Graham to get another chance with Panthers

Graham to get another chance with Panthers|
|By JENNA FRYER|
|AP Sports Writer|
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Shayne Graham walked up to his locker, smiling as he pointed to the nameplate above it. As soon as his name was added to the stall, the kicker knew the Carolina Panthers were committed to him for at least another week.
That wasn’t so clear Tuesday, when the Panthers auditioned former Dallas kicker Tim Seder to see if he was a worthy replacement.
But after Seder’s second workout with Carolina, the Panthers (3-1) decided to use Graham in Sunday’s game against Arizona even though Graham missed a game-tying field goal in last week’s loss to Green Bay.
‘‘I guess my destiny’s in my hands now,’’ Graham said Wednesday. ‘‘I’ve got to show the team to have confidence in me, and that means kicking better than I’ve done since I’ve been here.
‘‘That means I’ve got to get my head straight and make sure I’m concentrating when it counts.’’
Graham missed a 24-yard field goal — his only attempt of the game — with 16 seconds left in Green Bay’s 17-14 victory Sunday over Carolina.
The miss was almost enough to cost him any future kicks with Carolina, but the Panthers decided to give him another chance.
‘‘We evaluated other options and we’ve been through a list of options and we felt like after the workouts and what they’ve done in the league that Shayne was our best option,’’ coach John Fox said.
Carolina’s kicking game has been a disaster this season, with three players combining to go 2-for-8 on field goal attempts.
John Kasay began the year as the kicker, but was lost for the season two weeks ago when he had surgery to repair a hernia. The Panthers first signed Jon Hilbert to replace him, but let him go last Friday after he missed both of his field goal attempts in a win over Minnesota and failed to improve in a week of practice.
That gave the job to Graham, who was signed just 48 hours before the Green Bay game. He had just one day to work out with the team and just one kick that might decide his fate with Carolina.
His try with 16 seconds left was shanked wide right, preventing the Panthers from sending the game into overtime for a chance to play for their first 4-0 start in franchise history.
‘‘It’s been very hectic. I had no expectations on that Friday that I was going to get that call and it’s been great to have had that happen,’’ Graham said. ‘‘Then those same emotions were turned upside down on Sunday afternoon. That’s just something that can be very hard to deal with.
‘‘I have to prove to myself that I can be a professional and get past that. That seems to be the big thing for myself, is just proving that I can get over it.’’
Punter Todd Sauerbrun, the holder for field goals, said he was glad the Panther gave Graham another chance.
‘‘The kid had one shot, he missed the one, and I’d like to see him get a couple of shots at it before they make any kind of decisions like releasing anybody,’’ he said. ‘‘I think Shayne hits a very nice ball when he hits it right.’’

 

I don't know why, but that comment makes me feel a little better about the move. After watching those clips of him duck hooking field goals, then the debacle on sunday, I was calling for his head.

 

Are you freakin kidding me?

 

‘‘I think Shayne hits a very nice ball when he hits it right.’’

Is this supposed to be a joke?

 

I always thought it was funny when somebody would say "I like a good steak." That's what Fox is saying. "When Shayne's perfect, he's not too bad."
I just don't feel good about it regardless of what John says about it.

 

Does anyone besides me think there's a possibility that Fox is already looking for John Kasay's successor?

Seems to me like he's looking for a young guy with a strong leg with potential, rather than a polished veteran 'Band Aid' to get us through the season. Give him a year working with O'Brien and with Kasay on the sidelines giving him pointers (as a mentor) and voila, next season Kasay retires and the Panthers have a seasoned kicker who can enable them to forget about the position for a few more years.

Or am I reading too much into this?

 

Fox wants to win now, no question.

 

It comes down to if the game is not riding on the kick graham probably makes it. Seder probably was inconsistant in practice and would be that way in a game. Fox is going with the guy that can put up the most points, I think on 4th down in situations of stress the panthers are going to punt, go for it, or simply pray. But in fox's mind graham is the best bandaid available at the moment.

Kasay won't be back next year. If he were 25 year old kicker with a groin injury he'd be back but not 35.

 

3 words:

TRADE FOR CHANDLER

(jeff chandler that is, not chris you dorks)