Kicking World

There was a time when kicker Rob Bironas took aim at the narrow uprights of the Arena Football League.

Now he is connecting in the NFL for the Titans and basking in the adulation that comes with kicking back-to-back game-winning field goals.

Don't think the two are unconnected.

Bironas played three years of arena football, spending 2003 with af2's Charleston Swamp Foxes and then moving up to the AFL with the Carolina Cobras and New York Dragons in 2004. He joined the Titans in 2005.

He said his time in the arena league served as a "stepping stone" to the NFL.

"I had some scouts tell me that (playing in the AFL) showed them that I was doing something when I was at home rather than just kicking on my own," Bironas said. "You're in game situations and there's a little bit of pressure, and the AFL was becoming more recognized by NFL.''

A fact that, in turn, is becoming more recognized by kickers trying to get to the big time. For those who want to be like Bironas, the Nashville Kats are offering an opportunity.

The team will hold an open kicking tryout today in the bubble at Baptist Sports Park. The only kicker currently on the Nashville roster is Jason Witczak, who joined the team midway through last season.

Strength, accuracy key

The tryout, conducted by Dean Cokinos, director of player personnel for the Kats, will consist of three phases.

There will be a test of leg strength, gauging a player's ability to consistently hit the net behind the goalposts on kickoffs.

Then accuracy will be tested. Each participant will be required to make a certain number of extra points in order to continue the tryout.

The final phase will be a field goal contest.

Cokinos said an AFL kicker has to get over the potentially intimidating idea of kicking through AFL goalposts, which are 9 feet apart. NFL goal posts are 18 feet, 6 inches apart. The AFL field is also just 50 yards long.

"Like everything else in Arena Football there is reduced space for kicking," Cokinos said. "The goal posts look like they are two inches apart. So it is a psychological thing for these guys. They have to have the mental strength not to let the reduced space affect them.

"They also have to have the leg strength to get it to the net, and they have to be a good onsides kicker to make it in arena football."

Other AFL grads

Bironas had those abilities, but he's not the only kicker to turn an arena league stint into something more.

Matt Bryant, who connected on a 62-yard field goal for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this season, played for the AFL's Iowa Barnstormers in 2000.

Mike Vanderjagt, who spent eight seasons with the Indianapolis Colts and was recently cut by the Dallas Cowboys, kicked for the AFL's Minnesota Fighting Pike in 1996.

Bironas still uses AFL goal post standards as an accuracy tool when he trains.

Cokinos said Bironas is the perfect example of what an AFL career can become.

"He's a testament to kicking," Cokinos said. "We tell all these guys, 'You got to play and got to be seen. If you are not practicing your craft you have no chance.' By Rob kicking, and kicking at a lower level, he showed the self-will that got him to the NFL.

"And we hope to find another guy like him." -

Courtesy of: http://www.footballforum.com/afl-forum/11441-bironas-afl-time-aided-nfl-success.html

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Haglund named Kicker of the Year

Courtesy: Arena Football League

NEW YORK - San Jose SaberCats K A.J. HAGLUND (5-8, 175, Central Oklahoma) was selected the 2008 Kicker of the Year as voted by AFL head coaches, players, fans, and the Arena Football League Writers Association, the League announced today. Haglund, who earned All-Arena First Team honors last week, led all kickers in scoring (179 points) while connecting on 21-of-25 (84.0 percent) field goal attempts and converting 116-of-124 extra-point attempts. He also registered 26 touchbacks and recorded 16.0 tackles.   Watch The Video interview from ESPN at Arena Football.com http://www.arenabowl.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=3550&ATCLID=1505211   Other candidates included: Dallas' REMY HAMILTON, Cleveland's JASON BALL and Philadelphia's CONNOR HUGHES. Following is a list of the all-time AFL Kicker of the Year honorees:  ALL-TIME KICKER OF THE YEAR WINNERS SEASON PLAYER TEAM 2008 A.J. Haglund San Jose SaberCats 2007 Mark Lewis Austin Wranglers 2006 Remy Hamilton Los Angeles Avengers 2005 Remy Hamilton Los Angeles Avengers 2004 Jay Taylor Orlando Predators 2003 Clay Rush Indiana Firebirds 2002 Steve Videtich New Jersey Gladiators 2001 Brian Gowins Grand Rapids Rampage 2000 Clay Rush Iowa Barnstormers 1999 Mike Black New England SeaWolves 1998 Kenny Stucker Milwaukee Mustangs 1997 Steve Videtich New Jersey Red Dogs 1996 Pete Elezovic Albany Firebirds 1991 Rusty Fricke Denver Dynamite 1990 Novo Bojovic Detroit Drive                                 * No award issued from 1992-95.

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