Packers Sign Kicker

[red]

And the cost to the team is?

maybe games, if he kicks like he kicked last year

[hoosier]

Prediction: Crosby misses a few kicks against KC, so they cut him and re-sign the Italian Stallion.

[mraynrand]

Prediction: Crosby misses a few kicks against KC, so they cut him and re-sign the Italian Stallion.

More like the Tivoli Poni

[pbmax]

I just have no faith that he won't go into a funk in mid-season. No confidence at all that they know what the problem is.

[King Friday]

I'd say most kickers in the league are capable of a midseason meltdown...if you take them out of domes and stick them in Lambeau. Kickers are inherently nuts.

[King Friday]

No reason for TT to be embarrassed, KF. It would have been embarrassing if we went with Ramirez into season and then he looked like David Birney or Eddie Garcia.

Letting Ramirez have the opportunity to earn the job based on ONE WEEKS OF WORK IN PRACTICE is pretty close to going into the season with him and having him look like a clown. There was NO REASON to bring the guy into camp. Can you seriously gain 100% confidence in a kicker who has only been in town for a week?

It makes no sense to me. It just looks like Thompson was grasping at straws. He was damn fortunate that Crosby ran the gauntlet today and didn't even garner a scratch. It makes it easier to laugh off the dumb move of bringing in a nobody and giving him a chance to actually earn the starting job. It doesn't make the move any less dumb from my viewpoint though.

[Brohm]

Actually TT/MM stated this was the second look they have had at Ramirez.

[Patler]

Letting Ramirez have the opportunity to earn the job based on ONE WEEKS OF WORK IN PRACTICE is pretty close to going into the season with him and having him look like a clown. There was NO REASON to bring the guy into camp. Can you seriously gain 100% confidence in a kicker who has only been in town for a week?

It makes no sense to me. It just looks like Thompson was grasping at straws. He was damn fortunate that Crosby ran the gauntlet today and didn't even garner a scratch. It makes it easier to laugh off the dumb move of bringing in a nobody and giving him a chance to actually earn the starting job. It doesn't make the move any less dumb from my viewpoint though.

What does it hurt for him to have a weeks practice? Nothing. Teams are not only finalizing their 53 man rosters, they are also developing short lists at each position to bring people back if injuries hit, or a player on the roster tanks during the season. Apparently they had looked at Ramirez in a tryout before. This let them have a few days with him to know him better than they did before. This is exactly what training camp is for.

[Fritz]

Since teams are bringing guys in for a look-see in case bodies are needed during the season, I say why not bring in kickalicious for a quick look? He clearly has the leg strength, so it'd be interesting to see how far off he is in terms of his fundamentals, and in terms of his ability to hit a good onside kick.

That way, if (or is it "when") Crosby goes into a funk, you know exactly who the best kicker is to bring in. I think Tavecchio is a possible short-term solution if need be - he seems accurate enough - but it's clear the team does not think he has the leg strength necessary to kick well in December and January.

[Joemailman]

What does it hurt for him to have a weeks practice? Nothing. Teams are not only finalizing their 53 man rosters, they are also developing short lists at each position to bring people back if injuries hit, or a player on the roster tanks during the season. Apparently they had looked at Ramirez in a tryout before. This let them have a few days with him to know him better than they did before. This is exactly what training camp is for.

I agree. If Crosby starts to struggle again, TT could be pretty quick to cut him and bring Ramirez back.

[Patler]

I agree. If Crosby starts to struggle again, TT could be pretty quick to cut him and bring Ramirez back.

Well, bring someone in. Not sure it would be Ramirez after he went 6/16 in practice yesterday.

[Fritz]

I saw Ramirez at the airport last night, on his way out.

[pbmax]

FIRE SLOCUM!

[Upnorth]

FIRE SLOCUM!

keep it in the fire slocum thread, geesh

[Fritz]

I wonder what happened to Ramirez. Sounds like the guy just spasmed. Was it the pressure, was it the rush-rush of trying out, flying out, practicing suddenly, what?

Seemed to have a leg, but at the key moment, after he'd impressed on Sunday, I think, he just shriveled.

And I wonder too if Crosby needs a fire under his ass at all times. If I were TT, I'd think about bringing in a different kicker every week for a tryout, and two during the playoffs.

Hell, if the Packers got to the SB this year, I'd fly three or four kickers in and have them sit in uniforms during SB practices, up in the stands. Just watching.