Green Bay Packers “appear” to be going with Mason Crosby this year
By Jason Marcum
The Green Bay Packers need Mason Crosby to get back to his Pro Bowl form if they want to have any confidence in him to make the crucial kicks for them this season. The enigmatic kicker has had a whirlwind preseason, but after solid past couple of weeks, the Packers appear to be hedging their bets on Crosby’s leg in 2013.
The Packers released kicker Zach Ramirez today, which means Crosby is the only kicker on the roster. Crosby took the news well, and on the final day of Packers training camp today, Crosby was a perfect 14-for-14 in two kicking periods – one against the wind, one downwind – with the field goals ranging all the way up to 64 yards.
Crosby’s original competition, Giorgio Tavecchio, was cut earlier this week, and it’s safe to say Crosby has won this battle:
"“I thought Mason was exceptional,” Packers Head Coach McCarthy said. “You could see Ramirez was struggling a little bit with the timing of it, which you definitely have to be aware of. He’s only been here for three days. He really didn’t have the rhythm, the cadence and the snap down, and I think it affected him on the first set of kicks and it carried over to the second set.”"
McCarthy didn’t officially declare Crosby the Packers’ kicker for 2013, but unless he has a totla meltdown this week, it’s his job to lose for at least one more season.