Janikowski – not Carpenter – should be kicking in the Pro Bowl
Look, I’m not into ranting and raving about NFL conspiracies against the Oakland Raiders.
Nor do I like to play along like many Raider fans and act like there are ulterior motives behind every decision the NFL makes whether referees on the field or off the field by league officials.
Quite frankly, that shtick is old and tired.
I can even understand Nate Kaeding being selected to the Pro Bowl. It was deserving.
He led the league with 32 field goals made. The San Diego place-kicker missed only three all season (from 41, 43 and 55 yards out) and he was first in 2009 with 146 points.
That’s impressive and praiseworthy. I don’t care about the missed field goals against the New York Jets. The Pro Bowl is an award for regular season performances. He earned that merit.
We all found out later Kaeding is not clutch – so did Charger fans. But that’s a whole different story.
But when Kaeding went down with a groin injury and could not represent the AFC in the Pro Bowl, Sebastian Janikowski should have been the choice rather than the Miami Dolphins’ Dan Carpenter.
Carpenter was chosen to replace Kaeding for the NFL’s all-star game. A horrible decision by those that elevate alternates or select replacements.
Janikowski enjoyed his best season as a pro. He beat out Carpenter in field goals made (26-to-25) and even torched him in touchbacks (17-to-7), as the Dolphin kicker had 21 more chances to kickoff in 2009.
The former 1st round pick was highly efficient missing only one kick under 49-yards while showing off his powerful left leg going 6-of-8 from 50+ yards out. Janikowski even nailed a 61-yard kick in Cleveland.
Carpenter on the other hand missed 2 field goals under 49-yards and was a mere 1-of-2 from 50+ yards out. The only reason he ended with more total points than Janikowski was that his offense was far more productive, giving him a tally of 37-extra points as oppose to the 17 the Silver & Black kicker had this past season.
“I was real surprised,” Carpenter stated after finding out he was added to the Pro Bowl roster.
I was too!
It’s a sham that Carpenter was selected over Janikowski.
The better, more deserving kicker was screwed.
