They aren't really players, though they
appear on each team's roster every
weekend. Many are aloof, a condition
caused by their specialness.
But one thing is for sure, they are
needed. They provide the difference
between wins and losses and there isn't a
position on the field, other than
quarterback, where the focus is so great.
The difference between staying with a
team or heading to life on the street is a
missed game-winning kick.
Kickers come and go, floating between
venues, failing at one place and sticking at
another. Many have found failure a
blessing, sending them to a more
conducive setting.
Through the first month Packers kicker
Ryan Longwell missed just once. Tampa
Bay's Martin Grammatica was perfect, but
it has been the story of Brett Conway
which has intrigued us all.
Highly drafted out of Penn State three
years ago, the Packers thought they had
landed a good one.
Call it nerves or call it something else,
Conway was terrible in the pre-season and
paid for it dearly.
After a particularly poor outing during
those early games, Conway worked so hard
trying to correct his accuracy a pulled
thigh muscle resulted. He sat out the entire
season on injured reserve before attempting
a comeback last year. Ironically, he was
was beaten out by Longwell.
Conway wasn't ready for the street and
continued to rehabilitate his leg. He
eventually landed on the Redskins' practice
squad, before winning the main job.
The Packer connection between
Longwell and Conway isn't an isolated
case. Several former Packer kickers are
still in the league and flourishing.
In the first few weeks of this season,
league standings were dominated by
former Packers. The names Chris Jacke,
Conway, and Al Del Greco continued to be
some of the most prominent.
In addition to Jacke, Conway, and Del
Greco, the Packers also had Giants kicker
Brad Daluiso and punters Craig Hentrich
and Sean Lendetta on their roster.
Does that mean the Packers have made
bad mistakes? No, it seems it is the nature
of the business. The volatility of the
position makes it one of the more unstable
occupations in the world.
Kickers may not have to worry much
about the physical aspect of the game, but
the emotional stress of wondering when
your chance will arrive has got to be mind
bending.
It takes a special breed to kick in the
NFL and every team has that special
player. The journey of a kicker's life is also
special.
The fraternity, the brotherhood of
kickers brings a unique dimension to the
game of football - men who have so much
power, but little control.
Many of today's top kickers passed
through Green Bay, just like many of those
same kickers went through Philadelphia,
Dallas (Richie Cunningham), and
Washington, and a slough of other cities.
Every team releases a player, be they
kicker or quarterback, that goes on to
succeed in other cities. There are many
factors involved in who makes the team
and sometimes people just don't fit in.
The fact of the matter is sometimes you
just don't know. It was just a few years ago
the Packers also had Kurt Warner on their
roster, but they also had Brett Favre.
The uncertainty of player movement
has altered the predictability factor. A few
years ago, the prognosticator could say at
the beginning of the season the Cowboys
were going to win the Super Bowl - and
they did.
Today, the free movement of players
has voided any chance for a dynasty. For
me that facet of the business only makes
the game that much more interesting. It
connects the league with players who are
experienced in their craft and helps to bind
teams and fans together in a unique feeling
of one.
Being a fan of a particular team seems
to be stronger than ever, but more people
are becoming NFL fans, tending to follow
players on other teams.
Which gets us back to Brett Conway.
Here is a kicker who exemplifies
everything that's good about life.
Determination, perseverence, faith. Those
were qualities which Chris Jacke, Al Del
Greco, Craig Hentrich, Brad Daluiso, and
Richie Cunningham also must have
possessed. We won't even talk about Kurt Warner - we all know what he has done. Life in the NFL is short and unpredict able, but the good stories, like the Conways and the player connections, make the jour ney that much sweeter.