Nightmare Over?
August 12th, 2019
Bucs kicker Matt Gay. (Photo courtesy of Buccaneers.com.)
Bucs fans the past five years have been conditioned to vomit on fall Sunday afternoons not from pounding too many $9 lukewarm Miller Lites at the Den of Depression, but from having to watch kickers puke on themselves.
It has been absolutely mindboggling how this franchise can’t find a competent kicker, though Cairo Santos seemed to have stopped the bleeding last fall. It is as if this franchise has purposely tormented fans.
(Former Bucs kicker Chandler Catanzaro, 28, was of such a weak mind that after missing two extra points in the first preseason game for the Jets Friday night — he retired!)
Well, after spending (another) draft pick on a kicker this spring, the early results seem to show the Bucs may have finally ended this complete trainwreck.
And how big of news is it that the Bucs may have found a competent kicker? It was a discussion topic at the breakfast table on “Good Morning Football” seen on NFL Network.
Closet Bucs fan and co-host Peter Schrager described the joy that has overcome the Tampa Bay region over the Bucs possibly finding a kicker.
“If you are a Buccaneers fan, the kicker position has been haunting you since maybe [Martin] Gramática. This is a draft pick, Matt Gay who had a 55-yarder, the longest one ever in Heinz Field, tying Mason Crosby.
“Internally in Tampa, there is a big sigh of relief. Like, ‘Alright, we spent a draft pick on a kicker — again! And he actually hit a 55-yarder in Heinz Field which is really hard to do.’ There’s excitement but there’s tension.”
The gang then discussed the stones of Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht. Most general managers, after the Roberto Aguayo fiasco, would be allergic to burning a draft pick again on another kicker. Not Licht.
“That’s Jason Licht,” Kyle Brandt yelped when Schrager reminded his co-hosts the Bucs drafted Gay.
Replied Schrager, trying to suppress laughter, “He doesn’t care!”
Though it is still a bit early, it seems Licht picked the right combo of colors and numbers at the roulette table on this selection of Gay.
This is nuts pic.twitter.com/l8p5Y3NOd1
— JoeBucsFan (@JoeBucsFan) August 11, 2019
August 12th, 2019 at 12:06 pm
Looks like it….but maybe a bit early to be absolutely, positively, mortgage-wagering sure.
August 12th, 2019 at 12:15 pm
The record NFL kick is only 64 yards which was at altitude in Denver.
That kick legit looked good for like 70+ yards and he’s at sea level lol.
August 12th, 2019 at 12:18 pm
All it will take is two missed PATs for the frustration to become volcanic again.
One can hope, but let’s not jump the shark just yet. I’m not happy with the reports of missing short FGs and PATs in practice.
BUT
If he’s the guy he will turn a major deficit to a massive asset…and that means wins.
August 12th, 2019 at 12:19 pm
Let’s wait until he makes a few in real games with actual pressure on him. Like 4th quarter kicks when the heat is on.
August 12th, 2019 at 12:20 pm
Joes: what are the chances of renting a sound parabola to record some of Gay’s BOOMS! A compilation would be awesome…and unique. What a great replacement for the cannons on the Buc ship…
August 12th, 2019 at 12:22 pm
Joe don’t get to excited after one kick. If he can’t make extra points, as you wrote earlier were not his strong point, then he won’t be all that.
August 12th, 2019 at 12:26 pm
Best of luck Matt, we can’t have a Jaymiss and a Gaymiss on the same roster.
August 12th, 2019 at 12:26 pm
My math says that would have been good from 68 but just a tongue short of reaching 69.
August 12th, 2019 at 12:32 pm
Well idk if this is a good sign or the football gods are just teasing us again. I’d keep two kickers on the roster to start the season. Crazy I know, but based on the last decade 2 is 1 and 1 is none.
August 12th, 2019 at 12:41 pm
Also long as he can be accurate that’s all I’m concerned with at this point, we know the dude might have the strongest leg in the league. Won’t be much unless he can be dependable from relatively close.
August 12th, 2019 at 1:13 pm
One thing about the new kicker is that when he was spotted on the sideline, before the half, he seemed very eager to get out there and kick it.
He didn’t seem intimidated by the moment, 1st NFL kick and all.
He seems like a real gamer.
“How Gay is that?”
August 12th, 2019 at 1:27 pm
I have stated it several times on here since the draft. Matt Gay was 8 of 11 from 50+ yards during his college career. That’s very impressive.
August 12th, 2019 at 1:45 pm
I am on vacation for the month of August and will be in Treasure Island for the next two weeks. I think I will go to the game this Fri vs. Miami.
This will be my first live Bucs game in 15 years. #Stoked!
