Randy Bullock - Pro Football Rumors

Steelers Sign Randy Bullock

December 3rd, 2016 at 10:22am CST by Ben Levine

Steelers kicker Chris Boswell was listed as questionable on the team’s latest injury report, so the team has signed another kicker as insurance. Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports (via Twitter) that the Steelers have signed veteran kicker Randy Bullock. To make room on the roster, the team has released cornerback Al-Hajj Shabazz (via Bouchette).

Bullock, 26, was the Giants’ kicker during their season opener as Josh Brown served his one-game suspension. The former fifth-rounder made two of his three extra point attempts, and he was subsequently waived by the team in mid-September. Since then, Bullock has gotten auditions with both the Bengals and Vikings. In three-plus seasons in the NFL, Bullock has connected on 80.6-percent of his field goal attempts and nearly 96-percent of his extra point attempts. Bullock has also been productive on kickoffs, averaging 65.9-yards per kick during his career.

Boswell, 25, had a breakout season in 2015, connecting on 90.6-percent of his field goals. However, that number has dropped this season, as the kicker has only connected on 75-percent of his field goal attempts. Boswell is currently recovering from an abdominal injury, according to Bouchette.

Shabazz, an undrafted rookie out of West Chester in 2015, has bounced between the Steelers’ active roster and practice squad this season. In five career games, the cornerback has collected one tackle.

Vikings To Audition Kickers

November 7th, 2016 at 5:55pm CST by Zachary Links

The Vikings are set to audition a group of kickers on Tuesday, according to Tom Pelissero of USA Today (on Twitter). The workout will include Kai Forbath, tweets Matt Vensel of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. Randy Bullock is also likely to be a part of that group, but it’s not clear who else will be participating. In total, there should be four or five kickers in attendance, according to Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN (on Twitter).

On Sunday, Blair Walsh missed an extra point attempt and had a field goal blocked as the Vikings lost to the Lions 22-16. This year, Walsh is just 12-16 on field goal attempts, though it should be noted that three of those misses came from more than 40 yards away.

Bullock was part of a group of kickers that worked out for the Bengals recently, along with Zach Hocker and Forbath. As of right now, the Bengals have not made a change at kicker and are forging ahead with Mike Nugent. Bullock served as the Giants’ kicker in the season opener while Josh Brown served his (initial) one-game suspension.

Extra Points: Staley, Turner, Chiefs, Bengals

November 2nd, 2016 at 9:37pm CST by Sam Robinson

Joe Staley‘s name was among the centerpieces of the 2016 trade deadline, one that ended with just one major deal. The 10th-year 49ers left tackle did not expect to be traded, reports of his availability notwithstanding.

“I’m an old man. My name is going to come up every year,” Staley said, via Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News. “I know no other place than this place. I didn’t even worry about it. I wasn’t going anywhere.”

The 32-year-old Staley added he did not check with Trent Baalke or another 49ers personnel executive after a Pro Football Talk report put his name on the trade block, with San Francisco hoping for a first-rounder in return, per Inman.

Here’s more from around the league, which is taking a backseat tonight to baseball’s 2016 finale.

