Buzz: Rackers to Visit Jets
Multiple sources are reporting that free agent kicker Neil Rackers is set to fly to New York for a visit with the Jets.
The Jets need a replacement after Jay Feely signed with the Cardinals. They signed Nick Folk in February, but his contract is non-guaranteed.
Rackers, who is the same age as Feely, played last year under a contract for $1.1m, so may be a cheaper option for the Jets, who were reportedly unwilling to allocate more than $1.2m (their highest offer to Feely) to the kicker position this season. He is a UFA, so that would mean that if they sign him, they would have to wait until one of their other UFAs was picked up before they could sign another.
A statistical comparison follows after the jump:
- Feely has made over 83% of his field goals in each of the last five seasons. Rackers dipped below that level in 2006 (76%) and 2007 (70%), although 12 of his 18 missed field goals in those two years were from over 50 yards.
- Rackers made 16 of 17 field goals last year, but then struggled badly in the playoffs. Feely made 30 of 36 in the regular season before he also missed a couple in Indianpolis.
- Over the past five years, Rackers has only missed 10 field goals of less than 50 yards, only four of which were from less than 40. Feely has missed 20 field goals of less than 50 yards, 10 of which were from within 40.
- Over the last five years, Feely has 49 touchbacks (12%) to Rackers’ 85 (23%). Last season, Feely had 10 (12%) whereas Rackers had 14 (22%). The average return for Feely (24 yards) was higher too (20 yards for Rackers), although in previous seasons, that wasn’t the case.
- 45% of Rackers’ onside kicks have been recovered by the kicking team, as opposed to 30% from Feely.
Conclusions: If the Jets do decide to replace Feely with Rackers and save some money in the process, then it should be a solid move. Although Feely’s career percentage is slightly better, Rackers’ numbers are skewed by the fact that he has taken twice as many field goals from beyond 50 yards and he also appears to have a bigger leg for kickoffs.
29 Responses to Buzz: Rackers to Visit Jets
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Shamik says:
Don’t forget Rackers has played in the Arizona for all this time, its got lot better conditions than the Meadowlands.
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MS says:
I say we hold off on signing Rackers. If we sign him we lose the option to sign someone else (Sharper or some other position).
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daddybe1 says:
Sorry ms if we sign someone it cannot be more than 30 percent the current salery of feelys
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TOON2388 says:
forget Sharper, so he had an “Adrian Beltre starts aligned for one season” in 2009. He is old, and he is hurt.
Sharper would become the poster boy for the ADD over-reactors who chime in on TJB. He would be “best player ever” and then when he has a bad game, you all would be lobbying to have a firing squad take him out.
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Bent says:
daddybe1 – I think you’re confusing the final eight rules and the 30% rule. Check out my salary cap post for a breakdown of how it actually works.
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Harris52 Fan says:
Rackers > Folk thats all I’m saying
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Dylan says:
Rackers has more consistant than Feely for the last few years. The guy just doesn’t miss from inside 50. He also has a stronger leg than Feely.
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BigKatt wants a ring says:
Toon i don’t think he would be that bad. I don’t really want him, but if we do sign him i think he could have a good year or two in our D.
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ramble914 says:
Didn’t he have a big time miss (choke) in last years post season?
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JohnR says:
If you had the NFL Sunday ticket the last few years and watched 4 p.m. Cardinals’ games when the Jets weren’t on, you know this: Rackers NEVER made a kick that mattered whether it be to tie or win a game late. I mean, NEVER!
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Bent says:
Here’s an article talking about JohnR’s point re: Rackers kicking in the clutch.
http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcwest/post/_/id/16394/rackers-retrospective-kicking-in-clutch
He has missed 5 key kicks in games they lost (three from within 50 yards) and one more in a game they won (the playoff game against the Packers). He has made 4 key kicks in games they won, but all four were in 2 games in 2007. He has missed his only game tying or winning kick since 2007, but they won anyway.
His clutch kicking isn’t very good, but isn’t as bad as JohnR suggests. The most surprising thing is that he hasn’t had many opportunities.
