K Olindo Mare

Mare To Kick In Seattle
Notes: Groin injury has made sufficient progress for embattled kicker

posted October 12, 2007 - print me!
neworleansprofootball.com

Haunted by a horrible performance last week in New Orleans, kicker Olindo Mare has retained his job at least this week.

Convincing the coaching staff that he was still a better gamble than seven free agent kickers brought in this week, Mare was listed as probable on the injury report on Friday. There was some question whether he'd be listed at all, considering his block and wide left miss in late week's game that cost the Saints dearly.

The Saints lost by three to Carolina at home when John Kasay connected on a game-winning field goal at the end of the game, 16-13.

Mare's third quarter field goal attempt from 20 yards out was a low-trajectory bullet that was low enough to hit Julius Peppers' elbow at the line. Two possessions later just before the two minute warning Mare missed badly from 54 yards out.

Punter Steve Weatherford handled kickoffs late Sunday and is expected to this Sunday night as well.

The Saints' kicker last year, cut and replaced by Mare, was John Carney, now a Jacksonville Jaguar.

Free Agent Circus

Kickers in this week: Mike Vanderjagt, Martin Gramatica, Billy Cundiff, Seth Marler, Josh Huston, Shane Andrus and Brandon Pace.

The Bengals have since added Josh Huston at least to their practice squad as kicker Shayne Graham is iffy with an injury.

Despite rookie first round pick Robert Meachem on the bench and inactive on Sundays, the Saints also looked at free agent receivers, perhaps as a move to motivate struggling Devery Henderson: Jimmy Ferris, Taylor Jacobs, Travis Taylor, Billy McMullen.

Notes: The Saints did not list S Jay Bellamy on the injury report, meaning that the Saints may not need Chris Reis on the roster as well. Tyler Palko is currently on the practice squad and may be brought up on gameday, as he has most weeks this season. The Saints also have RB Jamaal Branch on the practice squad... Starters Kendrick Clancy and Scott Fujita are expected to return from injury against Seattle and aren't listed on the injury report... Former Saint OL Ben Archibald, a perennial training camp body for the Saints and currently a free agent, got a tryout with the Lions... Former Cowboys Quincy Carter was arrested on possession of pot in Shreveport, LA....

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