|
Free-agent kicker Greg Zuerlein, who is coming off his worst NFL season, reached a one-year deal Friday to return to the Rams, the team announced. Among the 37 kickers who attempted a field goal in 2015, Zuerlein ranked 35th in the league in field goal percentage, as he converted 20 of 30 for the season. Only former Pittsburgh Steelers kicker Josh Scobee and former Tampa Bay kicker Kyle Brindza came in below Zuerlein's 66.7 percent conversion rate, and that duo attempted 10 and 12 field goals, respectively. Zuerlein was 26-of-28 on extra points. "Any time you go out there and miss kicks, you are not going to be happy about it," Zuerlein said after the season. "I think I've got to get better and convert those kicks. Really, that's all it comes down to is making kicks, and I didn't make as many as I would have liked."  The 28-year-old Zuerlein attempted nine field goals of 50-plus yards and made three. Those nine tries were the second most among all kickers. He did, however, set a franchise record by making a 61-yard field goal against Minnesota. After the season, Rams coach Jeff Fisher made it clear that the team would have a competition for the kicking job, regardless of what happened with Zuerlein. "[We're] going to create a competitive environment, however, for him," Fisher said at the owners meetings. "I think he needs to compete this year." The Rams picked Zuerlein in the sixth round of the 2012 NFL draft, and he made 78.2 percent of his 119 field goal tries in his first four seasons with the team.
|
