About Tucker: He Never Missed a Critical Kick

**BcRaven** · 08-28-2012, 01:34 PM

Originally Posted by trailhiker85

(a) I was glad to see Tucker beat out Cundiff. Billy was very, very good in camp by all accounts but Tucker was better. And that's the essence of competition. The coaches made the right call.

(b) That said, I hope fans don't get unrealistic expectations about Justin Tucker. He is going to have misses, and at some point probably a big one (though hopefully never as big as Cundiff in the AFCCG!). We don't know how he'll do over the course of a full NFL season in all kinds of weather. I think what we should look for with Tucker is for him to hopefully carry over the consistency he had in college to an NFL career. If he can kick for a high percentage inside the 50 and a decent percentage in the 50-55 yard range, I don't think anyone can ask for more. Tucker seems to have the potential to become one of the premier kickers in the league, and we all hope that's what happens. But this is only the beginning of his journey. Only time will tell how he does. But I'm excited to have him on the team.

(a) I couldn't agree more... Bc

(b) We part company here. I do have "unrealistic expectations" for Tucker, otherwise why not keep Cundiff? I think he has a strong leg, seems cool under fire, and we will be more than happy that he's our kicker. But we do agree that we're excited to have him on the team... Bc

**JAB1985** · 08-28-2012, 01:49 PM

Originally Posted by jonboy79

Ya I don't see that at all. Honestly, what Cundiff did was the exact DEFINITION of choking. His name will forever go down in history with Norwood, gary Anderson, Bill Buckner and Van De Velde.... He literally missed the shortest kick ever missed that ended a teams season in the playoffs...
There is literally no way to put it. The only player in the history of football that can even be considered a bigger choker is Norwood, who's missed FG cost them the SB, but missed an almost 50 yarder. He's called a choker for missing a FG that I would presume is a 60-70% league average FG, Cundiff missed a 96% league average FG try.

One FG, much like one play, does not define a player. If he always choked, yeah, id say hes a choker, but theres more games hes won for us in the closing minutes than lost. He has 7 game winners on his record. I cant really think of another that hes missed in the final minutes besides the NE one (I do think he missed 2 in one game with Dallas, resulting in his release). So has he choked? definitely (and there are other factors involved, the lack of timeout, the confusion on the field, etc.).does that define him as a player? IMO, it doesnt. people act like hes done nothing but miss FGs, especially in the clutch, because he missed that big one.

**jonboy79** · 08-28-2012, 02:16 PM

Originally Posted by JAB1985

One FG, much like one play, does not define a player. If he always choked, yeah, id say hes a choker, but theres more games hes won for us in the closing minutes than lost. He has 7 game winners on his record. I cant really think of another that hes missed in the final minutes besides the NE one (I do think he missed 2 in one game with Dallas, resulting in his release). So has he choked? definitely (and there are other factors involved, the lack of timeout, the confusion on the field, etc.).does that define him as a player? IMO, it doesnt. people act like hes done nothing but miss FGs, especially in the clutch, because he missed that big one.

That is not how History will remember Billy Cundiff.. History will remember him for choking on this kick. His name, along with Buckner's, Gary Anderson and ofcourse NORWIDE's will be synonomous with choking. It may not be FAIR, but it's true.
Another way to put it... 30-40 years from now, sitting in his rocking chair in the nursing home, I bet Cundiff spends more time thinking of the one he missed then all of his makes combined.

**Jayc00** · 08-28-2012, 02:32 PM

Originally Posted by jonboy79

That is not how History will remember Billy Cundiff.. History will remember him for choking on this kick. His name, along with Buckner's, Gary Anderson and ofcourse NORWIDE's will be synonomous with choking. It may not be FAIR, but it's true.
Another way to put it... 30-40 years from now, sitting in his rocking chair in the nursing home, I bet Cundiff spends more time thinking of the one he missed then all of his makes combined.

Yup, just like Evans. Ask somebody what do you remember about Lee Evans...the answer will be something like "He dropped the pass that would have gotten the Ravens to the Super Bowl".

**jonboy79** · 08-28-2012, 03:12 PM

Originally Posted by Jayc00

Yup, just like Evans. Ask somebody what do you remember about Lee Evans...the answer will be something like "He dropped the pass that would have gotten the Ravens to the Super Bowl".

Ya know, I don't think so. I think that will be the footnote memory of some but not many. It will go the way of the Calvin Schiraldi's and Bob Stanley's of the 86 Red Sox. The "Buckner-esque" moment is Billy's along. Now in both instances that one moment wasn't the win/lose moment it will be remembered as... The sox and Mets still had another game... Now in this instance it was the final nail as opposed to Buckner, but in both cases other plays caused the swing of momentum that drove off a cliff after their play.

**Tspot-D-Ravenator** · 08-28-2012, 07:29 PM

Cundiff has now kicked for9 NFL teams!!!!! That should send red flags to any team.

**elland** · 08-28-2012, 07:50 PM

Originally Posted by Tspot-D-Ravenator

Cundiff has now kicked for9 NFL teams!!!!! That should send red flags to any team.

Try four.

**Tspot-D-Ravenator** · 08-28-2012, 08:05 PM

Originally Posted by elland

Try four.

so much for believing radio show hosts

**Jayc00** · 08-28-2012, 08:07 PM

He's now been on nine teams, however he's only actually played/"kicked" for four. The others I believe he was cut before the season started.

**Tspot-D-Ravenator** · 08-28-2012, 08:15 PM

Originally Posted by Jayc00

He's now been on nine teams, however he's only actually played/"kicked" for four. The others I believe he was cut before the season started.

I hate to be given the wrong info...Thanks for the back-up, Jay

**Maelstrom** · 08-28-2012, 11:21 PM

From wikipedia so it must be accurate, right?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Cundiff

Dallas Cowboys
He played four seasons with the Dallas Cowboys from 2002 to 2005.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers
On February 15, 2006, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed Cundiff to a contract but released him after kicker Matt Bryant was re-signed.

Green Bay Packers
Cundiff signed with the Green Bay Packers on March 28, 2006 and was expected to compete with Dave Rayner for the starting kicking position before being cut by Green Bay on August 17, 2006.

New Orleans Saints
On November 22, 2006, the New Orleans Saints signed Cundiff as a kickoff specialist, easing the workload of John Carney.

Atlanta Falcons
After being released by the Saints, Cundiff signed with the Atlanta Falcons on May 4, 2007, but was released at the end of the preseason after losing the starting job to Matt Prater.

Kansas City Chiefs
In January 2008, Cundiff was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs to a two-year contract. He was released prior to the regular season.

Detroit Lions
Cundiff was signed by the Detroit Lions on August 26, 2009 after an injury to placekicker Jason Hanson. He was cut on September 5, 2009.

Cleveland Browns
Cundiff was signed by the Cleveland Browns on September 26, 2009 after an injury to placekicker Phil Dawson. In week 5 of the 2009 NFL season, Cundiff hit the game-winning field goal to help the Browns beat the Buffalo Bills, 6-3. He was waived on November 3, 2009.

Baltimore Ravens
We know the score here.

Cundiff was released by the Ravens on August 26, 2012.

Washington Redskins
Cundiff was signed by the Washington Redskins on August 28, 2012.

Predictions on when he gets cut by the Skins?