Dolphins Cut Veteran Kicker Dan Carpenter
The Miami Dolphins cut veteran kicker Dan Carpenter Wednesday, which could open the door for the Packers to add more competition at the position.
By Zach Kruse
The Miami Dolphins might have done the kicking-starved Green Bay Packers a big favor by cutting 27-year-old Dan Carpenter Wednesday.
If Green Bay remains unsatisfied with the shaky competition currently being waged at kicker by Mason Crosby and Giorgio Tavecchio, there's now a capable veteran without a home.
A five-year member of the Dolphins, Carpenter has connected on 127 of his 155 career field goals (81.9 percent) since entering the NFL as a undrafted free agent in 2008. Last season, he hit 22 of 27 kicks (81.5) over 14 games, with a long of 53.
After a disastrous 2012 season that saw Crosby make just 21 of 33 attempts, including two of nine from 50 or more yards, the Packers are now allowing Tavecchio, a first-year kicker, to compete for the job in training camp.
So far, the results have been mostly mixed. Through camp, Tavecchio has made an impressive 35 of 39 kicks, while Crosby has connected on 30 of 39. However, there remains question marks regarding Tavecchio's leg strength, especially later in the season when temperatures dip severely during the Wisconsin winter. And Crosby's accuracy has continued to be erratic, as highlighted by his 3-of-8 performance during the team's Family Night scrimmage.
Carpenter, who's job will be taken by fifth-round rookie Caleb Sturgis in Miami, is now the best available kicker on the open market.
In 2012, he made 8-of-10 kicks from 40-49 yards, and 2-of-5 from 50 or more. In contrast, Crosby made just 9-of-12 from 40-49 and 2-of-9 from over 50. Carpenter was also perfect from inside 40, while Crosby had two misses.
Back in 2010, Carpenter made all three of his kicks—including a 53-yarder and the 44-yard game winner—during the Dolphins' overtime win over the Packers at Lambeau Field.
Thanks to his five NFL seasons, Carpenter will not be subjected to the waivers process and is free to sign with another team immediately.
Zach Kruse is a 25-year-old sports writer who contributes to Cheesehead TV, Bleacher Report and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. He also covers prep sports for the Dunn Co. News. You can reach him on Twitter @zachkruse2 or by email at [email protected].
Comments (24)
August 14, 2013 at 04:30 pm
Big diff kicking in Miami v GB, but as a shareholder, I vote YES.
August 14, 2013 at 09:21 pm
He kicked in Montana in high school/college, so he has some cold weather experience.
August 14, 2013 at 04:33 pm
I have my doubts on carpenter's leg strength. His best was 53 yards last year in an extremely warm climate.
August 14, 2013 at 05:19 pm
I'm fine with a weaker leg as long as he's accurate.
August 14, 2013 at 09:05 pm
Isn't that the only knock on Tavecchio?
August 14, 2013 at 09:21 pm
That and the fact that he has no experience.
August 15, 2013 at 12:11 pm
Leg strength? His longest is a 60 yard field goal. Also he's at a very low elevation, the air is not as thin as say Denver so the football wont travel as far!
August 14, 2013 at 05:01 pm
Look at Carpenter or perhaps Quinn Sharp from the Bengals camp.
Sad thing is Tavecchio's done just about everything we've asked him to do, yet what is it about him that's unsettling...?
August 14, 2013 at 05:36 pm
His name is hard to spell
August 15, 2013 at 08:30 am
Well... hes very tiny for one.
August 16, 2013 at 04:31 pm
He's a... Kicker, who cares how small he his? Also a former soccer player so he got the pedigree to be a helluva accurate K
August 14, 2013 at 05:10 pm
Definitely bring him in to get a look at him in comparison to the two others. I don't feel good about Crosby anymore, so if they want to limit the competition to two then let him walk and make it between Carpenter and Tavecchio.
August 14, 2013 at 06:31 pm
I certainly hope the Packers bring the guy into camp for a tryout. He has good leg strength and while kicking in Miami and Green Bay are different, he's still better than anyone the Packers have. He went to school in Montana so he's kicked in cold weather. My guess is Ted doesn't even pick up the phone.
August 14, 2013 at 07:07 pm
He either will or he won't. My guess is there won't be much of a difference in what he can do vs Crosby or Tavechoo...so I surely ain't gonna cry about it if he doesn't bring him in.
August 14, 2013 at 06:42 pm
Brett Maher is available too. Was good at Nebraska, regularly hitting in the 40 and 50 range. Career long of 54 yards even. Is a free agent after being cut by the Jets.
August 14, 2013 at 09:35 pm
Crosby and the Tavecchio are a combined 31 out of 32 last couple of days. Crosby missed once.
August 14, 2013 at 10:02 pm
Crosby is great on kick-offs and onside kicks but making fields goals was a disaster last year. Complete disaster. And, his family night performance this year was just as horrid. Sign Carpenter and cut Crosby. You shouldn't survive a year like that in the NFL as a kicker. San Fran cut Akers after 6 pro-bowl seasons after a similarly bad year.
August 14, 2013 at 10:32 pm
Nothing left to say after that . Have to keep up with the Jones.
August 14, 2013 at 11:15 pm
Only a completely random note, Neal was reported to look really good today at olb. Maybe there going to use the psycho package again. Datone, clay, Perry, neal raji = drool
August 15, 2013 at 12:07 am
senario......2 sec left 49ers 31 packers 30 and we bring crosby in for the game deciding field goal to go to superbowl..... at what yardage would any of you reading this feel comfortable with him making it? hahahahahaha !!!now i dont care who you are, that right there is funny!!!
August 15, 2013 at 05:21 am
20 yards and it's not so funny, it's the Packers reality! YIKES!
August 15, 2013 at 12:43 am
If the Packers don't bring in Carpenter tomorrow, can we put the whole "kicking-starved" meme on a back burner? Should no action occur, it would be hard to say anything other than the club seems quite content with the group they've got right now.
August 15, 2013 at 09:57 am
yep
August 15, 2013 at 11:29 pm
I just don't understand why Crosby is still in the picture. He's unstable. So what if he goes 13 for 15 the first half of the season? How can you have confidence he won't suddenly go on a 7 for 15 tear in the second half? When he loses it, he really loses it. It's in his head now. I was ok with him coming back until the family night fiasco. Too big of a risk IMO.