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| Fri, Nov. 20 - - Mobile - RSS | |
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Once again, Redskins turn to nomad kicker
Nick Novak knew that if he retained strength and accuracy in his leg, a job would follow.Date published: 10/12/2006 By ADAM HIMMELSBACH ASHBURN--So maybe it wasn't quite FedEx Field. Maybe there weren't 90,000 people watching. But as Nick Novak prepared and trained for another chance to become an NFL kicker, he tried to make his routine strikingly similar to that of an active NFL kicker. And for Novak, that meant waking up early at his parents' home in West Lafayette, Ind., on Sunday mornings--game days--and going to a practice field at nearby Purdue University. There, Novak would go through his normal pregame routine, even though there was no game. Then he would find some kids to retrieve his kicks, and with his twin brother, Chris, serving as his holder, Novak would simulate field goal attempts in game conditions. "You just go through all the different situations on your own," Novak said, "practicing different scenarios." Well, how's this for a scenario? Last Saturday, Novak--who kicked for the University of Maryland and last season had stints with the Redskins and Arizona Cardinals--drove from Indiana to Maryland to continue his training in College Park. He planned to stay with a friend in Rockville, attend the Terps' home games and work out and wait for an NFL team to call. On Sunday, Redskins kicker John Hall, who has been hampered by leg injuries for the better part of the last three seasons, suffered his latest setback. While warming up for the Redskins' game against the New York Giants, Hall complained of tightness in his groin and right quadriceps, Redskins long snapper Ethan Albright said. Hall made a 39-yard field goal in the first half, but in the third quarter he knocked a wobbly 42-yard try wide left, and the Redskins fell, 19-3. With Hall's nagging injuries becoming a major concern, the Redskins on Tuesday brought in four kickers for workouts. One of those kickers was Novak. "When I was released from here last year," Novak said, "they said if anything happened [to Hall], they'd give me a call."
Date published: 10/12/2006
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