I think I speak for everyone when I say our faces fell into the palms of our hands after that first missed field goal by Mike Nugent this past Sunday. We were asking ourselves, “is this really the problem we’re facing right now? Kicking issues?” After all these years of being accustomed to Adam Vinatieri and Stephen Gostkowski, kicking has rarely even been an afterthought in the realm of what might be an issue for the New England Patriots.
And yet, here we are today, Gostkowski is Gost-out-ski (sorry I saw an opportunity) with a hip injury that requires season-ending surgery, and both Belichick and Kraft looked at each other and said “oh wait, we don’t even have a plan B.” So after extensive (insert air quotes) tryouts, the patriots landed veteran Mike Nugent.
Was Nugent the best free agent kicker out there? I would have to imagine so, otherwise I don’t see Belichick and Kraft taking a guy they have doubts about. Then again, they didn’t exactly have much time to think about it either.
After Nugent missed his first extra point, the hearts of the New England faithful dropped once again, ready to endure a season filled with kicking woes and Brady staying on the field with 4th and short’s instead of trying to kick for three points. However, Nugent clearly threw some WD-40 on his rust filled legs and nailed the following field goals and extra points.
So Patriots fans: there is indeed hope for Nugent. Although as I’m sure he is well aware that he’s on a short leash.

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