Norv Turner‘s surprising resignation from his post as Vikings OC caught Mike Zimmer off-guard, but the veteran play-caller said he thinks this could spark a bottom-tier Minnesota offense. “I got the utmost respect for Mike. I think he’s as good a coach as I’ve been around. But it just got to the point where I didn’t think it was going to work with me. So I removed myself,” Turner said, via Mark Craig of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. “I truly think this move may end up being a positive thing for the Vikings. I just think they got a chance to get on the same page now. I don’t know how to describe that, but I think it could be the case.” A veteran of 42 years in the NFL, the 64-year-old Turner did not say he was retiring from coaching, telling Craig he will return to San Diego and weigh his options.
With Alex Smith banged up, Chiefs coach Andy Reid announced that Nick Foles will get the start on Sunday. The fourth-year Chiefs starter is symptom-free, according to Reid, who maintains the 32-year-old passer did not suffer a concussion. Foles has started 35 games in his five-year career, with the first six of those coming for the Reid-coached Eagles in 2012. The then-rookie went 1-5 in those starts. Against the Colts Sunday, Foles ignited Kansas City’s deep passing game, completing 3-of-4 passes of at least 21 yards. Smith’s 5-for-17 by that measure this season.
Some contributors who were afterthoughts upon catching on with their current teams in 2016 are poised to sign life-changing contracts in the coming offseason, with CBSSports.com’s Joel Corry identifying Terrelle Pryor and Zach Brown as two players who have transformed their stocks at midseason. Joining a Corry-constructed contract-year list that includes Kenny Britt, Dont’a Hightower and Kawann Short, Pryor and Brown are making less than $3MM between them this season. Corry tabs the Browns wideout as being able to set Allen Hurns‘ $10MM-AAV deal as his benchmark, with the Bills’ — and the NFL’s — leading tackler looking in Corry’s view like he’ll be able to score a Danny Trevathan-esque deal (four years, $28MM). Brown signed a one-year, $1.25MM deal with the Bills and just turned 27.
A group of kickers including Zach Hocker, Kai Forbath, and Randy Bullock worked out for the Bengals this week, Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com tweets. That’s a noteworthy audition given Mike Nugent‘s struggles. For now, it seems that Cincinnati is just updating its lists should Nugent’s issues continue.
The Jaguars worked out punter Cody Webster today, Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets. Webster worked out for the Bears earlier this season. The former Purdue punter last kicked in a game for the 2013 Boilermakers.

Zach Links contributed to this report

NFL To Investigate Giants K Josh Brown

October 20th, 2016 at 1:20pm CST by Zachary Links

Earlier this year, Giants kicker Josh Brown was the subject of controversy when information emerged about the domestic violence accusations. Unlike other players who have been punished in recent years over DV charges, Brown appeared to get a slap on the wrist in the form of a one-game suspension. Now, after yesterday’s revelations, many are calling upon the league office to revaluate Brown’s case and give him a harsher punishment. Moments ago, the NFL released a statement on the matter and it sounds like Brown could be in for a lengthier suspension if the allegations hold up.

NFL investigators made repeated attempts-both orally and in writing-to obtain any and all evidence and relevant information in this case from the King County Sheriff’s Office. Each of those requests was denied and the Sheriff’s Office declined to provide any of the requested information, which ultimately limited our ability to fully investigate this matter. We concluded our own investigation, more than a year after the initial incident, based on the facts and evidence available to us at the time and after making exhaustive attempts to obtain information in a timely fashion. It is unfortunate that we did not have the benefit or knowledge of these materials at the time.

In light of the release of these documents yesterday, we will thoroughly review the additional information and determine next steps in the context of the NFL Personal Conduct Policy. We will not be making any comments on potential discipline until that time.

If Brown does receive additional discipline from the league, it raises an interesting quandary for the Giants. The G-Men are facing the Rams in London, England on Sunday and they’d have to get a kicker on a plane post haste if Brown needs to be replaced. As Ian Rapoport of NFL.com notes (on Twitter), Randy Bullock has an up-to-date passport. Bullock kicked for the Giants in Week 1 while Brown was suspended.

Giants Re-Sign Montori Hughes

September 13th, 2016 at 12:47pm CST by Zachary Links

The Giants cut Montori Hughes on their way to a 53-man roster, but they kept his number handy. The Giants will re-sign the defensive tackle, according to James Kratch of NJ.com (on Twitter). To make room for him, kicker Randy Bullock will be waived.

Hughes, 26, entered the league as a fifth-round pick of the Colts in 2013. After two years with Indianapolis, Hughes was cut in September 2015, leading him to the the Giants’ taxi squad. A season-ending injury suffered by defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins in November paved the way for Hughes to make the main roster last year and he saw time in seven regular season contests.

