Bucs ink kicker Nugent to deal

Here's an interesting move by the Bucs.

The team just announced the signing of former Jets K Mike Nugent, a second-round pick in 2005, to a one-year deal. He'll join Matt Bryant, who is coming off a solid season interrupted by the death of his infant son.

It's not clear what today' s move means for either player. But at the very least, it appears the Bucs will take stock of their place-kicking situation this offseason and likely decide between the two candidates.

Nugent has made 75 of 92 career field-goal attempts (.815) and 83 of 85 extra points. He missed nearly all of 2008 after sustaining an injury in the season opener.

Nugent's career-long kick is a 54-yarder converted in 2006 at gusty Giants Stadium.  At Ohio State, he was named the 2004 Lou Groza Award winner, given to the nation's top collegiate kicker.

While Bryant was perfect inside 40 yards in 2008, he was much less reliable on kicks attempted from 40 yards or longer, going 5 of 11. For his career, Bryant is 37 of 57 (.650) from 40 yards or longer. Nugent is 20 of 31 (.645) in his career on such attempts.

Comments

[Vincent]

I can't see any logic in this? This is an unbelievably insensitive decision. The man lost his son, and he still soldiered on! Now the organization brings in another kicker forcing him to prove himself. "Winning at all costs" is not the way to build a team. Knowing that you would gladly "sacrifice all for the sake of one", is the way! Normally people "post" and want to hear approval and gather support for their point of view. In this case I want others to tell me how wrong I am! I want to hear that Bryant was not accurate, that he was a "me first" kind of guy, and that the team is making the best decision!

What free agents are going to want to come to Tampa now? Would you want to work for a company that fired you after you showed up to work after the loss of your newborn? I just can't believe this, and all apologies if the comment is too coarse for some readers.

[Cinemike]

The way I see it, this isn't such a bad move. This isn't about Bryant's shortcomings. It's about making every position better through competition. It's a signal to all players, saying don't get to comfortable, you have to earn your position on this team regardless of what you've done in the past...

[Chugalug]

Easy Vinnie,

It's called competition bud. If you don't have guys competeing for their spots, your team is not getting any better. Last time I checked he was still on the roster and hadn't been "fired". It's like every other position, the best man should have the job. I'm hoping it's Matt as well, but we'll have to see once training camp rolls around.

[Chugalug]

*competing

[Chugalug]

And it's supposedly only a 1-year deal for the 5th-year veteran minimum, which by no way means he guaranteed a job.

[Lee]

I understand the competition for Bryant---but why? The guy had a great season.

RESIGNING JERRAMY STEVENS? Why? The team has Winslow-Gilmore-Smith.

I THOUGHT THIS TEAM WAS GOING TO REGAIN SOME CLASS AFTER GRUDEN & ALLEN LEAVING.

THIS IS WHY I CANCELED MY SEASON TICKETS AND IGNORED ALL CALLS TO ADD TICKETS BACK.

[Henry]

Everybody knows that Bryant is an accurate kicker and a high character guy. But he is a liability on kickoffs. More often than not, they're short. May the best man win.

[Chugalug]

sorry.. can't type today *he's

[mm]

Can he play linebacker?

[D Block]

Wow i didn't see it coming but i was waiting to see who would sign Nugent he has a great leg and is a good kicker. Nugent 27 Bryant 34? I don't know maybe the bucs feel bryant has lost a little leg. At the end of the day it's Raheem's team now and he is bringing in the players he wants. I know Bryant lost his son and i can't phantom the thought of loosing 1 of my own sons but playing on the field was a good thing for him. It would have really hurt him not to play and take his mind off of it for a few hrs at a time. Is Nugent the better kicker? I know he has a stronger leg at this point of both of there careers. Insensitive maybe but if Raheem looses games no one here will care how you loose it's the fact that you lost. So if i'm Raheem im going to win or loose on my own terms.

[Erick]

Not a bad decision at all. You have to put aside all the personal stuff and think about playing winning football. Bryant is a decent kicker, but ohter than that miracle 62-yarder he is not good from long range. Everyone is always saying competition is good (like in McCown's case) so why not challenge the man a bit?

[D Block]

It's nothing like healthy competition!

[D Block]

I'm upset with the local reporters no one seen or heard anything about this. Get on your gossiping jobs where are the rumors? Do you have anyone at the Airports? Get on your jobs down there in Tampa!! You should have seen something did Greer land in tampa? Barnes? Bodden? McCallister? where r the reporters?

[CNB]

I think MM makes a good point, can he play linebacker? Isn't Greer visiting today? Why haven't we not locked him up? With two very good kickers maybe we are going to introduce the NFL to the wildcat kicker formation,lol.

[skp]

bryant was pretty poor on kickoffs and from beyond 45 yards or so....doesn't hurt to have competition; tragedy doesn't make a player untouchable, and there is enough lousy kicking that goes on in the NFL to ensure the matt will be on somebody's roster even if nugent beats him out in tampa.

[jackpc]

I agree with skp's comments. Football is a game of field advantage. As much as I admire Bryant as a man and a father, his skills especially in kickoffs are becoming a liability, and last year his 40+ yard FG attempts made him suspect forcing the team to take chances on 4th down from the 35 to 40 yard line. I like the competition.

