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jimotis4heisman
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Buckskin86
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Bucs' Bryant will face competition from newcomer Nugent
Tribune file photo by JAY CONNER (2006)
Nugent, a second-round pick out of Ohio State in 2005, is considered to have the stronger leg.
By IRA KAUFMAN | The Tampa Tribune
Published: June 9, 2009
TAMPA - Matt Bryant, the most accurate kicker in Tampa Bay Buccaneers history, returned to the team's practice field Tuesday and sounded conflicted about his chances of retaining his starting job in 2009.
The Bucs signed 27-year-old free agent Mike Nugent from the Jets to compete against Bryant, who turned 34 last month. Bryant set a franchise record with 131 points last season while converting 32-of-38 FG attempts, including all 27 of his tries from inside the 40.
Nugent, a second-round pick out of Ohio State in 2005, is considered to have a stronger leg, especially on kickoffs.
Bryant has missed Tampa Bay's voluntary workouts while attending to a family medical issue in Texas. He returned to the Bay area Monday evening and participated in Tuesday's practice session.
"I still need to talk to other people about what's going on,'' Bryant said. "Once I talk to the people I need to talk to, then I can talk more to you guys. You can have more of a story once I talk to other people.''
Bryant apparently is concerned Nugent will have a leg up in their matchup when training camp opens Aug. 1.
Bucs' Bryant will face competition from newcomer Nugent
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OhioStateAlumni
CHANGE OF SCENERY TAKES 'NOOOGE' TO TAMPA BAY
Former Buckeye kicker Mike Nugent received 1,229 votes from Association members, second-most of all candidates on the All-Alumni ballot. Nugent, who has connected on 82 percent of his career field goals with the NFL's New York Jets, signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this offseason.
By SCOTT PRIESTLE
Photo by ARMANDO SOLARES
It had been a few years since he was recruited, so former Ohio State kicker Mike Nugent was looking forward to being wooed as an NFL free agent last winter. His success in three seasons with the New York Jets attracted a few suitors, and in March he signed a one-year contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
But the contract came with a caveat. Nugent must out-kick the incumbent, Matt Bryant, during training camp. Neither is guaranteed a spot on the roster.
Nugent insists he is looking forward to that part of the process, too.
"That's what's great about the NFL. You're always competing," he said.
"Even if there's nobody else there to compete for your job, you're competing with every other kicker in the world, because they all want to be in the NFL. That creates an environment to get better and better every day."
Nugent made 75 of 91 field goal attempts (82.4 percent) in his first three seasons, including 17 of 22 between 40 and 49 yards. He suffered a strained right quadriceps in the opening game of his fourth year. By the time he was ready to return around midseason, his replacement was kicking well, so the Jets opted to keep Nugent on the sidelines.
He blamed the injury on overuse during the preseason, something he has vowed to avoid from now on. He has been working out regularly in Tampa, and he pronounces himself fully healthy.
Nugent's biggest hurdle this summer figures to be mental, rather than physi-
cal. Kickers and punters are the most isolated players on a football team, and the difference between success and failure often is a movement imperceptible to the untrained eye. A tiny change in how the kicker swings his leg can send a ball hooking or slicing wide of the goalposts.
Cont...
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BUCKYLE;1467978; said:
He was actually born in Kettering but lived in Centerville. I know this 'cause my little bro was born on the same day as Nuge at the same hospital. Our mom's were in the same hospital room as well.
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Buckskin86
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Minor injury to kicker Matt Bryant gives Mike Nugent a chance to shine for Tampa Bay Bucs
By Brian Landman, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Mike Nugent, working with holder Josh Bidwell, showed off a powerful leg during Tuesday?s afternoon practice.
[DANIEL WALLACE | Times]
TAMPA ? For a day, newcomer Mike Nugent had a leg up on Matt Bryant in the competition to be the kicker.
With Bryant nursing an unspecified but apparently minor leg injury (more on that later), Nugent handled all the placekicking duties in a relatively short special-teams practice Tuesday afternoon.
"He's doing fine," coach Raheem Morris said of Nugent. "He's got a powerful leg."
Nugent, a former Ohio State standout who spent his first four seasons with the Jets, said the chance to solo didn't give him any "advantage" for the job.
"It wasn't like a reward," he said.
Morris, however, said it does help with his evaluation when one player has all the repetitions. So, what did he see? Well, Nugent hit a couple 40-plus-yard field goals but then missed one from the same range when Morris had players encircle him and scream at him to distract him.
"I think they were in his way," Morris said. "He got a little p----- at them. I could see him back away kind of angry."
"They can be all over me, but if you get close to the motion, I kind of hit somebody at the end," Nugent added. "But that's after the ball's gone, so I should have made it anyway. I just got it left. I should have played the wind a little bit better today. ? I've been in situations like that a few times before, not too often. It's good to have someone trying to rattle you because the harder it is out here the easier it makes it on the field at game time."
Minor injury to kicker Matt Bryant gives Mike Nugent a chance to shine for Tampa Bay Bucs - St. Petersburg Times
Nugent Kicks While Bryant Sits | Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Pewter Report
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Buckskin86
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Bryant, Nugent duel for kicking job
By IRA KAUFMAN | The Tampa Tribune
Published: August 5, 2009
Tribune photo by CLIFF MCBRIDE
Mike Nugent is in his first camp with the Bucs after being drafted highly by the New York Jets.
TAMPA - It's no secret pro football can often be a cold, heartless business.
The Bucs proved that in February with the release of icon Derrick Brooks, a perennial Pro Bowl linebacker who will likely breeze into the Hall of Fame.
Tough decisions are part of the job description for rookie head coach and first-year GM Mark Dominik, who will soon decide the fate of kicker Matt Bryant.
Bryant, 34, is facing fierce competition from free agent addition Mike Nugent, a mild disappointment in New York after the Jets selected him in the second round of the 2005 draft.
"To me, you judge every position on your football team by what the players are doing in 2009," said Dominik. "That's the way it has to be."
Specials teams coach Rich Bisaccia has had his eye on Nugent since the former Lou Groza Award winner set 22 records at Ohio State and kicked three field goals for the North team against Jon Gruden's staff in the 2005 Senior Bowl.
Nugent is seven years younger than Bryant and appears to have a stronger leg, but the incumbent set a franchise record with 131 points last year -- the longest season of Matt Bryant's life.
Bryant, Nugent duel for kicking job
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