By Jordan Long
The Atlanta Falcons finished this past season at 7-9 missing the playoffs for the 1st time in 3 years. With the poor performance, changes were coming to the team. They decided it was time to move on from kicker Matt Bryant who will turn 44 in May. This saves the Falcons about $2.833 million on the salary cap.
Bryant ended his 17th season in the NFL and his 10th with the Falcons. Atlanta relied on him to make field goals when they passed the 50-yard line. When drives stalled, he was able to kick the ball through the uprights. This was Bryant’s best season in the NFL making 20 of 21 field goals or a percentage of 95.2%. Bryant’s longest was 57 yards. His only miss was in week 14 in a loss against the Packers. Bryant missed a 53-yard field goal in the 1st quarter. Bryant was 33 of 35 in PAT’s.
According to ESPN, Atlanta Falcons General Manager Thomas Dimitroff said, “I am extremely grateful for everything that Matt Bryant has done for this organization over the last 10 years. There is no doubt he is one of the all-time great Falcons as he’s been an integral part of our success. This was a difficult decision but one that was necessary for us to move forward into 2019. We have the utmost respect for the person and the player that Matt is, and we wish he and his family the best going forward.”
This was a surprising move. In the NFL a team wants a kicker who can hit field goals. Bryant showed that last year. His leg is not a problem but his age at 44 is. There are not many teams that have a 44-year old kicker on their roster. Atlanta decided it was best to move on from him. Bryant isn’t going to retire, but is hopeful to play for another franchise next year.
Atlanta will now go with Giorgio Tavecchio. Tavecchio is younger at 28 years old. The Falcons are going to save money because his salary next year is $645,000. Tavecchio showed he could make field goals last season. In 3 games with Atlanta he was a perfect 5 for 5 with a long of 56. He was also 8 for 8 in PAT’s. Atlanta is hoping he is their answer at kicker. If Tavecchio starts missing kicks and those cost Atlanta games, he won’t be there long. This is a gamble for the Falcons but Tavecchio should be their future at the kicker position. sd
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