Actually, Alex, his reaction isn't based on this TC. That is just the last drop. Crosby has never been more than average, and the last couple years, he costed us games.

I have zero faith in him. If we need a 42 yarder to win the game, I go for 4th down.

If you can say you'd trust him in that situation, then wonderful. But when has he made a game winning FG? I've seen him miss plenty.

you mean like this 42 yard game winner RS?

http://il.youtube.com/watch?v=ltjMO7qKd7g&feature=related

sure hes missed a few. but show me a kicker who hasnt! Vinateri isnt walking through that door. People act like its easy to belt a kick 50 yards under pressure from 70k fans and 11 defenders.

I agree completely Alex. Over-reaction at its finest. Everyone is acting like Mason has a throne in the locker room that coaches bow down to every day because they didnt bring in another kicker.

Competition is excellent. I am a huge fan. Its what has built this team to what it is today under Ted Thompson. But please tell me how its "competition" to bring in a kicker who isnt as good as Crosby? Dude has a HUGE leg, and hits 75% of his kicks. Short of trading for a guy off of another NFL team, I dont see where you can even find a guy to make Crosby sweat in practice. Does that mean they shouldnt try? Hell no, but just know they dont grow on trees.

LOL. Really glad you're expanding your horizons with the served series.

I think all his criticism could be applied to last year for the most part. If Mason's Average went up to that of the middle of the league's kickers, Green Bay probably wins one or two more games in 2009. As for 2010, we're not even a week into training camp. Though he is right to criticize the TT for not bringing in another kicker to compete.

Crosby doesn't just "missed a few." He seems to miss every big kick. The Packers lost 2 games in 2008 that they would have won if Crosby would have been able to make his kicks.

Last season McCarthy had to play call around his erratic kicker a few times.

Keep in mind, Ryan Longwell, was brought in as a camp leg to compete with a high draft pick Brett Conway.

I'm almost honored - almost.

Unfortunately your love for Crosby because he was nice to you and signed your jersey has certainly gotten to your head. In fact, it's preventing you from reading or thinking clearly.

I knew that some people would mis-interpret this as a knee-jerk reaction to a couple of misses in camp...

I'm just surprised it was you.

This is the culmination of two years of dissatisfaction with this guy. It's not about the last few days. That was just an impetus to once again, say what I've been saying for quite a long time:

Mason Crosby is just not that good.

Read the "Mediocrity Rewarded" article. Are the facts in there not proof enough?

And Alex, EVERY competitive team in the NFL will have several games during the year decided by one final swing of their kicker's leg at the end of the game. It's an annual occurrence.

Ans as for the "offensive" part - it was sarcasm, anyone can see that - well, almost anyone.

Return of Serve...

I love a good blogfight.

I am not advocating Mason is the team MVP. Just that great kickers are hard to find. I believe Mason to be a "good" kicker, obviously far from great right now. But i think he has the tools to get him there.

Jersey Al, you keep bringing up Jay Feely as a guy we could go get to shore it up. Please see this.

http://www.nfl.com/players/jayfeely/profile?id=FEE461435

Hardly a world beater in his first three years in the league. In fact much worse statistically than Crosby.

On to example B. Adam Vinatieri whom I believe we can all agree is the most clutch if not the best kickers of all time.

http://www.nfl.com/players/adamvinatieri/profile?id=VIN196019

Similiar situation with Feely and Crosby over his first 3 seasons.

Point being, good kickers are rare and even the greats have struggles early on. Crosby can do it, we've seen flashes.
There is no arguing that his last season hurt us in a couple games and was underwhelming. But the best option in my opinion is to stick with it. Get the pieces in place to make Crosby as consistent and lethal a weapon as his potential would allow. Those pieces being a good long snapper and holder who can work together to make this kicking operation about 10-15% more consistent.

Also keep in mind, that the Green Bay Packers were not the only team that struggled in the kicking department last year. It was a plague of sorts. Great kickers are rare.

I have to agree with Al on this one. It's nice to be optimistic, but history is warning us to be skeptical. The facts just don't support the way the coaches have been handling Crosby.

I was a fan of Crosby when they first brought him on board, but his performance last season just really let me down. He's got at least one more chance to prove that he can do it, so I'll hope and pray... just don't expect me to hold my breath.

Advantage Al.

Alex, can you honestly say that you have anything close to a good CONFIDENT feeling when Crosby trots out there?

The bare bones minimum goal for an NFL kicker is 80%, BARE BONES MINIMUM. He's yet to achieve that once in three years.

I'm rooting for the kid, but I'm scared shitless everytime he attempts a FG. Especially in a tight game.

GBP 4 LIFE

By the way Al, I saw your shameless plug on the Porter piece at the PG. 8-)

Check this out from last night, a little over 17 minutes in, what do you think? You with me or JT?

http://a1135.g.akamai.net/f/1135/18227/1h/cchannel.download.akamai.com/1...

GBP 4 LIFE

Sorry Alex, but you completely misunderstood the quotes you chose.

He did NOT say several kicks WILL be lost on the leg of Mason Crosby...He said they will be won OR lost. Maybe it's a bold prediction, but it's definitely not a bold statement. Games, especially against good teams, come down to 2-3-4 points. There's a very good chance games will be decided by Crosby. Nothing wrong

Secondly, I have a hard time agreeing with your statement that he is "giving up" on the season. The bottom of his quote says, "Superbowl or die." Isn't that how a lot of Packer players feel? I seem to remember guys like Finley and Barnett even posting that on Twitter. If players believe Superbowl or bust, then why can't fans?

You're right in the fact that it's WAY too early to believe Green Bay is set for a terrible season because of a kicker, but he's not, in no way, out of line for believing it may.

Crosby went from 80% to 75% over the past few seasons, and there is no competition...none. What's to say he hasn't grown complacent?

I whole-heartedly believe Green Bay will in fact compete for the NFC North and NFC as a whole this season. I think they work out the special teams kinks, and hide a lot of weaknesses with their high powered offense. But there is no reason to "serve" Jersey Al for voicing the concerns of many.

A guy on Pocket Doppler wrote this about Crosby, and as much as I wanna believe he will turn it around, I have to agree:

"A kicker? A kicker.

Mason Crosby has a big leg; we know that. He can nail field goals from 50+ yards with ease. There is only one problem, he doesn’t. After making nearly 80% of his field goals in 2007 and 2008, he has relapsed to 75% in 2009. The 2-6 from 50+ is acceptable, because from that length it’s like flipping a coin anyways. However, the 4-7 from 40-49, the 7-9 from 30-39 and the missed extra points are cause for concern. He also missed an important field goal during the Wild Card loss as well. His stats aren’t horrific by any means, but in today’s NFL, 27-36 with several crucial whiffs simply does not cut it.

Maybe it’s Mike McCarthy’s fault for trotting him out there to attempt kicks longer than Rodgers can throw, but Crosby’s misses along with his lack of confidence have become an issue. Mix that in with the fact that Ted Thompson has not brought in any competition (NONE!), and we are left with a player who has procured a false sense of security. If that’s not an invitation for complacency, I’m not sure what it. Crosby is losing confidence by the kick, rather the step, and yet there is nowhere else to turn. Without confidence in your kicker, play-calling changes dramatically, pressure mounts on the offense to convert, and turnovers on 3rd and longs will pile up. Misses also result in a short field for opposing offenses, and sure-fire W’s morph into gut-wrenching losses. If Green Bay were a South American soccer club, Mason Crosby would be fearing for his life at this point. I’m terrified…"