Packers Would Be Foolish Not To Pursue Carpenter

The Miami Dolphins announced the termination of kicker Dan Carpenter's contract this week. The move clears $2.7 Million from Miami's salary cap and clears the way for the installation of  rookie kicker, Caleb Sturgis. 

Meanwhile in Green Bay: Much has been made of Green Bay's kicking competition between veteran Mason Crosby and newcomer Giorgio Tavecchio. While Crosby's woes continue, Tavecchio has positioned himself well as a dead-nuts-accurate field goal kicker. His leg strength has been called into question, however. His kickoffs have been inconsistent, many failing to reach the 5-yard line. His kickoff power has no doubt improved since the start of camp, but having punter Tim Masthay also practicing kickoffs doesn't bode well for the team's faith in Giorgio's power. 

K Dan Carpenter is on the market.

Enter: Dan Carpenter. The six-year man has a career field goal percentage of 81.9%, and is four years removed from a career high 89.3% in 2009. 

Mason Crosby, by contrast, was good a league-worst 63.6% of the time last season, bringing his career average down to 76.8%. The nuances of kicking may be plentiful, but kickers are ultimately signed and cut based on this lone metric, and Crosby is trending in the wrong direction.

Carpenter, who is taking a brief leave to see his wife through the delivery of their new baby, has several kicker-needy teams already waiting in the wings, the Browns and Seahawks likely among them. The Packers would be foolish not to buy a ticket the Carpenter lottery.