The Chiefs Kickers Just Got More Competition

by Chris on Aug 25, 2008 4:25 PM CDT in 2008 Preseason Comment 31 comments

Say hello to Jay Feely. H/T to UCrawford in the FanPosts.

Feely (5-10, 206) has played in 112 regular season games with Atlanta (2001-04), the N.Y. Giants (2005-06) and Miami (2007). He has converted 177 of 219 field goals (80.8%) and 249 of 251 PATs (99.2%) for 780 points. He has also appeared in six postseason contests, connecting on eight of 11 FGs (72.7%) and all 12 of his PATs for 36 points.

That makes three kickers on the Kansas City Chiefs roster, as of right now. Neither Nick Novak nor Connor Barth distinguished themselves in the offseason and preseason. And with Novak missing the only field goal attempt during Saturday's game, bringing in a veteran was a no-brainer for the coaching staff.

The roster has to be trimmed to 75 players by tomorrow afternoon so expect either Barth or Novak to get the boot.

0 recs | Comment 31 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Bye Bye Novak

The dude’s played for three years and hasn’t been good, so I’d suspect Novak’s the one getting the axe while Connor Barth heads for the practice squad (and a quick callup if Feely’s leg goes south).

Supporting the lesser of two evils is still supporting something evil.

by UCrawford on Aug 25, 2008 4:32 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Are kickers on the PS very often?

I’d be surprised if we used up a spot on him.

Kickers are what they are. The top kicker and the bottom kicker aren’t much different.

by primetime 07 on Aug 25, 2008 6:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah I dont think they put a kicker on the PS

Just makes no sense. There’s tons of kickers out there. Everybody was pulling for Barth because he was the underdog, but there was nothing special about him.

by ChiefDJ on Aug 25, 2008 6:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I Beg To Differ

He set most of the kicking records for North Carolina HS football (where he was also an all-state punter), he hit over 90% of his field goals his junior and senior year and except for the first half of his sophomore year he was nothing short of outstanding during his college career. Like I said, I think the kid’s got ability.

And yes, you can add kickers to the practice squad. They tried to do it with Medlock last year.

Supporting the lesser of two evils is still supporting something evil.

by UCrawford on Aug 25, 2008 7:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hey, I agree he has potential

I’m just saying that there are lots of kickers out there with potential and theres Barth hasn’t shown anything that is so special about him that you don’t think you could get it from any number of guys. I like the guy, but hes a FG kicker, not a WR or QB.

A lot of kickers bounce around a couple years before they really hit their stride. It’s just like everything else, you get better over time. Heck, look at Jay Feelys accuracy stats throughout his career. The first couple years he was in the mid 70s, but he gradually improved each year and last year was over 90%.

I’m not saying Barth will never be a good kicker. Hell, for all we know Medlock could come back in a year or two and be the best kicker in the league.

I just think that in the situation the Chiefs are in right now where we know they are going to struggle and they have all these young emotional players, that you want to have an almost guarantee of getting points on the board when you have the opportunity. I just don’t think its in the best interest of the team overall to go with a rookie kicker right now.

by ChiefDJ on Aug 25, 2008 7:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Medlock

No…I think that kid’s always going to suck. :) He wasn’t even that good in college. He had one year where he had a really good field goal percentage but that’s only because about half of his field goals were within 30 yards.

Supporting the lesser of two evils is still supporting something evil.

by UCrawford on Aug 25, 2008 7:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Rams

Didn’t I see him on the Rams roster the other day? Maybe we’ll get to see him miss one or two Thursday, if he’s still there (I would imagine that will be the last game he’s with them). I really wanted him to be good, but honestly I agree with you, I think he just sucks and always will =)

by KCFanatic on Aug 25, 2008 8:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Smart move

Feely isn’t outstanding by any stretch, but you know you’re going to get a fairly consistent kicker out of him.

Visit FanIQ.com for sports news, bloggings, polls, and more!

by MrNFL on Aug 25, 2008 4:43 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Thank you Jesus!

I feel much better about everything today, and this is just the icing on the cake. Standing O!

by Ridiculous Matt on Aug 25, 2008 4:46 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Woo-hoo!