[OAR]

Hey why do we even need a kicker? I thought with this new offense we would only be scoring tds.

[Dr. Peter Ripterhymen]

Some of you are about as rational as a PMSing woman ... maybe some of you are?

so a guy should be guaranteed his spot because of a tragedy that happened in his personal life?

get a grip people

[OAR]

Dr. Peter, maybe Byrant should be looked at as a kicker that had an devastingly imotional/shocking death to his child and still performed at 85% kicking. It's how he handled and produced afterwards, kinda like Farve having a game of his career after his father dying. So give us a little doubt would you. Talk about giving it for the team.

[IMISS_No47]

More touchback's baby!

[TriplePlay]

The only this makes sense is if Nugent is better at kickoffs than Bryant. From what I can tell it's almost dead even.

Why?????

If Nugent is a relative of Ted Nugent then power Bro.

Stranglehold should become a new theme at the RJ.

[Robert]

This is a great move. I think Bryant is a stand up guy and one of few kickers in this league that can be looked at as a leader. The fact of the matter is that we lost games last season because Bryant could not hit a long FG. He also almost never gets the ball inside the end zone on kick offs. I hope this inspires him and he works on his leg srength for kicking off and his accuracy on his longer FG's. I hope he does win the job, but if he doesn't we made an upgrade at kicker. Special Teams win and lose games.

[Robert]

Great points on both blogs D BLOCK

[OAR]

You guys do know who replaced Nugent in NY right? Jay Feely, and look he's only one year younger than Byrant. So go Byrant!
Jets K Mike Nugent declined the team's contract offer and will test the open market.
From the Newark-Star "The end of the Nugent? Herm Edwards was rightly mocked for thinking the Jets were one kicker away from a title, spending a second-round pick on Nugent in 2005. They were rewarded with four mediocre seasons. Jay Feely, also a free agent, is expected to re-sign as the Jets kicker."

[Garick]

Because these guys have almost identical stats, this makes no sense. I agree with Vincent. And if it's about competition, the last thing you want is to mess with is these guys fragile psyches. Totally makes no sense.

[Larry]

Remember the Godfather rule - it ain't personal, it's just business.

Bryant is a quality guy who handled himself with more class than most of us could muster while dealing with a devastating tragedy. That said, does this earn him a free pass - alas, not in the NFL.

Based on activity to date I don't see the Bucs winning many games 10-7, but they may well win a few 31-28!

[ref813]

I haven't seen this guy kick much, but we need someone who can force more touchbacks. I don't care if we have to get a P to kick off. Someone has to force some touchbacks. Bryant's leg appears to be on the decline. Nugent is still young. He should help. Their accuracy is similar based on the numbers. I'd bet Nugent will help with the field position battle, though.

[Steven]

Gosh, it's pretty simple. Our field position was terrible last year plain and simple. FG's were ok, but not great. Here's some competition for an aged kicker. And for goodness sake, keep the sentimentality out of it. He was supported by the team last year as he should have been. It's been a while now. They don't "owe" him anything else at this point.

[Greg285]

Youth movement continues and I like the move..Field position was horrible...

[Nick]

Got you in a Stranglehold Baby...Oh wait thats Ted.

[shane]

Great job Dominik, only 30 million more annual dollars to spend just to get up to the min cap league requirements!

[Ferenczy]

...bye bye Phillip Buchanon, next...?

[DR]

I thought it was Bryant? What he had to go through last year was horrible, that goes without saying, but if Nugent comes here and beats him out then he needs to go. I don't think anyone's job is safe on this team except for Winslow who has no competition.

[Miami Vex]

they are probably trying out his tallent for the soccer team... if he can kick a football just imagine what he can do to a soccr ball

[Miami Vex]

By the way Steven your an !@$#^@$%^

[conradbuff]

dont complain about potential upgrades maybe bryant breaks his leg in training camp nugent has the potential to be the top kicker in the league

[bucfaninphx]

Stephen Holder-

here's something unrelated to this story and may be too early to say but who gets to wear #80 (clayton /winslow) and #34 (graham /ward)? they all should make the team .Just curious....

[George]

For those who have anything negative to say about this move, I ask WHY? One year contract, minimum salary, provides competition. If he wins the job because he's better, then great... If he doesn't then nothing is lost.

This is a zero risk signing with a potentially nice payoff. What is the problem?

[conradbuff]

grahm 34 clayton 80 the current players keep their #s unless the new player buys it

[bucfaninphx]

conradbuff-thanks for the response...just wanted to talk about something else besides the somewhat frustrating free agency...with clayton technically being a free agent and signing after winslow does he still get it?

[aj]

No, technically Clayton was always a Buc, since he never signed a contract with another team, so the number is his.

The number may be a big deal to Kellen, as his father played with the same number. Also, Kellen was #81 at UM and Alex Smith already has that one. So, it's possible he may make Clayton an offer.

Clayton was #14 at LSU. Cortez Hankton has that number now for the Bucs. He is a free agent wide receiver. I doubt he is a priority for the team to sign.

[OAR]

Michael "couldn't catch a cold if he licked a walk-in clinics floor" Clayton.

[Mike/Orlando]

With the 1st overall pick in the 2010 NFL DRAFT The Tampa Bay Buccaneers select ???????