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Nice photoshop work … I thought the kicker was kind of dumb, too, but maybe he’ll win the job and we’ll be able to sign him cheap for a while.

-David on Tuesday, 29 Apr 2008 at 8:13pm | Rating:     +0

Perhaps I wasn’t clear. The kicker was our second best pick. Didn’t we give up a 6th for Mare? This year, we got the best rookie kicker for a sixth. one who will score points for us in the very first game. production!

i didn’t do the photoshop work, i stole it from the saints’ webpage.

-Kent on Tuesday, 29 Apr 2008 at 9:46pm | Rating:     -1

i really wanted a speedy corner, which i think we coulda got if we had not traded down. i also can’t help but think that anyone who deal with the patriots is going to come out on the short end of the stick. i don’t see how that will happen this time, but it’s just something in the back of my head. I’m also happy they took at Husker, even if it’s one with off-field issues.

-mrunstoppable on Wednesday, 30 Apr 2008 at 7:37am | Rating:     +0

It makes a lot more sense to waste a 6th rounder on a rookie than to pay a decent veteran $14.2 million over five years, which is what the Rams did with Brown.

Nicks could be a good player some day–lots of size–and is a great project for a 5th round pick.

-Dennis on Wednesday, 30 Apr 2008 at 10:12am | Rating:     +0

Josh Brown is a reliable kicker, though. A known commodity. If he can kick well in Seattle, he’ll certainly be able to kick well inside the Rams’ stadium. Plus, you took him from a division rival.

Last year, to get Mare, we traded a sixth to the Dolphins and paid him $1.5 million base salary. Here’s what we knew about Mare before we acquired him:
Mare completed just 72.2 percent of his field goal tries last season and was 1-6 on tries beyond 50 yards. In fact, for his career, Mare has only completed 46.7 percent of his attempts from that distance. – from an article published April of last year.

Also, in looking up this kicker info, I discovered that the Seahawks replaced Brown with Mare. It’s win-win for the Rams!

-Kent on Wednesday, 30 Apr 2008 at 11:17am | Rating:     +0

That being said, the Rams still suck.

-Kent on Wednesday, 30 Apr 2008 at 11:23am | Rating:     +0

I thought the word was the Grammatica would do the field goals and the new one would handle kickoffs. I cannot believe Mare wound up anywhere. He should be with Aaron Brookes.

-Marnie on Wednesday, 30 Apr 2008 at 1:13pm | Rating:     +0

I also understand that a kicker has not been selected in the draft since Morten Andersen.

-Marnie on Wednesday, 30 Apr 2008 at 1:15pm | Rating:     +0

I think that 2-3 kickers get drafted every year. Back in 2000, the Raiders actually wasted a first rounder on Janikowski, who has managed to stay on the team and out of jail ever since.

-Dennis on Wednesday, 30 Apr 2008 at 1:43pm | Rating:     +0

Ah, I get it now, Marnie, you were talking about the Saints not having drafted one. Sorry about that.

-Dennis on Wednesday, 30 Apr 2008 at 1:45pm | Rating:     +0

Man we shoulda just sold the 6th pick and picked up whichever ancient kicker was on the waiver wire.

-Earnest Williams on Wednesday, 30 Apr 2008 at 2:52pm | Rating:     +0

We tried ancient kicker last year. He cost us games.

Hopefully Mehlhaff will be able to kick field goals, and we can get rid of Gramatica. Nick Folk and Mason Crosby did absolutely fine last year. (they were also sixth round picks).

I know I seem stuck on kickers, but it’s important. How many game get decided by three points or less? How many points per game do kickers score? 5? I bet its more like 7 points per game.

-Kent on Wednesday, 30 Apr 2008 at 4:04pm | Rating:     +0

Bottom line……we NEED a good kicker!

-Marnie on Wednesday, 30 Apr 2008 at 4:07pm | Rating:     +0

You and your mom are completely hung up on kickers. It pains me to say this.

-mrunstoppable on Thursday, 1 May 2008 at 7:38am | Rating:     +0

I admit it, I am. It’s a position that is often ignored. But look at it this way. Kickers score points. It takes three players for a kicker to score points: long snapper, holder, kicker. Sure there are other guys on the field, but there are three “special” players on the field to get three points. Since the holder is usually a backup QB or a punter, let’s say two “special” players. These two guys have one job: score three points or one point (yes, and kickoff). How many players does it take to score a touchdown? Now I’m not saying scoring touchdowns is important. It surely is.

But you shouldn’t relegate a points-scoring position to “just some scrub out of free agency.” Invest in the position and get consistency at that phase of the game. It’s easy. You need two specialized guys. Get those guys and keep them for a long time.

John Madden has stated very clearly, the team with the most points at the end of the game wins. Why NOT care about kickers?

-Kent on Thursday, 1 May 2008 at 8:56am | Rating:     +0

That is my boy!!! I love football talk!!! Look how many times we have lost a game (or won one) because of a kicker. Morten Anderson is a prime example. Spend the money….invest in a good one!!!!

-Marnie on Thursday, 1 May 2008 at 12:05pm | Rating:     +0

And of course, kicker is one of the best positions to get a Brit on your roster. NFL teams need more British kickers.

-Greg on Thursday, 1 May 2008 at 5:37pm | Rating:     +0