New York Giants fans might remember Mike Nugent from his days with Gang Green. Now he’s a member of Big Blue.
The New York Giants decided to add some competition for Aldrick Rosas by signing veteran kicker Mike Nugent. Nugent’s job will be to attempt to unseat Rosas as the kicker. The Giants announced the signing on Twitter.
The #NYGiants have signed veteran kicker Mike Nugent. READ: https://t.co/GQFRVbXMDN pic.twitter.com/9eUlLQao2m
— New York Giants (@Giants) August 1, 2017
Nugent has kicked in the NFL since 2005, converting 80.8 percent of his field goal attempts and 96.9 percent of his extra point attempts. His best year came with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2011, when he made 86.8 percent of his attempted field goals. He has not missed a field goal from inside 29 yards since his rookie season.
A second-round pick out of Ohio State by the New York Jets in 2005, Nugent spent four years kicking at the old Giants Stadium. He converted 81.5 percent of his kicks, with a long of 54 yards, while wearing the Jets’ green-and-white. He was perfect in his lone playoff appearance with the Jets, converting three field goals and one extra point.
Nugent has played in five playoff games over the course of his career and is 7-for-8 on postseason three-point attempts, converting all five of his attempted extra points.
The veteran kicker has a chance to kick his way to a roster spot, but the Giants have high hopes for Rosas, an undrafted free agent. Ideally, Nugent’s presence will force Rosas to raise his game to another level.
While kicking in training camp isn’t the same as kicking in front of 80,000 screaming fans, the pressure Nugent puts on Rosas should help his long-term development.
