Let's face facts, folks -- John Kasay was never going to play forever. Sure, the Carolina Panthers' 39-year-old place kicker has won a ton of games for this team with his left foot, but as time goes on, his kicks don't travel quite as far as they once did, and while some kickers have played well into their 40s in the NFL, those guys are few and far between.The length of Kasay's kicks is the main reason the Carolina Panthers plan to use someone new for kickoffs. Rhys Lloyd, an Englishman who specializes in booting the ball really, really far, did well in a one-game trial with Carolina last season, and he now has a chance to make the team's final roster.
While it's far from unprecedented for a team to carry three kickers on its roster, it's not exactly business as usual. Still, Kasay had a league-low two touchbacks and watched five kickoffs sail out of bounds last season, so Lloyd almost seems like a necessity for Carolina. Field position is just that important for a team that prides itself on defense. Perhaps the only question is how much longer Kasay will be the last original Panther.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-11-2008 @ 2:14PM
tony said...
check out this kicker point blank hes sick
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6-12-2008 @ 12:44AM
wizard said...
Well, while I can't argue that John is getting older, I can argue and successfully that John Kasay is no worse than ever. Kasay has had dry spells before when he couldn't hit the broad side of a barn and for a longer period of time than lately. He recovered and went on to become a nearly unbeatable kicker again. In fact, I'd like to see who else exactly in the NFL can kick with anything like the accuracy of Kasay. I've seen him hit dead center of a goal from 51 yards in a strong wind. The man is a phenomenon and I don't think that Carolina is going to put him aside just yet. There is room for Lloyd, but I wouldn't count Kasay out just yet. That would be a bit premature.
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