Report: Jay Feely Replaces Rackers As Arizona Cardinals Kicker
by Pyromnc on Apr 2, 2010 9:38 AM MDT
in NFL Offseason/Free Agency
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PrintAccording to our fellow SB Nation blog site, Gang Green Nation and The Newark Star-Ledger, free agent kicker Jay Feely reportedly has agreed to terms on a two-year contract to become the new kicker of the Arizona Cardinals. From the Star-Ledger:
Unrestricted free agent kicker Jay Feely has agreed to terms on a two-year deal with the Arizona Cardinals, according to a person familiar with the situation. The person requested anonymity because he is not authorized to speak on behalf of either side.
Feely had a fairly good season in '09, hitting 30 of his 36 field goals, while missing just three from 40 yards or longer. He has been consistent over his career as well, matching or increasing his 80% success rate over the past six seasons (total of 179 field goal attempts).
Update: Jay Feely confirmed the signing on his twitter account:
I am officially an Arizona Cardinal!! Very excited to head to the desert with former teammates @kerryrhodes and Joey Porter.
Ken Whisenhunt responded to the change at kicker
“When you get to free agency and we have no kickers on the roster, that’s an unsettling feeling for the organization,” Whisenhunt said. “We attempted to sign Neil. We were forced to move on to the next guy when we couldn’t get anything done. Not that we didn’t think Neil could do it, but we had been working in negotiations and hadn’t made a lot of progress.”
Feely will be replacing Neil Rackers, who was famous for his pooch and onside kicks - often catching opposing teams off guard. He was also a fairly accurate kicker when not injured(somewhat often), making 161 of his 195 field goals (82.5 success rate). However, when the game was on the line, Rackers struggled - becoming the primary reason the team is parting ways. What are your thoughts on the new signing?
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Think this is a bad move
There must be some internal politics going on here.
They are who we thought they were!
Only reservation about dropping Rackers I had...
…was the availability of a suitable replacement. Feely is more than suitable and I am very happy with this.
Wish all the best for Rackers in the future.
When I get sad, I stop being sad and be awesome again. True story.
-Barney Stinson
I would rather have Rackers
But Feely is a good Kicker.
Lifelong Arizona Cardinals/Chicago Bears fan.
I can't stand fair-weather/bandwagon fans, stick with your team, throughout the good and the bad.
We were the only team with a kicker that wanted to tackle
Who’s gonna make the tackles on ST now?
As far as I know, Feely isn't afraid to tackle and will dive into the mix like Rackers
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
The people on the Jets site said so too
Lifelong Arizona Cardinals/Chicago Bears fan.
I can't stand fair-weather/bandwagon fans, stick with your team, throughout the good and the bad.
hey any of you interested in being the Cards rep in the MtD 1 round Mock Draft?
My Big Board
Lead organizer of the annual 7 round live mock draft at MtD and Moderator on Anaheim Calling
You can get info here :http://www.mockingthedraft.com/2010/3/29/1395578/sign-up-for-the-last-32rep-mock
And sign up here: http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0Av3Fah0qKP1idEJFTDNyV0FEUGRqaTl0YTkyLVpHZWc&hl=en
If you have more quetions please ask.
My Big Board
Lead organizer of the annual 7 round live mock draft at MtD and Moderator on Anaheim Calling
by TheAngelsColts on Apr 2, 2010 10:42 AM MDT up reply actions
again lol. here: http://www.mockingthedraft.com/2010/3/29/1395578/sign-up-for-the-last-32rep-mock
My Big Board
Lead organizer of the annual 7 round live mock draft at MtD and Moderator on Anaheim Calling
by TheAngelsColts on Apr 2, 2010 10:43 AM MDT up reply actions
The only reason I think it's a good move...
Is because Feely has been clutch at kicking game winning field goals. I loved everything else about Rackers, especially the pooch kicks, but he hooked kicks when there was too much pressure.
Section 102, Row 18
+1
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
didnt feely miss 2 field goals in the AFC Championship?
Never do card tricks for the group you play poker with.
Can we re-sign him as an ST gunner?
Then we can also use him in the kickoff wildcat as him and feely are both on the field…
Sure it doesn’t make sense now, but it will when we need to run a trick kickoff play.
by SenSurround on Apr 2, 2010 11:14 AM MDT reply actions 1 recs
Sounds like the negotiations with Rackers weren't going well and that is why Feely came in.
Lifelong Arizona Cardinals/Chicago Bears fan.
I can't stand fair-weather/bandwagon fans, stick with your team, throughout the good and the bad.
Anyone know if he's good at sending kickoffs deep?
