The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a trio vying for the role of the team's placekicker now that they've decided to bring in veteran Buffalo Bills kicker Rian Lindell to fight for a spot in which Lawrence Tynes and Derek Dimke were already battling.
Buccaneers sign kicker Rian Lindell
The Bucs have had bad luck with kickers, but they’re hoping veteran Bills player Rian Lindell changes that.
Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports
Lindell was released by the Bills Monday, leaving the squad as the second-highest point-scorer in team history. His leg has waned now that he's 36, however, and they brought in sixth-round pick Dustin Hopkins to bring new life to the position.
Tampa Bay's kickers have not had a bright offseason. Last year Connor Barth was perfectly fine at handling duties, hitting 28 of 33 field goals with his leg allowing him to connect from as deep as 57 yards. He tore his Achilles in a charity basketball game this offseason, however, and will miss the whole year.
Tampa Bay then brought in Tynes, a nine-year NFL vet who made several clutch kicks for the New York Giants in their 2007 Super Bowl run, but he's been out all camp with an ingrown toenail. (Toes are kind of important to kickers.) They also brought in Dimke, who has made all five of his field goals and both his extra points in preseason matchups, but is dealing with a sore leg due handling all the team's kicking duties.
The Bucs had originally planned on having open tryouts for the kicker spot, but Lindell will be the one to push for playing time.
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