[Moldy Potato]

:bored:

NOLA.com

New Orleans Saints choose kicker Hartley and punter Pakulak
Posted by Mike Triplett, The Times-Picayune October 29, 2008 4:32PM

The Saints have signed kicker Garrett Hartley and punter Glenn Pakulak after auditioning several players at both positions at their practice facility on Wednesday.

"We were impressed with both Garrett and Glenn throughout the competitive sessions and we will continue to evaluate the positions closely throughout the remainder of the season," General Manager Mickey Loomis said in a press release.

Agent Mark Mersel, who represents both players, also confirmed the signings.

Hartley, 22, is an undrafted rookie out of Oklahoma. He signed with the Denver Broncos but was released before the start of training camp. It's possible that the Saints will still consider veteran options such as Dave Rayner, Billy Cundiff or Aaron Elling after they take an extended look at the rookie over the next week.

Pakulak, 28, has bounced around the league for several years, though he's never landed a regular-season gig. He was most recently with the Raiders this preseason, averaging 45 yards per punt.

[Moldy Potato]

Hartley Stats

He missed 5 extra points in his time with Oklahoma, including 3 in his senior year.

How is this an upgrade? Please, Payton, please tell us this is just a practice fill-in until Carney gets cut.

[art bell]

He will miss his first field goal by 20 yards either way. :bored:

art bell

[sainttaylor]

being beat out by Lechler in Oakland is no shame at all......

[BillyC]

Payton and company really screwed the pooch with the kicking situation in the off-season. I can't recall a team ever cutting a kicker and a punter in the same season. Who is evaluating these guys?

[StLee]

BillyC, on Oct 30 2008, 11:08 AM, said:

Payton and company really screwed the pooch with the kicking situation in the off-season. I can't recall a team ever cutting a kicker and a punter in the same season. Who is evaluating these guys?

Make that two kickers (technically, Grammatica was IR'ed, but, come on, he was going to be cut) and two punters.

[Endzone Fanatic]

Moldy Potato, on Oct 29 2008, 07:46 PM, said:

Hartley Stats

He missed 5 extra points in his time with Oklahoma, including 3 in his senior year.

How is this an upgrade? Please, Payton, please tell us this is just a practice fill-in until Carney gets cut.

Extra points should just about be automatic...5 misses is huge imho. Payton has to be biding time until Carney's cut loose.

[Moldy Potato]

Endzone Fanatic, on Oct 30 2008, 08:54 AM, said:

Extra points should just about be automatic...5 misses is huge imho. Payton has to be biding time until Carney's cut loose.

We should all pray to God that that's the case. Please, Payton, don't let your ego get in the way. We need Carney back.

[SFSF]

I can't believe there aren't better kickers available. How is this guy better than Mehlhaff? Seriously. I'm afraid our boy Payton is focusing too much on the kicker and ignoring greater problems on the team. Kickers miss fieldgoals, it's a fact. You can't go cutting them everytime they miss one (five or six, yes). This is really starting to piss me off.

I wish he were that reactionary every time JD blows his assignment or Will Smith rushes himself right out of the play. Then we'd see some improvement. Or, how about we focus on not needing a field goal to win/lose a game? :annoyed:



This is stupid.

[Harvey Hornet]

If the trading deadline had not passed, you can bet your arse the Giants would be trying to fleece a draft pick from us for Carney.

[Neekie2212]

I would rather see Methlaf struggle as a rookie than to see a veteran struggle. Methlaf hit the upright on the XP, he's not the only kicker to miss a gimme. I remember Vinitiari last year, missed a game winner for the Colts that was a gimme from XP territory.

We didn't even give Methlaf a chance to get the feel for the NFL. Sad really. :wasted:

Payton is making changes TOO fast & swift now. :doh2: Hopefully he'll even out.

[Moldy Potato]

Neekie2212, on Oct 30 2008, 03:05 PM, said:

We didn't even give Methlaf a chance to get the feel for the NFL. Sad really. :wasted:

I understand that line of thinking with other players...but kickers?

For a good kicker, should there really be much of an adjustment period from college to the NFL? A kicker's biggest opponent is himself...don't see how that changes when you move from college to the pros.