Jets wasted months of time as Jason Sanders release ends kicking competition

Jason Sanders probably felt fairly secure when the New York Jets decided to release Cade York and name him to the team's initial 53-man roster. That security didn't even last 24 hours, as Sanders was already cut loose.

The Jets determined that no one won the competition between Sanders and York, as the former Miami Dolphins All-Pro was released when the team claimed former Indianapolis Colts kicker Blake Grupe. While adding Grupe gives the Jets a more robust kicking option, it makes a front office that has looked stable appear haphazard when it comes to special teams.

The Jets have spent most of the last few months adding and releasing more than a half-dozen kickers who did not make the grade in their eyes. The Jets' shifting through this many options appears to show a very haphazard approach to filling the hole they created when they didn't retain Nick Folk.

New York Jets wasted months with kicker competition after Jason Sanders release

Not only were both Sanders and York missing kicks, but Sanders was missing kicks while being short from the fringes of 50 yards. In the modern NFL, missing from that distance is acceptable, but not having the leg strength to boot it the required distance is simply not something special teams coordinator Chris Banjo could put up with.

Consider that Sanders and York were the best of a motley crew of kickers the Jets tried out. Undrafted free agent Will Ferrin didn't even make it a month with New York; Lenny Krieg was unimpressive, and Younghoe Koo was cut as soon as he was brought in. Signing Grupe, who was passable last season, gives the Jets a floor, but it also rendered their offseason plans moot.

Nick Folk would have been a better kicking option for the New York Jets

What makes this worse is that the Jets are one year removed from Folk ranking as the most accurate kicker in the league after missing just one field goal all season long. The Atlanta Falcons have to be thrilled with the stability that he provided to their special teams unit.

Banjo was so excellent last year at turning the Jets' special teams into an elite unit last season, but he and anyone else who had input into this kicker search has to have their abilities in this area called into question. Hopefully they strike gold with Grupe, lest the kicker problem continue to be an issue this season.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow