In a somewhat unexpected move, the Baltimore Ravens announced the release of veteran kicker Billy Cundiff on Sunday afternoon. The team has decided to go with rookie free agent Justin Tucker just two years after Cundiff landed in the Pro Bowl wearing a Ravens uniform.
Billy Cundiff Is A Surprise Cut By The Ravens
Despite all of the kicker's success in Baltimore, Cundiff will presumably be remembered most by fans for missing a 32-yard, game-tying field goal in last season's AFC Championship Game against the New England Patriots. Few kickers have performed better than Cundiff during the regular season, but that kick is a big part of his legacy.
Beyond the fact that Tucker comes at a cheaper price, the rookie impressed Ravens coaches with his showing during training camp. Head coach John Harbaugh insisted to reporters that Cundiff also performed well when announcing the move, but Tucker was 5-of-5 during the preseason and made two kicks of longer than 50 yards.
A 22-year-old that went undrafted out of Texas, Tucker put up strong numbers in college. Over two years with the Longhorns, he made 40-of-48 kicks, good for a 83 percent success rate.
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