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The real 12th Man
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Dolphins release kicker Feely
Source: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/f...,2242370.story
Quote:
A day after coach Tony Sparano said he was no longer, "out of the hurtin'-people's-feelings business,'' the Dolphins cut veteran kicker Jay Feely, who was coming off one of the most accurate field-goal kicking seasons in NFL history.
The Dolphins told Feely Tuesday morning that they wanted to get younger, so they opted to keep 22-year-old rookie kicker Dan Carpenter, whose only NFL experience came Saturday night in the 17-6 exhibition loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers when he made field goals from 41 and 49 yards.
"You want to believe if you perform well, which obviously I did, setting the franchise record last year and second in the NFL,'' Feely said via cell-phone. "I had the best year of my career, and three years in a row I had the best years of my career, and if you work hard, and I've attended 100 percent of the offseason workouts when my contract only called for 90 percent.
"[Strength coach] Evan Marcus told me he's never seen a kicker work so hard. You're well liked by your teammates, and obviously I was, I got elected captain by them last year, you want to believe your team is going to want you and desire you. Obviously, that wasn't the case.''
Feely converted 21 of 23 field goals last season for a franchise-best 91.3 percent accuracy rate. He made all 26 extra points, but had just eight touchbacks. He was frequently asked to squib or pooch kick by then coach Cam Cameron because the coverage units were ineffective. Feely has repeatedly outkicked Carpenter on kickoffs in practice, however, Carpenter's hang time seem slightly longer.
Feely has been out with a groin injury, but said that had nothing to do with the team's decision. He was ready to kick Saturday, but was told not to bother.
"I knew something was up,'' Feely said.
Feely, 32, felt that his affable relationship with the media, as well as his regular appearances on ESPN-TV, played a factor in the team's decision to release him. Feely was told by both special teams coaches, as well as Sparano that he should maintain a lower profile this year, an edict that most likely came from the top, vice president of football operations Bill Parcells.
"I do think that had a negative impact in the way they first viewed me,'' Feely said. "Not particularly by Bill Parcells, but I'm sure everything rolls downhill. So I stopped doing many interviews and [TV] shows because part of your job is to do what your coach asks you to do.
"I was willing to do that and I think that gets lost some times.''
Of course, the Dolphins saved money by severing ties with Feely, who already earned a $350,000 preseason roster bonus of his $1.2 million contract, by paying Carpenter the rookie minimum of $295,000.
Feely met with General Manager Jeff Ireland before talking to Parcells and Sparano separatel y. He told Sparano how much he respected the way the rookie coach handled the team.
"I've got no reason to blow smoke to him, he just released me, but I told Coach Sparano that he has a very good demeanor in front of the team and I was very impressed,'' Feely said.
Feely said that Parcells just told him that he wants to get younger so the nucleus could grow together, and in, "two to three years from now they'll have the group they want.''
He also said Ireland spoke to several teams about a trade, but Feely was glad he could now pick and choose the best opportunity for him.
"The most distressing thing is having to leave the kids in school and be away from them for a season,'' he said. "I'll sit back and see where the best opportunity for me is, and like [Jason Taylor] I want to win. Going through a 1-15 season was tough and there was nothing I could've done more to prepare myself. I was in the best shape I've ever been in and was kicking the ball well. I'll ho pe to go to a team that's ready to compete for a Super Bowl.''
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#9 Boise State Broncos 10-0
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08-12-2008, 11:57 AM
Re: Dolphins release kicker Feely