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JetSetRadio says:
if were tallking about then Jay Feely is one of the least clutch kickers in the game i mean i love the fact that he actually makes tackles on special teams and he was awesome in the Bengals game but the Jets did the right thing he wanted big time kicker money and we just weren’t going to hand it over. I for one will miss feely and his rediculous game gear
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klecko71 says:
seriously….rackers S–TS the bed when it comes to a big kick.
hello?? the bears cards game from a few years ago (dennis green meltdown) and of course last yrs playoff game….
letting feely go was lame…..he was CLUTCH and made tackles on kickoffs….HE WENT LOOKING FOR TACKLES!!
first time we lose a game b/c of a 30 yard hooked fg……we gonna be slightly pissed….
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Marvel says:
Rackers had more tackles than Feely last season .. So fear not , he’s a Rex Ryan type of player… lol …
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Clutch ? … Indy …. Choke …
P.s Feely had 4 tackles … Why do people make it seem like it was 40 ?
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Feely missed two big FGs in the Jets most important game of the season. He was good last year, but calling him clutch is a little bit of an overstatment. Vinatieri is clutch. Stover is clutch. Hartley was clutch. Feely is NOT a clutch kicker.
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JetObsessed28 says:
Kicking at the Meadowlands may be a little different in the coming seasons.. I wonder how the new stadium’s design will affect wind and how the ball travels..
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Also, if it comes to a Rackers vs. Folk competition, my money is on Rackers..
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rackers have a booming leg he gets a lot of touchbacks keep in mind that is very valuable for a team with the # 1 rank defense…
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Bent says:
“HE WENT LOOKING FOR TACKLES!!!”
I think that’s a bad thing.
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ha….good point bent. feely was a great team guy who the players clearly liked and respected.
never want to lose a game b/c of lame kicking…
hopefully we wont regret the loss…
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jvsvn says:
The guy’s on a plane to NYC two days after Feely signs. Sounds to me like there’s a deal already in place.
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Ben Nevis says:
“Over the past five years, Rackers has only missed 10 field goals of less than 50 yards, only four of which were from less than 40. Feely has missed 20 field goals of less than 50 yards, 10 of which were from within 40.”
That’s a telling stat, and it suggests that Rackers is preferable to Feely. Also, the years Rackers FG% dipped (2006 & 2007), it was because most of the FGs he missed were from over 50 yards.
But the comparison here should be between the two options we now have: Rackers and Folk.
Last year, Rackers had a 94.1 FG percentage.
Folk had a 64.3 FG percentage.
Between the two, I’d go with Rackers.
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MEL31602 says:
Cimini says the Jets may have something else up their sleeve instead of signing Rackers. Sharper, anyone?
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Jimmy Shnoogen says:
Ahhh I found wifi in the middle of farm country in PA… Happy holidays everyone!
Yeah, I was wondering the same thing MEL32602 was, when I first read Cimini’s post… What could he be hearing that the Jets might have up their sleeves?
Although, I don’t think its about Sharper, cause that doesn’t solve the apparent concern regarding the kicker. Are the Jets maybe going to trade for a kicker? Or attempt to for that matter?
Interesting little tid-bit to consider anyway.
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Eddie DiGio says:
Rackers has a higher percentage, he only missed 10 kicks under 50 yards…
Bent alluded to the fact that he has, but I have NEVER ONCE seen Rackers make a big kick, never, not once…
On the other hand, I saw Folk bang a 50 yard in Arizona to tie the game and send it into OT…
For those of you who think Folk is going to drool his way out on the field with his helmet on backwards, the guy will surprise you…he had the “yips” last year and went through a rough spell like all kickers do but the guy has ability, in fact, alot of ability…the key for him is getting back to a place where he just kicks and doesnt think to much.
Bring Rackers in and let the best man win…its what always thought the Jets would do anyway…just dont be surprised if Folk beats out Rackers
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k.c. says:
I CALLED IT.
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Joe B. says:
It’d be nice to have a kicker that can kick touchbacks for once. I don’t remember Hall doing it often, Nugent certainly couldn’t and Feely hardly ever did. Considering the difference in FG kicking is negligible, I’d consider that enough to make Rackers an upgrade over Feely.
Rackers would be a good replacement for Feely.