August 12th, 2019 at 1:54 pm
Fantasy QB rankings from THE SCORE:
1 Patrick Mahomes KC
2 Deshaun Watson HOU
3 Aaron Rodgers GB
4 Andrew Luck IND
5 Baker Mayfield CLE
6 Carson Wentz PHI
7 Cam Newton CAR
8 Matt Ryan ATL
9 Jameis Winston TB
10 Kyler Murray ARI
11 Russell Wilson SEA
12 Jared Goff LAR
13 Drew Brees NO
14 Dak Prescott DAL
15 Mitch Trubisky CHI
16 Ben Roethlisberger PIT
17 Lamar Jackson BAL
18 Josh Allen BUF
19 Philip Rivers LAC
20 Jimmy Garoppolo SF
21 Tom Brady NE
22 Kirk Cousins MIN
23 Sam Darnold NYJ
24 Derek Carr OAK
25 Matthew Stafford DET
26 Andy Dalton CIN
27 Marcus Mariota TEN
28 Nick Foles JAC
29 Joe Flacco DEN
30 Dwayne Haskins WAS
31 Eli Manning NYG
32 Josh Rosen MIA
33 Daniel Jones NYG
34 Ryan Fitzpatrick MIA
35 Case Keenum
August 12th, 2019 at 1:58 pm
Let’s go haters … Tell us all how THE SCORE has no idea what they’re writing about …
August 12th, 2019 at 2:12 pm
I have to agree that it is a bit early to make assumptions…however, I also think Gay could work out very well for us.
My concern is that the fans and the coaches may not be patient enough to let him trult develop. We all know how fast this town flips on players.
August 12th, 2019 at 2:19 pm
Fantasy rankings do not equal wins
August 12th, 2019 at 2:22 pm
True BB. But they all start somewhere
August 12th, 2019 at 2:29 pm
The worst field goal calamity for the Bucs was the night game against the Patriots in 2017. Nick Folk shat all over Raymond James stadium multiple times. Hoping we never see that sort disaster anytime again.
August 12th, 2019 at 2:33 pm
By not using our kicker on Friday night Buc coaches cost us any chance we had of winning the game. Go for it on 4th and one when we had a chip shot field goal that would have added more points to our lead. And then not once, twice, but three times we decide to go for two points instead of kicking the extra point. Between those six points we could have won by four instead it’s another sorry ass Monday.
August 12th, 2019 at 2:39 pm
@Phil
I agree…..and I am puzzled why we did all this with our third string players…..so practicing the 2 point plays & the 4th & 1 wasn’t beneficial……but if we truly have a kicking competition why not let the kickers kick?
Maybe it’s because there really isn’t a competition after all.
August 12th, 2019 at 3:00 pm
Loose the “Kraken”
August 12th, 2019 at 3:20 pm
Jeez, Phil, you post like BA tried to win that game.
I am betting he was happy the final 2pt. try went awry.
August 12th, 2019 at 3:28 pm
This is a joke right? You do realize that list is for F-A-N-T-A-S-Y football right? Winston is a very good fantasy player if you need a backup QB in your league. Against certain teams he’s going to put in monster numbers and can help you win a week. However, almost all articles on JBF talk about the Tampa Bay Buccaneers where the team plays R-E-A-L football.
How Jameis leads this team in real wins is what matters.
August 12th, 2019 at 3:38 pm
@Phil
“By not using our kicker on Friday night Buc coaches cost us any chance we had of winning the game.”
“Between those six points we could have won by four instead it’s another sorry ass Monday.”
Sorry for your loss, Phil, when is the funeral?
Iverson said it best, “Practice! You’re talking practice, right?”
August 12th, 2019 at 3:38 pm
What does Jameis have to do with Matt Gay in the first place?
August 12th, 2019 at 3:56 pm
@Phil
Preseason is the time to try plays and situations. I’m sure in an actual game where wins matter we would kick fg’s and take the points. I like BA being aggressive
August 12th, 2019 at 4:23 pm
Yes Siege
August 12th, 2019 at 4:25 pm
Do that to win a game then I’m in, until then. NOISE!!!
August 12th, 2019 at 4:38 pm
Finally!!!!
August 12th, 2019 at 4:44 pm
Getting excited about the kicking aspect of the team? Lame… *burp* *fart*
August 12th, 2019 at 5:14 pm
Usually the kicker (Santos) who every team knows will be available for free in a few weeks isn’t going to get you much on a trade. I say usually because the Ravens just traded their backup kicker for next years 5th round pick after he (Vedvik) after he boomed 4/4 kicks one from 55 that looked good from 60+.
Bucs working out working out veteran safety Marcus Gilchrist today. BA is sending Evans a message loud and clear.
August 12th, 2019 at 5:20 pm
Buc fans vomit because kickers puke all over themselves.
It’s a vicious cycle that family guy portrayed beautifully
August 12th, 2019 at 5:24 pm
Billy Capace
August 12th, 2019 at 5:37 pm
Woa Woa ONE pre-season game does not make a season.
August 12th, 2019 at 6:58 pm
What good is trying two pointers with guys who won’t be with the team in three weeks? We have a rookie kicker, and a supposed kicking competition, let them kick! We need to find a kicker more then experimenting with wacky two point plays by our third string QB, and offense.
August 12th, 2019 at 7:23 pm
So Gay, So Good.
August 13th, 2019 at 11:26 am
Not exhaling just yet. Im not gonna be a debbie downer and expect the kid to fail.
Nailing ONE 55 yarder does not mean the curse is broken. We all saw Aguayo go 4-4 and help us beat the chiefs, only to keep sh!tting the bed every other chance he got.
Need to see consistency. But I’m optimistic, cautiously optimistic.