EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -Lawrence Tynes might have been given the perfect test in his first practice with the New York Giants on Wednesday.
Last in the optional offseason workout, the new kicker was asked to make about five chip shot field goals.
For a veteran, that’s like tapping in for par. For Tynes, it was a chance to show he can be consistent.
Tynes missed a short field goal in the Kansas City Chiefs’ playoff loss to the Super Bowl champion Indianapolis Colts, a miscue that was said to annoy coach Herm Edwards and raise concerns about his consistency.
The Chiefs drafted Justin Medlock of UCLA in the fifth round last month and traded Tynes to the Giants this month for a conditional draft pick.
“No one in this league is going to be judged on one kick,” Tynes said after practice, insisting his contract status had more to do with his trade than the miss.
Tynes will be paid $850,000 under a contract that will expire after this season. He wanted a multiyear deal, but talks with Chiefs general manager Carl Peterson were fruitless.
“My deal was more with management,” Tynes said. “It wasn’t with coaching. Herm had my back. My special teams coach had my back. When we couldn’t get a long-term deal done, it kind of blew up.”
Tynes gave Peterson a list of teams for whom he would like to play, and the Giants were in the mix. New York, which made the playoffs with an 8-8 record, lost its kicker when Jay Feely signed with Miami as a free agent.
“This is a playoff-ready team,” Tynes said. “I think I bring some experience. I’ve kicked game winners and played in big games. Then again, I just need to take care of what I can do.”
To win the job, Tynes will have to beat out free agent Josh Huston, the former Ohio State player who is trying to make an NFL roster.
“Everybody needs competition,” said Jeff Feagles, the veteran punter who serves as the Giants holder. “You just can’t hand a job to somebody. They have to earn it. Those two will battle. Lawrence has the game experience in the NFL and dealt with the mental part of it. They are both good kickers.”
Huston was limited at practice on Wednesday because of an appendectomy three weeks ago. He thinks he will be able to attempt field goals during the team’s minicamp next month, but he is not sure whether he will be able to kick off.
Giants general manager Jerry Reese told Huston on Wednesday that he will get a fair shot at the job.
“I have been kicking really well,” Huston said. “They were happy enough with me not to draft anyone.”
While he scored 107 points last season, Tynes was not happy making only 24 of 31 field goal attempts.
In his own defense, Tynes said he has never missed a game winner, and that he was 6-of-11 from 50 yards or more in his three seasons since replacing Morten Andersen.
Tynes isn’t worried about the swirling winds at Giants Stadium. He played two years in the cold CFL and he noted that the artificial surface at Giants Stadium is better than the grass field conditions in Kansas City.
“I am competing against myself,” Tynes said.
Add A Comment