Hughes will now join Jay Bromley and recent addition Robert Thomas on the bench behind starting defensive tackles Hankins and Damon Harrison.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Giants Sign K Randy Bullock

August 22nd, 2016 at 5:43pm CST by Zachary Links

5:43pm: Bullock actually is a vested veteran and can collect termination pay, according to Garafolo (Twitter link), so the Giants will have a decision to make come Week 1. Unless New York wants to pay Bullock $760K for one game’s worth of work, they will have to release Brown or find a non-vested veteran to replace Bullock.

4:02pm: The Giants have themselves a kicker for the first game of the season. Randy Bullock and the Giants agreed to a one-year deal today, as Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets. The team has since confirmed the deal via press release. To make room, the Giants waived kicker Tom Obarski.

Of course, kicker Josh Brown was handed a one-game suspension last week for an alleged domestic violence incident, so Bullock will serve as the team’s place kicker for the season opener against the Cowboys. Now that word of additional incidents are coming to light, it’s possible that Bullock’s stay could last longer than early September.

Assuming Bullock’s services are only needed for one week, however, he won’t cost the Giants a whole lot. Since Bullock is not a vested veteran, the Giants will not be on the hook for his full one-year salary if they opt to release him after Week 1.

Bullock, 26, was inconsistent early on in the 2015 season, leading to his release from the Texans. In November 2015, he hooked on with the Jets. In total, Bullock connected on 82.6% of his field goals in 2015 while going 22-for-25 on extra points.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Giants To Audition Kickers

August 22nd, 2016 at 12:02pm CST by Dallas Robinson

MONDAY, 12:02pm: The Giants are also scheduled to work out punter/kicker Randy Bullock, a source tells Josina Anderson of ESPN.com tweets. Bullock is not a vested veteran, so he could be a viable one-game fill-in for Brown, Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com tweets.

Veteran Josh Scobee was also invited to the Giants‘ kicker workout, but had to turn down an invitation because of another commitment at the same time, a source tells Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com (on Twitter).

SUNDAY, 8:18pm: Giants head coach Ben McAdoo said “never say never” when asked earlier today about the possibility of his club signing another kicker, and New York will in fact work out several kickers tomorrow, including Garrett Hartley, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter link).

Incumbent kicker Josh Brown is suspended for the season opener following a 2015 domestic violence arrest, and it’s unclear if the Giants are considering moving on from him, especially given that more serious details have emerged about Brown’s history of violence against his ex-wife. Fellow kicker Tom Obarski, meanwhile was given a “golden opportunity” — McAdoo’s words — to scratch out a role with New York, but he missed a 28-yard field goal attempt in the club’s most recent preseason game.

Hartley, 30, spent five season with the Saints and last kicked for the Browns during a short stint in 2014. He was out of the league in 2015, but he was a part of workouts with the Lions, Jets, and Patriots after spending the preseason with the Steelers, and owns a 81.7% career accuracy rate. La Canfora’s report didn’t list the other kickers who will be involved in Monday’s tryout, but Josh Scobee and Randy Bullock are among the other free agent specialists available.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Jets Sign Randy Bullock; Nick Folk To IR

November 10th, 2015 at 12:41pm CST by Luke Adams

12:41pm: The Jets have made the move official, signing Bullock and placing Folk on IR to accommodate the move. Unless he struggles, Bullock figures to handle kicking duties for the team for the rest of the season.

12:07pm: With Nick Folk unable to kick for the Jets, the team will sign Randy Bullock in preparation for this Thursday’s game against Buffalo, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Bullock was one of four veteran free agents to work out for New York yesterday, with Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports suggesting at the time that the former Texans kicker was the odds-on favorite to replace Folk.

