder a year earlier, as a rookie.

In 2007, if you have a warm body dressed as your kicker, who's not injured, and you pass up a 48 yard first half attempt indoors on turf; you either wasted your time having him take up a roster spot, or you believe your special teams suck so bad that you'd rather drop your quarterback back (again) against a team whose only statistically positive quality is rushing the passer.

His career did not depend on that or any kick like that; but it did signal a fatal trend in Belichick's coaching which cost us the AFCCG in Denver years later.

 

[TheRainMaker]

Has there ever been an idea on here that someone wasn't trashing?

Good one. Lol.