The Kicker: The Forgotten Man

April 28, 2009

The Kicker. The often-overlooked little guy at the end of the bench who may never impact the game, or may have your entire season rested squarely on his extra-small shoulder pads. The men often confused with the towel boys sometimes have more responsibility than the star quarterback. They are as methodical in their preparation as the offensive coordinator, and as passionate about winning as any player on the field. Then why, much like Rodney Dangerfield, do they get no respect? The weight of the world rests on them at times and they are unnoticed, disregarded, and often unseen.

Kickers are sometimes outcasts who endure ridicule for the non-contact nature of their limited duties. They are expected to make every kick they attempt, and when they do fail, the attitude of the other players is one of contempt. "It's just kicking a ball, how hard can it be?" Yet to anyone that has attempted to kick a field goal, the skill required is something to be envied.

Up until the 1960's, the placekicker was not a specialized role. Teams often utilized their best athletes as their kickers. The "Ironman" football era was winding down. With the game becoming more and more specialized, teams were now filling roster spots devoted specifically to the kicker positions. Today, teams may even employ two placekickers, one for field goals and PAT's, and one for kickoffs, to lessen the likelihood of injury. One for accuracy, one for power. The higher the degree of competition, the more specialized the kickers become. Very often high schools will employ position players to handle the various kicking duties. When you're the star linebacker and also the kickoff specialist, you garner a little more respect from your teammates. It seems as the level of competition goes up, the respect level for kickers goes down.

There have been moments of both ends of the spectrum. Adam Vinatieri is a hero in Boston. Countless times, he has responded to adversity, rising above the challenges set forth. Each time he was expected to perform, and each time, he delivered. He has made every type of kick, from a meaningless preseason game, to kicks to win the Super Bowl, the apex of professional placekicking. He was the catalyst that allowed so many players to reach their lifelong goals. They are in his debt. He is their Fairy Godmother, allowing all their dreams to come true.

However, for every peak, there is a valley. Driving for the win, the Buffalo Bills were looking to go ahead as time was winding down against the New York Giants in Super Bowl XXV. With eight seconds remaining, their drive reached the Giants 29-yard line. Kicker Scott Norwood set up to deliver a 47-yard field goal to send the Buffalo Bills to the immortal land of Super Bowl Champions. Norwood had made countless kicks such as these before. However, the ultimate pressure in the ultimate game may have been too much for him. The ball was snapped, the hold was good, the kick was up and then... The kick seemed to hang in the air for a month. On both sidelines, the faces of players, coaches, mascots and ball boys, all tried to will the ball in their direction. In the end, the most famous kick in professional football would up wide right of the uprights, missing by just a yard. Some say the Giants willed the ball a little more than the Bills. The rest, as they say, is history. The Buffalo Bills went on to lose four consecutive Super Bowls, counting Super Bowl XXV. Norwood could not be seen in public in Buffalo. Think Bill Buckner. The entire legacy of a franchise was forever changed. Bills fans, to this day, think that if that one kick was one yard to the left, the Bills role in the story that is the NFL would be much different. Instead, whenever someone mentions "wide right," we know exactly what they are talking about.

The amount of mental toughness required to be a kicker at any level is staggering. Kickers must constantly deal with intense pressure, all the while expected to make the difficult look routine. Couple that with the overall lack of respect the position commands, and it's a wonder why anyone would want to be a kicker at all.

The truth is, some of these kickers are the toughest players, the fiercest competitors, and the hardest workers of anyone on their team, and their job is seen by some to be the most difficult as well. So the next time the kicker on your team misses a kick, try not to be so hard on him and offer some consolation. And the next time the kicker has ice water in his veins and makes the game winning field goal, raise him up on your shoulders and show some appreciation. Their job is much more difficult than it looks. Just try it yourself.