Stay Or Walk: Arizona Cardinals Kicker Neil Rackers

by Andrew602 on Feb 22, 2010 12:01 PM MST in NFL Offseason/Free Agency

When free agency begins, the Arizona Cardinals will find themselves in a pickle when it comes to dealing with kicker Neil Rackers' contract. He's set to become an unrestricted free agent and some already believe the Cardinals will not look to re-sign him. If that is the case, they'll need to fill another void through free agency or draft. They could however, re-sign the 10-year veteran and maintain stability on special teams.

Rackers spent the first three seasons of his career with the Bengals, and the past seven seasons have all been with the Cardinals. He was signed in 2003 when the Cardinals couldn't find a reliable kicker, bouncing from Bill Gramatica and Tim Duncan(not the basketball player). He only played half of 2003 but was able to impress the coaches enough stay with the team the following year. In 2004, Rackers' shoes from a game against the New York Giants were sent to the Hall of Fame for nailing three kicks from beyond 50-yards. In 2005 he made 40 field goals in one season and was selected to the pro bowl for the first time. From 2006-2010, he's been a versatile - reliable kicker, when he's not kicking in clutch situations.

Let's take a look at reasons for and reasons against after the jump...

Reasons For:

He has a strong leg. If Rackers is called to make a kick from beyond 50-yards, the Cardinals can depend on Rackers to stand a chance.
He's perfected and tuned his onside and pooch kicks. The multiple abilities that Rackers display are rare to find in a kicker, and they are something that the Cardinals rely heavily on, on gameday.
He helps with kickoff coverage. Unlike other kickers, Rackers isn't scared to dive into a pile. More often then not, he'll be one of the first to contact and it could be the primary reason the Cardinals had so much success on special teams this past year.
There won't be a huge market for kickers this year. The Cardinals may consider bringing Mike Nugent back but his lack of leg strength isn't assuring.

Reasons Against:

To be frank - he chokes in clutch situations. Although it would be nice for the Cardinals to never find themselves in a clutch situation - they do happen. Rackers has already proven that he will struggle when the game is on the line. How much longer can the Cardinals deal with this?
He's dealt with injuries the last few seasons. His fearlessness on kickoff coverage may be the direct reason behind the injuries that Rackers has faced.

Stay or Walk: Stay

When it's all said and done, the Cardinals can't afford to fill another need this offseason. Rackers has had his problems, but he's also been one of the classiest and well-rounded players the Cardinals have had. What are your thoughts and should the Cardinals re-sign Rackers or let him walk?

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Comments

I'm with you

Rackers should stay.

Lifelong Arizona Cardinals/Chicago Bears fan.

I can't stand band-wagoner fans, stick with your team, throughout the good and the bad.

by JoeCB1991 on Feb 22, 2010 12:18 PM MST reply actions

Stay

There’s no way we can afford to let him leave. Maybe he wasn’t clutch this postseason, but he also wasn’t 100%. I’d much rather keep Rackers, at least we know exactly what we’re getting, a mostly reliable kicker with valuable intangibles that few other kickers can give you.

by GivingThemFitz on Feb 22, 2010 12:31 PM MST reply actions

Keep him

The guy has earned it. When he stops putting kickoffs in the endzone, then look for a replacement.

by 3nOUT on Feb 22, 2010 1:25 PM MST up reply actions

stay...

for sure we have to keep him. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting this guy a couple times. He’s a stand up guy, great team guy, and adds a dimension on special teams thats unique to us. In reality his lack of clutch hasn’t been his fault. I’m not an excuse maker but everyone knows his few ‘clutch’ situations were botched by teamates and coaches also this year.

by Punisher3190 on Feb 22, 2010 2:23 PM MST reply actions

A game shouldn't be one or lost because of a field goal

Its one thing I’ve always believed in. Rackers can produce with more then just points. He has the toughness and varsitilty to really make the special teams special. He may not be the most clutch kicker but if it comes to Cardinals need to win with a field goal then 11 other men diden’t do what they needed to. A game should not be decided by a field goal.

Remember no matter where you go in life...there you are!

by McCards010 on Feb 22, 2010 2:24 PM MST reply actions

I was calling for his head in Denny Green's last year with the cards

Where we went 1-8 at the start of the season and probably more than half of our losses were by 1-3 points or less thanks to missed field goals. At this point I say stay..I don’t see much better out there in the scrap heap and he’s about 50% on onside and pooch kicks being converted. I don’t know if you can call Rackers a “classy” guy either, remember when he attacked a camera man after missing a kick? Or when he grabbed the facemask of a redskins player and pulled him down to the ground with him after he missed an extra point (which was hilarious and I liked it but not at all classy)?

by Fitz Jizzle on Feb 22, 2010 2:37 PM MST reply actions

You might have a point there. Maybe I should've phrased it

“When he’s not missing clutch kicks he’s a classy guy.”

What? I didn't break it, I was just testing its durability, and then I placed it in the woods becuase it's made out of wood and I just thought he should be with his family.
Revenge of the Birds

by Andrew602 on Feb 22, 2010 2:42 PM MST up reply actions