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Nick Novak |
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."
Novak was joined by 13-year veteran Todd Peterson, former Redskin Jose Cortez and Tyler Jones, who spent training camp with Washington before being cut. According to Novak, each player got 12 kicks. Novak made all 12, with his longest being a 53-yard boot. Novak also took six kickoffs, and said he was pleased with their distance and hang-time. He said he turned his back when the other kickers took their tries, as he did not want to lose his focus.
By Tuesday evening, Novak had signed a contract with the Redskins and Hall had been placed on injured reserve, ending his season and putting his future with the Redskins in doubt.
"I've been training every day for this," Novak said. "It's what I've been working for, and now I'm back and hopefully I'm here for a while."
Hall left Redskins Park yesterday without speaking to reporters. After missing just one game in six seasons with the New York Jets, Hall has had mercurial results since signing with the Redskins in 2003. He missed eight games in 2004 because of various leg injuries and he sat out six games last year with a strained quadriceps.
And now there's this.
"He's real disappointed obviously and I'm disappointed for him," said Albright, who spoke to Hall yesterday morning. "He's worked hard to get himself healthy, and when he's healthy, he's as good as anybody. He was the first one to say, 'Hey, [the Redskins] did everything they could. Just here I am fighting a leg injury.'"
Novak will handle all placekicking duties when the Redskins play host to the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, and he could also take over kickoff duties from punter Derrick Frost, who missed practice yesterday due to the death of his grandmother.
After short stints with the Dallas Cowboys and the Chicago Bears during the 2005 preseason, Novak was signed by the Redskins in early September when Hall injured his right leg. Last October, Novak made a game-winning 39-yard field goal in the Redskins' 20-17 victory over the eventual NFC-champion Seattle Seahawks. Novak was 5-for-7 on field goals with the Redskins--his two misses were blocked--before he was released when Hall returned.
When Arizona Cardinals kicker Neil Rackers was injured late last season, Novak was signed and made all three of his field goal tries. He spent this season's training camp with the Cardinals before being released prior to the start of the regular season.
After his release, Novak worked out for the Green Bay Packers and the New Orleans Saints, but he was not signed.
"You really have to take advantage of your opportunities when you get them," Novak said, "because they don't come around too often."
To reach ADAM HIMMELSBACH:
Email: ahimmelsbach@freelancestar.com
TITANS (0-5) FedEx Field, Landover, Md. |