That’s one thing I liked about Rackers, he had a hell of a leg. Admittedly I don’t know too much about Feely.
by cardsfanforlife24 on Apr 2, 2010 11:53 AM MDT reply actions
10 touchbacks in 82 kickoffs last season per the link above
Section 135, Row 35
by AJ BirdWatcher on Apr 2, 2010 11:55 AM MDT up reply actions
+1
Good point. No weather elements to deal with here plus his experience will help when we have to play against teams with outdoor stadiums in November-January.
by cardsfanforlife24 on Apr 2, 2010 4:48 PM MDT up reply actions
I voted for "should have kept Rackers", BUT
Cards say they tried to sign him and couldn’t, which means, for a guy that misses clutch kicks (a kicker’s first and most important job), he must have wanted too much money.
So considering that, I am happy to get Feely.
That said, there will be many times we will miss Rackers’ touchbacks, pooch kicks, onside kicks and tackling. Its not like Feely is better in clutch kicks, considering he was not resigned for missing in the playoffs with the Jets, so…
http://undrafteds.com/
Watch the Jets sign Rackers now...
They are who we thought they were!
by Jesse Reynolds on Apr 2, 2010 2:36 PM MDT up reply actions
Not sure what to think
I’ll miss Rackers intangibles but I’ve called for his head before when he botched some clutch kicks. From what I’ve read at the Jets site, I’d say we got the better kicker. Sometimes change is better and Rackers clearly wasn’t improving his clutch kicks.
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
Ditto. :)
Will really miss Rackers. The guy has a serious set hanging there. Great deep kicks, beautiful onside and pooch kicks, and how many times was Rackers there for the tackle?! Saddened, but wish him best of luck.
Welcome, Feely!
the only thing that really matters is the money situation
how much did rackers want? did he want to be the highest paid kicker in the league? if so, well then whatever we got feely for is definitely worth it.
If Feely is a drop off it's not too much of one.
Better to sign him now than end up with just whoever they can scratch up.
YEAH!
how are feeling onside kick/squib kick skills?
by fansincejakenrob on Apr 2, 2010 3:25 PM MDT reply actions
This
is Racker’s and his agent’s fault for holding out for more money. He is a good kicker but not good enough in the clutch to hold out for more than the $2 million they wanted to give him. Look back a few years ago and he cost them 3 games in one season. I like the Jay Feely signing and it eliminates wasting a pick in the draft on a K.
Not from what I''ve heard.
I have a friend who is closer to the situation and Rackers was going to sign the offer that the Cards put up, but when Graves came back (before Rackers could answer), he pulled it and came back with a lower/shorter offer. Even then, Rackers was likely to sign it, but the Cards signed Feeley.
I wonder if the jets are stuck with Nick Folk now….
Lifelong Arizona Cardinals/Chicago Bears fan.
I can't stand fair-weather/bandwagon fans, stick with your team, throughout the good and the bad.
Feely vs Rackers in clutch situations
Feely is 15 for 22 (2001-2009)
Rackers is 4 for 10 (2003-2009)
Check it out at Sando’s NFC west blog: http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcwest
Thank you for the link! I knew I'd seen those stats somewhere!
Feely is clutch. Rackers is a specialist. After reading Whis’ quote:
We felt like where we were going offensively this year because of Kurt (Warner) and losing some players, there might be more of an emphasis on the kicker in certain games this year.
I think that’s an important note because Rackers didn’t do well on long kicks, and the Cardinals relied heavily on Ben “The Leg” Graham to pin opponents back if the yardage wasn’t quite right for Rackers. I’m sure the team would rather put three on the board and kickoff to the opponent, rather than just change possession and hope for good yardage. In both scenarios you put pressure on the defense to hold the opponent from scoring, but if your team is scoring the pressure is a lot less for everyone (Offense, Defense, and ST).
Section 102, Row 18
I am pissed
Rackers brings much more to the table than just field goals, the on-side kicks, and the locker room, hope they get alot of work done with the snapper and holder.
Why do Cardinals like the Jets so much?
I guess the Cards really like those Jets players, because they also traded for Kerry Rhodes. From the shouts Rhodes has posted in his personal locker http://www.lockerblogger.com/lockers/Kerry%20Rhodes on LockerBlogger.com he seems happy to be a Cardinal so hopefully Feely will be as well.
by BewareTheBengals on Apr 5, 2010 11:34 AM MDT reply actions
Hey...
Taco Joe Here a Texans fan… Thanx for Rackers. Living in AZ I get to watch him just as much as I get to watch my team when i go to the bar. Feely is a decent Kicker, although I think Rackers added something to your ST.
I am happy to see Rackers in H-town, after all the Kicking Whoas we had last season with our Clutch Kicker, being a bust last season. Hopefully he will either Get Kris “Shankopotamus” Brown (his nickname at BRB) into gear, or brings something we can use to help our team get to the next level.
Everything I've heard about Rackers said he was a good team-mate in the locker room, too
Best of luck, don’t be too harsh ;)
Oh we aren't harsh...
Until the player continues to blow, like Chris meyer’s who gets beaten up by girl scouts….
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