2011 NFL Free Agents: Kickers and Punters

2011 NFL Free Agent Positions:
QB | RB | FB | WR | TE | OT | G | C | DE | DT | OLB | ILB | CB | S | K/P | Recap

2011 NFL Free Agency: Star rating is out of five. Age listing as of Sept. 1, 2011.

2011 NFL Free Agents – Kickers:

Adam Vinatieri, K, Colts. Age: 38.
Re-signed with Colts (3 years)

Adam Vinatieri can still nail clutch kicks, as he showed against the Jets this January. Vinatieri hit 26-of-28 field goals in 2010, including 9-of-10 from 40-49.
Matt Prater (RFA), K, Broncos. Age: 27.
Re-signed with Broncos (1 year)

Matt Prater nailed 16-of-18 field goals (2-of-3 from 50-plus; 4-of-5 from 40-49) in 2010 before going on IR with an injured groin. Prater was 30-of-35 (2-of-3 from 50-plus; 8-of-10 from 40-49) the year before, so last season was no fluke.
Garrett Hartley, K, Saints. Age: 25.
Re-signed with Saints (5 years)

Garrett Hartley struggled early and blew a kick that would cost New Orleans homefield advantage. However, he finished strong, nailing all 10 of his final attempts. The Hartley House is now 42-of-49 in his career.
David Akers, K, Eagles. Age: 36.
Signed with 49ers (3 years)

Eagles fans need to get over David Akers’ two playoff misses. He’s still one of the top kickers in the NFL. His field goal percentages the past three years: 82.5, 86.5, 84.2.
Ryan Longwell, K, Vikings. Age: 37.
Re-signed with Vikings (4 years, $12 million)

Ryan Longwell’s field goal percentages the past five years: 84.0, 83.3, 85.3, 92.9 and 94.4. Age is a concern, but Longwell is still one of the NFL’s elite kickers.
Olindo Mare, K, Seahawks. Age: 38.
Signed with Panthers (4 years, $12 million; $4 million bonus)

Remember when Jim Mora Jr. unprofessionally blamed Olindo Mare for a loss to Chicago last year? Well, Mare went 24-of-26 that season and 25-of-30 in 2010.
Matt Bryant, K, Falcons. Age: 36.
Re-signed with Falcons

Matt Bryant enjoyed an unbelievable 2010 campaign, drilling 28-of-31 field goals. He was 9-of-11 from beyond 40.
Shayne Graham, K, Redskins. Age: 33.
Shayne Graham went a perfect 12-of-12 in 2010. He has hit at least 82.1 percent of his field goals since 2003. Graham’s a great kicker if you can get over the whole choking in the playoffs thing.
Connor Barth (RFA), K, Buccaneers. Age: 25.
Tendered by Buccaneers (2nd round)

Connor Barth nailed 23-of-28 field goals in 2010, including 11 of his final 12 tries.
Mason Crosby, K, Packers. Age: 26.
Re-signed with Packers (5 years)

Mason Crosby has a strong leg, but isn’t very accurate. He hasn’t hit 80 percent of his field goals in any of his four NFL seasons.
Joe Nedney, K, 49ers. Age: 38.
Announced retirement

Joe Nedney has drilled 80 percent of his field goals each year since seemingly the beginning of time, but he also gets injured every season.
Nick Folk, K, Jets. Age: 26.
Re-signed with Jets

Nick Folk went 18-of-28 (64.3%) in 2009 and 30-of-39 (76.9%) this year. He’s just not a dependable kicker.
Clint Stitser, K, Bengals. Age: 26.
John Kasay, K, Panthers. Age: 41.
Kris Brown, K, Cowboys. Age: 34.
Kai Forbath, K, UCLA. Age: 23. — Signed with Cowboys
Nick Novak, K, UFL. Age: 30. — Signed with Jets

2011 NFL Free Agents – Punters:

Sam Koch, P, Ravens. Age: 29.
Re-signed with Ravens (5 years)

Sam Koch averaged 43.6 yards per punt despite drilling 39 of his 81 kicks inside the 20.
Adam Podlesh, P, Jaguars. Age: 28.
Signed with Bears (5 years)

Adam Podlesh averaged 43.8 yards per punt with nearly half of his attempts planted inside the 20.
Brett Kern (RFA), P, Titans. Age: 25.
Re-signed with Titans (4 years, $5.2 million)

Brett Kern averaged 42.9 yards per punt with about a third of his kicks inside the 20.
Ben Graham, P, Cardinals. Age: 37.
Re-signed with Cardinals

A decent punter, Ben Graham hit for a 43.4 average with nearly a third of his many attempts inside the 20.
Sav Rocca, P, Eagles. Age: 37.
Signed with Redskins

The aging Sav Rocca averaged 43.8 yards per punt, with about a third of his attempts pinned inside the 20.
Michael Koenen, P, Falcons. Age: 29.
Signed with Buccaneers (6 years)

Michael Koenen has a strong leg, so you have to wonder why his punting average was just 40.9 yards in 2010, with only 29 of his 74 attempts placed inside the 20.
Steve Weatherford, P, Jets. Age: 28.
Signed with Giants

Steve Weatherford averaged a meager 42.6 yards per punt, but that’s because he had a league-leading 42 attempts placed inside the 20. However, he really struggled in the playoffs. He inexplicably lost his confidence.
Daniel Sepulveda, P, Steelers. Age: 27.
Re-signed with Steelers

Daniel Sepulveda averaged 45.5 yards per punt, but tore his right ACL for the third time in December.
Brad Maynard, P, Bears. Age: 37. — Signed with Texans
Sam Paulescu, P, Redskins. Age: 27.
Josh Bidwell, P, Redskins. Age: 35.
Matt Turk, P, Texans. Age: 43. — Signed with Jaguars
Jeremy Kapinos (RFA), P, Steelers. Age: 27.