What Does Jason Elam's New Deal Say About Loyalty and Respect for Kickers?

[jsarno]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

Let us not forget that Atlanta is built up in the Appalachian Mountains, and while it's not as high as Denver, it is the second highest altitude for a stadium in the NFL.

Great job with that little known fact...a lot of people don't realize how high Atlanta is. However, you are slightly incorrect. Phoenix is 2nd highest, Atlanta is 3rd. It's not by much, but it's still higher.

The great thing about Elam in Atlanta is he doesn't have to worry about the elements.

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by jsarno

Great job with that little known fact...a lot of people don't realize how high Atlanta is. However, you are slightly incorrect. Phoenix is 2nd highest, Atlanta is 3rd. It's not by much, but it's still higher.

The great thing about Elam in Atlanta is he doesn't have to worry about the elements.

Fair enough. Perhaps with the new stadium location, it's at a higher altitude and my source (publication) is outdated? Must be pretty darn close.

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by dmek25

all i was talking about was the veteran exception rule. that would be nice to have in the nfl. because we will probably never see another Darrell Green, or Brett Favre again. the player that stays with his original team for his whole career. seeing Art Monk in an ugly ass jets uniform is not how i want to remember him

But what if the alternative is that players around the league retire earlier because the best money for 30+ players will only be available if their current team still has the need at the position?

This is just my personal opinion, but if a guy like Brunell, who I enjoy watching play, can extend his career by signing with New Orleans (and Brunell is a poor example for multiple reasons, but bear with me), then I'm all for him doing so, if the alternative is retiring.

I wasn't old enough to comprehend Monk days as a Jet or Eagle, but I'm sure I would have rooted for him even though he was no longer a Skin, and it would have been a better alternative than to have him retire simply because the Redskins want to go in a different direction.

[hagams]

Atlanta needs all the help they can get. I don't see them riding his leg to a winning season, so I wouldn't have paid the big bucks to either keep him, or sign him. But, good for him for getting paid.

[freddyg12]

Originally Posted by Redskins247

Ok, so after I saw Jason Elam is NOW with the Falcons and won't finish his career with the team that he won so many games for so many years...not to mention Vinatieri leaving New England...I just can't believe teams have no loyalty to this often over-looked crucial position. I know it's just business, and every team has to make the decisions based on what's best for the team in the long run....but after seeing the loyalty to Brett Favre in Green Bay, basically saying he'd be the QB there until he was ready to leave...it saddens me to think back when players like Montana and Rice had to finish their careers in other places.

If you were the GM or owner, would you have given the $$$ to Elam, Vinatieri, or even Mosley for that matter??

I read that Elam is from ATl. so that probably weighed heavily in his decision.

[Daseal]

First of all, Denver offered Elam a solid contract. It was worthy of a player of his age / stature. ATL offered more and Elam is in fact from that area.

Football is a business. The last thing you want is your team spending precious salary cap dollars on an aging kicker looking for a payday. Unfortunately in this day and age it's difficult to be loyal. I'd love to see them work something into the salary cap where a team can give more money to long time vets of the team without taking huge salary cap hits.

[BDBohnzie]

Kicking is so hot/cold that it's hard to predict between aging veterans and super-legged youngsters. Because of this, a guy like Morten Andersen at 47 still has teams paying him to kick (although his days are now really numbered, since Atlanta was the one team that kept bringing him back).

Elam has been one of the League's best for the last 15 years, and should continue to do so kicking for the Falcons.

[jsarno]

I understand the Broncos not wanting to open the piggy bank for him, but this guy connected for 87.1% of his kicks last year (tied for second best of his career), and the year before he connected for 93.1% of his kicks (the best of his career). He also had 4 game winning kicks last year, the most since 1990. He has the most games played in Broncos history, how can they not keep him? He's still valuable.

[SeanTaylor21]

Originally Posted by jsarno

I understand the Broncos not wanting to open the piggy bank for him, but this guy connected for 87.1% of his kicks last year (tied for second best of his career), and the year before he connected for 93.1% of his kicks (the best of his career). He also had 4 game winning kicks last year, the most since 1990. He has the most games played in Broncos history, how can they not keep him? He's still valuable.

He's valuable, but he's 38, and unless he stops doing kickoffs to give his leg a rest, he will probably retire and maybe comeback like Morten Anderson does.

[jsarno]

Originally Posted by SeanTaylor21

He's valuable, but he's 38, and unless he stops doing kickoffs to give his leg a rest, he will probably retire and maybe comeback like Morten Anderson does.

Well, he can still kick the long ball. He had a long of 50 last year, and is 2 of 3 from 50 or longer the last 2 years. 38 is nothing in terms of kickers.
This guy is absolute money from 20-39. He hasn't missed a FG from 20-39 since 2003 (minus two blocks). That's 68 for 70. He's also durable, missing only 4 games in his career.

I find your kickoffs comment puzzling though, he has only done 2 kickoffs in the last 5 years. He stopped doing them full time after the 02 season, and hasn't done a single kickoff in 2 years.

[SeanTaylor21]

Originally Posted by jsarno

Well, he can still kick the long ball. He had a long of 50 last year, and is 2 of 3 from 50 or longer the last 2 years. 38 is nothing in terms of kickers.
This guy is absolute money from 20-39. He hasn't missed a FG from 20-39 since 2003 (minus two blocks). That's 68 for 70. He's also durable, missing only 4 games in his career.

I find your kickoffs comment puzzling though, he has only done 2 kickoffs in the last 5 years. He stopped doing them full time after the 02 season, and hasn't done a single kickoff in 2 years.

Oh, I thought he was doing every kickoff, my bad.

[jsarno]

Originally Posted by SeanTaylor21

Oh, I thought he was doing every kickoff, my bad.

No sir...I know Saurbraun did them for a while...he had a huge leg.

[jsarno]

I found a link to most of the info for Sauerbrun.
ESPN - Broncos punter cited for simple assault outside Denver eatery - NFL