Bullock, who turns 26 next month, had been the Texans’ kicker since the 2013 season, making 74.3% of his field goals in his rookie year before bumping up that mark to 85.7% in 2014. However, he was inconsistent through three weeks this season, missing a 43-yard field goal and a pair of extra points, which resulted in his release.

Since being waived by the Texans, Bullock has been very busy, working out for the Steelers, Buccaneers, Saints, Jaguars, and Cardinals before this week’s audition for the Jets. Bullock, who has a Houston connection to former Texans executive – and current Jets GM – Mike Maccagnan, beat out Garrett Hartley, Kyle Brindza, and Billy Cundiff for the job, and could hang onto it for a few weeks, with Folk expected to miss multiple games.

Jets Audition Bullock, Hartley, Other Kickers

November 9th, 2015 at 4:21pm CST by Luke Adams

4:21pm: Coach Todd Bowles told reporters that Folk is expected to be sidelined for 4-6 weeks (via Brian Costello of the New York Post on Twitter).

3:49pm: With Nick Folk expected to be sidelined for Thursday’s game against the Bills due to a quad injury, the Jets brought in four kickers to work out for them today, tweets Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports.

Connor Hughes of the Journal Inquirer tweeted earlier today that Billy Cundiff was among that group of free agent kickers getting a look from the Jets, and Brian Costello of the New York Post fills out the rest of the list, tweeting that Randy Bullock, Garrett Hartley, and Kyle Brindza also auditioned. In Garafolo’s view, Bullock is the favorite to sign with New York to replace Folk.

As for how long Bullock – or another new kicker – would stick with the team, Costello (Twitter link) hears from a source that Folk is expected to be sidelined for at least four weeks due to his leg injury. If that’s the case, it appears IR would be a possibility for him, since the club may be hesitant to carry multiple kickers on its roster for upwards of a month.

Three of the four kickers who tried out for the Jets today spent time with another team this season, with Bullock losing the job in Houston, Brindza being replaced in Tampa Bay, and Cundiff briefly handling kickoffs in Buffalo. Hartley last served as the Browns’ kicker to close out the 2014 campaign.

NFC West Notes: Lockette, Goff, 49ers

November 5th, 2015 at 6:28pm CST by Zachary Links

Seahawks wide receiver Ricardo Lockette was released from the hospital on Thursday and took to Instagram to share the good news. “Thanks for all the support. I’ve just been released from the hospital and the road to recovery has started!!! God did it,” Lockette wrote. After taking a scary hit on Sunday that knocked him out of the Seahawks’ game against the Cowboys, Lockette underwent surgery to stabilize ligament damage in his neck. Fortunately, Lockette now has some positive news after what could have been a much worse situation.

Here’s more from the NFC West..

Cal’s Jared Goff should be the 49ers‘ quarterback of the future, Jerry McDonald of the Bay Area News Group opines. Under general manager Trent Baalke, the 49ers have drafted 48 players since taking Colin Kaepernick in the second round in 2011 and only one – B.J. Daniels, who now plays wide receiver – was a quarterback, but 2016 might change that. Still, there’s no guarantee that Goff, a junior, will go pro. He also operates out of a spread, no-huddle offense and there are questions as to whether he’ll be able to adapt quickly to the NFL.
49ers fans aren’t too optimistic about what Blaine Gabbert can do at quarterback but offensive coordinator Geep Chryst sees some potential in the former first-round overall pick. “When we got Blaine on board here, there were some similarities to what Alex Smith went through,” Chryst said, as Cam Inman of the Mercury News writes. “Alex came here, was very young and played, and had to slug out a lot of tough situations. We felt like Blaine had all this talent, and as a young player, maybe all this change of scenery would be good for him. He’s really applied himself well in the classroom. He’s engaged and active. He’s a really bright guy.”
The Cardinals worked out kicker Randy Bullock, kicker Billy Cundiff, punter Brandon Fields, and punter Spencer Lanning during their bye week, as Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets.