Packers cut PK Cundiff

[PaulOttCarruth]

Not that you were planning on drafting a GB kicker, but . . .

 

This from jsonline.com

 

Green Bay - Choosing youth and leg strength over experience, the Green Bay Packers released veteran kicker Billy Cundiff Thursday afternoon, leaving Dave Rayner to handle all the kicking duties for the time being.

 

The move comes as a surprise given that Cundiff had been more accurate on field goals than Rayner and fairly solid on kickoffs. He has missed six field goals in two weeks of practice, including two in the team's intrasquad scrimmage on Aug. 5.

 

Rayner has missed more field goals, but his leg strength is better and the Packers apparently view his potential as much greater than Cundiff's. With only one kicker in camp, Rayner will receive all the repetitions in the Atlanta game Saturday and it might give the team an idea of how he handles being the main kicker.

 

"It was a good battle the whole way," said agent Paul Sheehy, who represents both kickers. "I"m a little surprised they did it this early. They both kicked really well. But this gives Billy a chance to find another job. I'm not worried about him being employed."

 

Sheehy said he was told the decision wasn't performance-based, but rather the Packers' desire to go with a stronger leg and younger prospect. Rayner, 23, served as the Indianapolis Colts' kickoff man last year after being selected in the sixth round of the draft.

 

He averaged 61.5 yards on his kickoffs but became expendable when the Colts signed Adam Vinatieri in free agency. Rayner is 0 for 1 in his career on field goals, missing a 59-yarder last year.

 

In the last kickoff drill the Packers had in practice, Cundiff averaged 66.8 yards to Rayner's 60.1. Rayner also missed two field goals in the intrasquad scrimmage, but also had a successful onsides kick in the San Diego exhibition opener.

 

Cundiff, who had signed a one-year deal with no signing bonus, kicked the only field goal in the game for the Packers, a 23-yarder.

 

Sheehy said that the Packers told him they might come back to Cundiff if things don't go well with Rayner.

 

They also will be on the lookout for kickers who are released when rosters are trimmed to 65 and 53.