The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed kicker Nate Kaeding according to his agent, Rick Smith, via Aaron Wilson. Kaeding spent the majority of his first nine seasons with the San Diego Chargers, before joining the Miami Dolphins late last season. Kaeding will compete with Connor Barth for the position, but it is unlikely Barth will be released as his entire 2013 salary is guaranteed.
NFL free agent tracker: Nate Kaeding signs with Buccaneers
Tampa Bay added one of the most accurate kickers in NFL history
Kelley L Cox-US PRESSWIRE
Over the course of his career, Kaeding has made 86.2 percent of his field goal attempts, which is among the best all-time percentages in NFL history. Kaeding earned two Pro Bowl selections during his time in San Diego, in 2006 and 2009.
In 2011, he tore his ACL and missed the entire season, but he returned in 2012 to beat out Nick Novak for the starting job in San Diego. Early in the 2012 season, Kaeding injured his groin and was placed on injured reserve; he was released once healthy on Oct. 30. The Dolphins signed Kaeding on Dec. 21 to replace Dan Carpenter for the final two games of the season. He missed two of three field goal attempts with Miami.
Kaeding will compete with the incumbent kicker, Barth, who is entering his fifth season with the Bucs. Last season Barth made 28 of 33 field goals, with a long of 57 yards.
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