'Your papers, please' must never be heard in America
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They were two words on a sponsor's banner draped behind the Philadelphia Eagles' postgame podium: Imagine. Change.
When the Washington Redskins cut the cord with Graham Gano late in the preseason, they signaled the end of a young kicker experiment. They invested two-plus seasons in Gano's potential but jumped at Billy Cundiff when the Baltimore Ravens released the veteran.
In-season kicker tryouts have become so common for the Washington Redskins that they should be written into the schedule — like bye week. This year's tryouts will be held Tuesday, thanks to Billy Cundiff's second chip-shot miss in as many games, a 31-yarder that veered to the right against the Atlanta Falcons.
Nick Sundberg knew his left arm was broken, but it was up to Washington Redskins long snapper whether he'd stay in Sunday's game. He watched center Will Montgomery practicing long snaps on the sideline with holder Sav Rocca and his mind was made up.
Outside linebacker Ryan Kerrigan can look back and learn from his long afternoon last December against massive New England tight end Rob Gronkowski as he prepares to play another giant, New Orleans tight end Jimmy Graham, on Sunday.
All you can ask of any NFL preseason game is that (a.) players who need the work get the work; and (b.) everybody emerges with with their limbs and faculties intact. Well, everybody important, at least.
One day after he appeared to win the Washington Redskins kicking job, Graham Gano is out of work. His replacement is Billy Cundiff, who spent two days unemployed after getting cut by the Baltimore Ravens.
A person familiar with the move says the Washington Redskins have released kicker Graham Gano and replaced him with Billy Cundiff.
One day after he appeared to win the Washington Redskins kicking job, Graham Gano is out of work. His replacement is Billy Cundiff, who spent two days unemployed after getting cut by the Baltimore Ravens.
Neil Rackers' release from the Washington Redskins seemed to indicate this was incumbent Graham Gano's job yet again. Monday's relief was gone 24 hours later.
One day you're celebrating because the competition was released, suggesting that you won the training-camp battle. The next day, you're looking for work because the Redskins signed another team's discard and gave him your job. Such is the life of a kicker.
Graham Gano's victory in the Redskins' kicking competition did not last long. A day after he beat out veteran challenger Neil Rackers, the team replaced him with veteran Billy Cundiff, a source with knowledge of the situation confirmed.
Graham Gano put it together in his head as he saw veteran Neil Rackers leaving the Washington Redskins' practice facility Monday morning. The two kickers spent the preseason competing for one job, and the sight of Rackers with the contents of his locker represented the end of the battle.
Vince Young is out of work, Terrell Suggs is on PUP and several veteran NFL kickers are on the street after the first set of mandatory NFL cuts.
Vince Young is out of work, Terrell Suggs is on PUP and several veteran NFL kickers are on the street after the first set of mandatory NFL cuts.
"I would like to thank the Redskins organization for the 3 years I spent with them," Gano wrote on his Twitter account Tuesday morning. "I will miss my teammates and I wish you the best of luck!"
Redskins change kickers, replace Graham Gano with Billy Cundiff →
"We had a good little talk. I was saying he was a big professional about it. He wished me the best of luck this year," Gano said. "We thought it was going to come down to the last week, but it's coach's decision."
Redskins release kicker Neil Rackers, leaving Graham Gano as winner →
