Detroit Lions will workout Kickers Matt Prater, Jay Feely, and Conner Barth on Tuesday
The Detroit Lions will bring three kickers to Detroit on Tuesday for a workout with the organization and it’s likely one will leave with a contract.
Former Broncos kicker Matt Prater and former Cardinals kicker Jay Feely both scheduled to work out for Lions on Tuesday.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 6, 2014
One more kicker at tomorrow's workout: Connor Barth will join Jay Feely and Matt Prater. #Lions
— Dave Birkett (@davebirkett) October 6, 2014
Matt Prater, Jay Feely, and Conner Barth will all be in Detroit one day after the Detroit Lions cut ties with Alex Henery, according to NFL Network reporter, Ian Rapoport.
Jay Feely is on his way to Detroit to work out for the Lions tomorrow, source says.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 6, 2014
Henery was just 1 of 4 in his two games with the Lions, including an 0 of 3 performance Sunday in a 17-14 loss against the Buffalo Bills. That includes missing a potential game-winner from 50 yards in the final seconds. Detroit Lions head coach, Jim Caldwell admitted the Lions didn’t make the right move in signing Henery.
"“You can’t put them in a game situation (during tryouts) and find out everything you need to know about them. That’s an unknown,” Caldwell said. “You have to certainly make your best guess, and go with it — and if it’s not (right), get it corrected. And don’t be ashamed to get it corrected, you know? Regardless of what happens.”"
“We got to get a guy who is consistent under pressure and be able to get us points on the board. In this league, there are going to be close games and guys at that position are going to decide a number of games.” – Detroit Lions head coach, Jim Caldwell
The process to fix the vacant kicker position began immediately on Monday morning. Caldwell stated that “(experience is) one of the factors”.
Feely, 38, has 13 years of NFL experience with five teams. He’s made 82.7 percent of his 398 career field-goal attempts. Playing for the Arizona Cardinals last season, he connected on 30 of 36 kicks. The veteran kicker jokingly tweeted he was waiting by the phone for the Detroit Lions to call on Sunday afternoon.
Waiting for @Lions to call
— Jay Feely (@jayfeely) October 5, 2014
RT @mtaz23 My only question is.. What the hell is @jayfeely up to these days?
Prater, an eight-year veteran, has made 81.6 percent of his kicks, including an NFL record 64-yarder for the Denver Broncos last season. For his career, he’s made 21 of 27 attempts from 50 yards and beyond.
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He was released last week, days before his four-game suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse policy came to an end. Caldwell wouldn’t rule out adding Prater, despite concerns about his character.
Barth is an 84.2-percent field-goal kicker for his career. He spent the last five years with the Tampa Bay Bucs, but missed last season with a torn Achilles suffered playing in a charity basketball game.
Whomever the Detroit Lions choose as the next kicker on the carousel, we the fans can only hope it’s the last. Who do you prefer they choose?
Stay logged into Detroit Jock City for all the late-breaking Detroit Lions news as their search for a new kicker will likely be settled tomorrow!