Kicks

This is an excerpt from a New York Times blog written by Toni Monkovic. I was in awe at such obsure rules of such a mainstream game. Anyway, enjoy.

Those who made it this far may remember Doug Flutie’s successful drop kick for an extra point last season – the first one in the N.F.L. in 64 years. Another rare play almost came out of the N.F.L.’s attic Sunday. Arizona was planning to try a 77-yard free kick after a fair catch at its 33 on a St. Louis punt with no time remaining.
A free kick, a variation of a field goal, can be taken on any fair catch, and a half or a game can’t end on a fair-catch punt. Arizona never had its chance because of an offsides penalty on the punt, and St. Louis won, 16-14. The N.F.L. record for a field goal is 63 yards, so how could Arizona have pulled it off?

Arizona was counting on the strong leg of Neil Rackers, a Pro Bowler who led the league in field goals last season with 40 (with only two misses). He would not have faced a rush. The kick would have been from the spot of the fair catch, not the usual 8 yards behind the line of scrimmage. Rackers would have had a full run-up to the ball, instead of the typical three steps for a field goal. The holder would have held the ball on the ground and the rest of the Cardinals would have lined up for a kickoff.

Arizona Coach Dennis Green lamented that “we didn’t get an attempt at a miracle kick by the best kicker in the game.”

Rackers told The East Valley Tribune in Arizona: “It could have happened. I would have loved a chance, but there would have been about a 5 percent chance the ball could have gone through. You can use your field goal steps, or your kickoff steps, and we would have been using every bit of our kickoff steps to get it there. It would probably have to bounce off the bar to be good.”

The last team to convert a free kick was Chicago against Green Bay in 1968. Last season, Tennessee’s Rob Bironas missed a 58-yard attempt at the end of the first half against Houston.

“We have to work on it with Rob,” Titans Coach Jeff Fisher said at the time. “He took the field goal approach, and we have to get more comfortable taking the kickoff approach so he can drive the ball a little further.”
According to Wikipedia.com, a fair-catch kick has been attempted four times in the last 42 years. Two noteworthy excerpts from Wikipedia on opportunites when free kicks were passed up:

Detroit Lions vs. Baltimore Colts, November 25, 1965. Tied at 24-24, the Lions fair caught a punt on the Baltimore 42 with 24 seconds left. However, they inexplicably decided to attempt a 50-yard FG from scrimmage rather than the 42-yard free kick; Wayne Walker’s attempt was low, nearly blocked, and came up short. The game ended in a 24-24 tie.

Dallas Cowboys vs. Atlanta Falcons, September 20, 1999. Wayne McGarity fair caught a punt on the Atlanta 47 with no time left in the first half. Dallas coach Chan Gailey knew of the rule, and had specifically instructed McGarity to fair catch the punt if it was inside the 50, but Gailey forgot that he would be able to attempt the kick with no time left on the clock. Instead, the Cowboys went to the locker room.

One additional note: Mason Crosby, Colorado’s all-American kicker, routinely kicks the ball through the uprights on kickoffs, drawing cheers from the home crowd. But two things help account for that: The air is thinner in Colorado, and college players kick off from the 35-yard line. In 1974, the N.F.L. moved kickoffs to the 35-yard line (from the 40-yard line) to reduce touchbacks, and in 1994, the kickoff was moved farther back, to the 30-yard line.

Fantasy World

First of all I must apologize for being gone for so long. I don’t think I’ve written anything for about a month, and I vow to never let that happen again. My excuse lies within a new world that I have recently discovered. That is the realm of fantasy football. Yes, you read right. So, in an attempt to combine the two, I am incorporating my studies on fantasy football into my blogging rotation. Let’s begin.
For the next few months, this will be the location to get one day old fantasy football information. I scour sports websites and digital newspapers and watch endless Sportscenter reruns in order to compile a not so complete, somewhat biased, layout of analysis and advice. Now, after three weeks of competition, I have climbed the rungs of my fantasy league, landing myself at an 0-2-1 record. So, that is the ruler by which you may measure my information. Sort of like taking shampoo advice from a bald man, it doesn’t make much sense. And by the way, I prefer Garnier Fructis Sleek and Shine, in the green bottle.
First, please a moment of silence. If you listened very carefully, you heard two things. One, the cracking of a foot bone, and two, the scream of a pathetic man who chose Shaun Alexander in the first round. Me. The 2005 MVP is out indefinitely (two to four weeks) with a broken foot. Some experts are saying this is the time to trade him while the price is still high, but I recommend hanging on, because this guy will be back and he should pile up the points before the season is over. But as of now, Mo Morris will be starting, an option if you’re desperate.
Chris Simms is still recovering from the emergency removal of his spleen after Sunday’s game. He is out indefinitely. His backup is sixth-round rookie Bruce Gradkowski. Careful picking him up, he had a good preseason, but the Bucs are already dragging in veterans like Tommy Maddox and Shaun King to give it a go. Cadillac Williams looks like he’ll get a good deal of touches if he stays healthy.
After a fumble fest, Matt Leinart is rumored to start in place of Kurt Warner for the Cardinals in week 4. Michael Vick’s numbers were not impressive against the Saints, but that was due in large to dropped balls by Alge Crumpler, who is still his number one target and still a must start. Mark Brunell has some elbow pain but shouldn’t miss any playing time. Vernon Davis, 49ers tight end, is out for a month, so back up Eric Johnson is an excellent pick up and a roster starter if you need him. Matt Jones, aka Big Slim, should be returning for week 4 play. Ron Dayne seems to have sealed up the starting job for the Texans, but should see some carries go to Samkon Gado, although Gado did not touch the ball in week 3. Jets RB Leon Washington will probably see increased playing time with his impressive performance Sunday. Frank Gore injured his ribs Sunday, but is expected to be back for week 4 and may split time with rookie Michael Robinson after failing to score on the goal line. Corey Dillon should also be back in action for week 4, but is losing ground to backup Laurence Maroney in popularity. After sitting out week 3, Reuben Droughns should also return to action for the Browns. Adam Vinatieri is iffy for week 4.
I know this is all very fast paced and quite unorganized, and in the future I promise to plan better. The injury report comes out on Wednesday, so there will be more information then. If you have any comments or fantasy questions, I will do my best to give you the 0-2-1 answer that you deserve.