Greg the Leg has landed in the Big Apple. The Jets announced that they have signed veteran kicker Greg Zuerlein. It’s a one-year deal worth $2.75MM, according to Connor Hughes of The Athletic (via Twitter).
Zuerlein, 34, has managed to stick around the NFL for 10 seasons, coming into the league from a Division II school and playing eight years with the Rams. That included a 2017 campaign where the kicker earned All-Pro honors after converting 95 percent of his field goals (including six of seven from 50+) and 95.7 percent of his extra point tries.
Since that 2017 campaign, Zuerlein has converted only 81.4 percent of his field goals, and the 2021 season saw him miss a career-high six extra point attempts. As a result, the veteran was cut by the Cowboys earlier this month, saving the organization $2MM. According to Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News (on Twitter), the veteran kicker had back surgery last offseason that “affected his swing,” so there’s some optimism Zuerlein can return to form in 2022.
The Jets relied on the duo of Eddy Pineiro and Matt Ammendola for kicking duties in 2021. The two players are still on the Jets roster, but their future outlook with the organization doesn’t look great following today’s transaction.
I thought they liked what they saw from Piñeiro. If Greg can return to form, this obviously would be a great improvement.
Don’t count on it. Big leg. Missed a lot of easier ones.
Kicking is volatile year-to-year. Nobody should count on any kicker outside of Tucker, Butker, Elliott, or Lutz. Everyone else could be cut at moment’s notice.
Based on law of averages (and if healthy), Zeurlein should have positive regression toward the mean. He has enough of a track record to expect that. But health is obviously the key here.
Don’t forget Robbie Gould…Dude has been good as Gold for seemingly forever!! Lol
Why does Robbie pronounce his name Gold & not Goold? Has anyone asked him?
Well, I’m sure moving out of a dome will help his struggles.
I don’t think Ive ever heard him called Greg the leg…I’ve always heard him referred to as Kicker Z while he was in a Rams uni..
Legatron is the (best) nickname
I concur lol