Who need FA signings in the spring anyway?
(Regardless of how Feely performs, it looks like a smart move at this time.)

by sunny D on Aug 25, 2008 5:03 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

3 kickers until cut day

FG Kicker is one of those positions you don’t skimp on. With as terrible of luck as the Chiefs have had over the years with kickers, they need to just bundle Feely up and forget about the position for a few years. That is, unless Feelys groin problem isnt healed up yet, and then you might keep one of the other guys around till next week.

by ChiefDJ on Aug 25, 2008 5:14 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Barth

Please let them keep Barth.

I’m telling you, that kid’s going to be really good if someone gives him a chance.

Supporting the lesser of two evils is still supporting something evil.

by UCrawford on Aug 25, 2008 5:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe

But if we have a guy that can make the kicks, why are we worried about it?

I like Barth too, but like most Kickers in the league, he will probably get better with time. This team that is probably going to struggle to put points on the board simply can’t afford the morale blow that comes from a missed field goal.

I like Barth a lot too, but the only thing that matters is that when we set up to kick a FG that its pretty much automatic. We can always bring Barth or some other young gun in to challenge for the job at the beginning of next year.

by ChiefDJ on Aug 25, 2008 5:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

So Far The Kid's Been Solid

The 46 yarder he missed was extremely close, beyond that he’s only botched one kick. For a rookie kicker that’s outstanding. And while Feely’s not exactly old for a kicker, he’s also not exactly young, so I think he’s a bit of a short-term solution.

Supporting the lesser of two evils is still supporting something evil.

by UCrawford on Aug 25, 2008 7:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

He was still making 50+ yard FGs last year

He still has a couple years left in him and who knows who else comes around in that time.

by ChiefDJ on Aug 25, 2008 7:34 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

agreed

Great in college under pressure… clutch kicker… shakes off misses and moves on.

It’s been a while since we’ve had a clutch kicker. I hope Barth makes the cut and finds a way to make the team.

by Ochophosphate on Aug 25, 2008 10:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

If only

Every player had the spirit of Louie Aguiar.

by Chris on Aug 25, 2008 11:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I disagree

FG Kicker is one of those positions you don’t skimp on.

Kickers really don’t make much of a difference if you look at the end of the season stats.

by primetime 07 on Aug 25, 2008 6:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Beg to differ

Nobody cares about the kicker until the game is on the line. Then that one guy gets to determine the outcome of the season for the entire team, coaches and fans.

If you got a guy that can make all the kicks, you hang on to him.

by ChiefDJ on Aug 25, 2008 6:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Chiefs fans, of all people, should know the importance of a good FG kicker...

I don’t need to name any names do I?

by KCFanatic on Aug 25, 2008 8:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

You mean Nick Novak right?

I can’t remember any other Chiefs kicker who missed a field goal.. My kicker memory is short.

by Chris on Aug 25, 2008 11:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

That is one problem

which is a little closer to being solved.

by G.L. on Aug 25, 2008 5:28 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

IamtheGreatest is the greatest...!

If you go back and look at my fan posts two or three weeks ago I told you Feely had been cut and i said we had to get our hands on this guy….IS he the greatest kicker ever? no. but is he a more consistent kicker than we have had in awhile? Heck yes! I’m not trying to show boat or brag but the chiefs did exactly what i said they should do and i feel pretty good right now…
~IamtheGreatest

by IamtheGreatest on Aug 25, 2008 6:00 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

If you look at the end of the season stats good kickers usally lead the team in points scored…..just throwing that out there

by IamtheGreatest on Aug 25, 2008 6:14 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Feely is a hot head and he has a huge ego.

He should fit right in with the Chiefs.

by Baker Wildcat on Aug 25, 2008 6:34 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

He's the kicker

Who gives a crap?

by ChiefDJ on Aug 25, 2008 6:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

yeah

’cause they have so much to have huge egos about. :rolleyes:

by PVChiefsfan on Aug 25, 2008 9:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

This is a good move.

As I watched our Preseason wreck against Miami, the “kicker” was the missed kick by Novak! We all know what problems the Chiefs are coming into this season with, and so far it seems like we have done little to fix them. Hothead or not, I hope Feely sticks, and if nothing else it will be cool to hear Berman sing his “Feely” song on Primetime! I hate kickers too, but you still need a good one. I personally will never forget how many times Jason Elam kicked a game winner against us! Damn, your right…I REALLY hate kickers!

by TheQ on Aug 25, 2008 9:18 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs