Man, I don't know what you mean by being consistent. I've seen just about every Saints game he's kicked in, and I can say unequivocally that Carney is a bum. He has some real ability to kick the ball (I think he went to the pro bowl with some team after we cut him), but he's getting up there in age (not as big a deal for kickers as others, but still a factor that may be impacting his game) and most importantly, he's mentally weak, which is a big no-no for a kicker.
He is paid well to do a single thing--kick a ball through the uprights. If he can't do that with far better than average consistency, then I'm betting that there are plenty of unsigned and undrafted kickers out there who would love to get a shot. Hell, take any random rugby or soccer player, and with a little training they can probably do it better than Carney. Carney is way too shaky.
I'll just say this--if you are gonna defend him now, don't complain when the Saints lose a playoff game by two points because Carney missed a 20 yarder as time expires. He has had his chance, and he's already blown it in my opinion. Football games can be won or lost by the slightest factor, and having a kicker who misses "gimmes" and extra points from time to time is not acceptable.
John Carney is NOT a bum.
Why would you say that?
What makes him a "bum" in your opinion? Not every kicker is perfect. Not even Morten Andersen, and I still consider him the best kicker EVER in the N.F.L. How in the hell do you know he is "mentally weak"? How could he be mentally weak, and still make all of the kicks that he has in his career? By the way he is the same age as coach Payton. They are both 45 years old. Carney is three months younger than Payton. The commentators said that on MNF while the game was going on. Here is a copy and paste from the NFL player page for John Carney over at the official Saints website at
www.neworleanssaints.com:
"NFL CAREER – While Carney has ranked among the NFL’s most productive and accurate kickers since 1990, he has taken his considerable skills to a new level since originally coming to New Orleans in 2001 and has become one of the best kickers in franchise history. Carney is the fourth-leading scorer in NFL record books, with 1,995 points. In a six-year stint with the Saints from 2001-06, he converted 150 of 180 field goals (83.3 percent) and scored 661 points, which ranks second in team record books. He is coming off a Pro Bowl season in 2008 with the New York Giants where he scored a career-best 143 points – his 11th triple-digit scoring season – on 35-for-38 field goal accuracy and making all 38 extra point kicks. In 2006, he led New Orleans with 115 points – tied for ninth in the league – and earned NFC Special Teams Player of the Month honors for September. In 2002, Carney set a club record with 130 points, and his 31 field goals that season also tied a Saints record (K Morten Andersen, 1985). Prior to coming to New Orleans, Carney spent 11 seasons with the San Diego Chargers and was selected to the Pro Bowl in 1994."
Here are the honors he's received from the N.F.L. during his 21 year career:
"HONORS – 2008: Pro Bowl; NFC Special Teams Player of the Week, Week 3; 2006: NFC Special Teams Player of the Month, September; 2005: NFC Special Teams Player of the Week, Week 1. 2004: NFC Special Teams Player of the Week, Week 3; 2003: Sporting News No. 1 Good Guy Award for the NFL; 2001: NFC Special Teams Player of the Month (October); NFC Special Teams Player of the Week (Weeks 4 and 7). 2000: AFC Special teams Player of the Week (Week 13). 1999: AFC Special Teams Player of the Week (Week 14). 1998: AFC Special Teams Player of the Week (Week 1). 1996: AFC Special Teams Player of the Week, (Weeks 1 and 5); AFC Special Teams Player of the Month (September). 1994: Pro Bowl; Associated Press, College & Pro Football Newsweekly, The Sporting News and USA Today first team All-Pro, Football News and United Press International All-AFC, AFC Special Teams Player of the Week (Week 4), AFC Special Teams Player of the Month (October). 1993: AFC Special Teams Player of the Week (Week 3), AFC Special Teams Player of the Month (September)."
After all of that and you call him a bum?
We're supposed to support and back up our players. Not trash them. I was happy to hear when the Saints re-signed him.
Here's his full player page link:
https://www.neworleanssaints.com/Team/Roster/People/John Carney.aspx
Sure he's not Morten Andersen, but he still one of the best kickers we have ever had.
