McAfee to play 2013 under the tag

[husker61]

The Colts will be fine on the cap next year. 

 

This is weird. I get that you don't value a punter all that much; that's one issue. But I don't know why anyone would think a player would prefer the franchise tag to a multi  year deal.

 

agreed, they will be fine on the cap, just in a worse negotiation position with pat.

 

agreed, i don't value punter that much.

 

once you have a proven ability, it's all about risk of career ending injury.

[husker61]

i can't think of one, so can someone let me know of a veteran punter that's career ended because of a injury?

[husker61]

"Kicking athletes face a low risk of injury in professional American football."

 

http://www.kicking.com/Injuries%20to%20Kickers%20in%20American%20Football%20-%20Brophy%20-%202010.pdf

[Superman]

i can't think of one, so can someone let me know of a veteran punter that's career ended because of a injury?

 

 

"Kicking athletes face a low risk of injury in professional American football."

 

http://www.kicking.com/Injuries%20to%20Kickers%20in%20American%20Football%20-%20Brophy%20-%202010.pdf

 

None of that means that a kicker or punter can't be hurt during the course of a game. And you're setting the bar unreasonably high in looking for career ending injuries only. Any injury puts an NFL player's earning potential at risk, and that's well documented. Sure, that risk is lower for a kicker or punter, but it's not nonexistent.

 

Specifically as it pertains to McAfee, who is on both coverage teams, and who is a willing tackler (lead the team in special teams tackles two seasons ago, right?), there's inherent risk of injury. He knows that, and everyone else knows it. I'm unsure why you're so bent on ignoring that risk.

[Superman]

agreed, they will be fine on the cap, just in a worse negotiation position with pat.

 

agreed, i don't value punter that much.

 

once you have a proven ability, it's all about risk of career ending injury.

 

To the first point, I agree. Assuming Pat has a good season and doesn't suffer any injury.

 

And that's what my original point was: I don't understand why we wouldn't even engage in talks for a long term deal, unless McAfee isn't in the team's long term plans. And that's strange to me. No doubt he's a good specialist, and has value to the team. The savings between a good veteran punter and a good rookie punter are negligible in terms of the cap. 

[jvan1973]

that's just my opinion from watching games.

as far as your second question, there doesn't seem to be a difference.

http://www.kicking.com/Injuries%20to%20Kickers%20in%20American%20Football%20-%20Brophy%20-%202010.pdf

"The percentage of lateral ankle sprains due to contact did not

differ between punters and placekickers. Shoulder inju-

ries, however, were primarily attributed to contact (68%);

again, there was no significant difference in the percentage

of contact injuries between punters and placekickers. It

must be considered that both punters and placekickers

are at risk for a variety of nonkicking injuries (listed above)

when they attempt to tackle the opposing player returning

or running with the ball after receiving the kick. This often

results in violent, open-field collisions in addition to the

possibility of injury while the kicker is running down the

field attempting to make a tackle.

pat does both things listed there. he punts and kicksoff

[husker61]

And that's what my original point was: I don't understand why we wouldn't even engage in talks for a long term deal, unless McAfee isn't in the team's long term plans. And that's strange to me. No doubt he's a good specialist, and has value to the team. The savings between a good veteran punter and a good rookie punter are negligible in terms of the cap. 

 

it takes two to tango. that leads me to believe neither party was willing to make a deal. there would be finger pointing from the side that was trying to get a deal done.

 

i think the savings ($2.5-3 million/year) are great between rookie earning minimum and a veteran.

[Superman]

it takes two to tango. that leads me to believe neither party was willing to make a deal. there would be finger pointing from the side that was trying to get a deal done.

 

i think the savings ($2.5-3 million/year) are great between rookie earning minimum and a veteran.

 

Okay. We see it differently.

[cjwhiskers]

Pat's a fan favorite, a great punter/STer and obviously they think highly enough of him to franchise tag him, you don't do that for players you don't like. He will be resigned next year, maybe they just had a lot going on. Afterall Pat wins either way, he's going to make good $$$ this year.