The Raiders are going to be moving in a different direction at kicker. Giorgio Tavecchio won’t be a part of Oakland’s kicking competition any longer, with Michael Gehlken of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reporting (on Twitter) the second-year kicker will be waived.
Oakland, though, won’t automatically give rookie Eddy Pineiro the job. Mike Nugent will join the team, per Gehlken.
Tavecchio served as the Raiders’ kicker throughout last season, having replaced Sebastian Janikowski. Tavecchio made 16 of his 21 field goal attempts with the Raiders in 2017 and converted 33 of his 34 PAT tries. But Jon Gruden has orchestrated a string of shakeups this offseason, and Tavecchio’s trip to the waiver wire serves as the latest.
The 28-year-old Italian endured a rough Friday at Raiders camp, per Vic Tafur of The Athletic (Twitter link). The Raiders, though, gave Pineiro a $25K signing bonus to compete with the incumbent as a UDFA.
If the 36-year-old Nugent beats out the rookie, the Raiders will be his seventh team. He last kicked for the Bears and Cowboys (four games apiece) in 2017. He served as the Bengals’ kicker for six years prior to that. However, Tafur adds (on Twitter) Nugent will be viewed as more of a mentor than full-fledged competition for Pineiro. He may be insurance in case the Florida product, who made 17 of his 18 field goal tries last season, has a rough preseason.
Two right-footed kickers are now vying for the Raiders’ job, with the winner set to become the first non-lefty to serve as the Oakland kicker since Brad Daluiso 17 years ago.
Well it’s Gruden. If you’re not above 32, he doesn’t really want you lol.
You’re confusing Jon Gruden with George Allen.
George has always been my favorite coach. In 1974 he had 16 players on his roster aged 30 or over and the Over The Hill Gang still finished 10-4.
He’s one of my favorites, too. Mostly because I emphasize defense and special teams play. But, he was also 2-7 in the playoffs.
And had Sonny Jurgenson been under center vs. Miami, I think they would have won Super Bowl VII.
Kickers generally hit their prime after 30 and Nugent is still a young pup compared to Adam Vinateri.
My grandma is a young pup compared Adam Vinateri
Vinatieri* And he’s not old, he’s chronologically gifted.
Rumors that he came down the mountain with Moses have yet to be confirmed.
No, but in his rookie year the Dead Sea was still sick.
Couldn’t wait for him to leave Cincy .. enjoy Chuckie
A notion echoed by all my Jets fans buddies.