Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh defends kicker Billy Cundiff’s cut – NFL News
Baltimore Ravens’ coach John Harbaugh has defended the decision of kicker Billy Cundiff’s waiver just a couple of weeks before the start of the season and promotion of rookie Justin Tucker to take his place.
John contradicted his own remarks he had made a couple of days ago that preventing Billy from taking kicks in their previous game was just a game decision and with an intent to give Tucker reps from beginning to end, which he never had before.
Almost all American professional league circles agreed to a projection then that Billy’s days in Baltimore were numbered. The player himself had sensed his release was on the cards, and showed signs of frustration for not being allowed to take any kick during
that game. Moreover, Tucker’s superb form added fuel to the fire and rumours became suggestions that Billy should start packing.
Irrespective of earlier denials by the coach, the official insisted the decision was not an easy one to make.
He claims the veteran kicker has improved manifold during the training camp. His view was backed by Tucker as well, but all sides expected Billy's unceremonious departure coming given his miss in American Football Conference (AFC) championship game against
the New England Patriots in closing time of the game last season was not forgiven and forgotten.
While referring to the mistake, Cundiff said:
"Let's be honest, I feel like I've been through enough. There's not a single thing that I think somebody can trap me that I'm not prepared for. So, I know my confidence has been high, I know when I came into training camp a lot of people asked me where my
head was at and kind of questioned whether I'd be able to even kick.”
He added:
“Whatever the case may be, I felt like I proved continually throughout training camp that I came in prepared. And regardless of what's thrown at me, what the situation is, I feel like I'm ready to kick."
These comments were made by the player on past Friday, but they could not help him convince Ravens change their mind about letting the player go. The managers by then were almost certain to cut the kicker, and they confirmed officially to have done so on
the weekend.
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