Beloved Ex-Viking Could Start Soon
Former Minnesota Vikings kicker Parker Romo hasn’t been gone from the purple team long, and he might become the New England Patriots’ primary kicker before too long.
Beloved Ex-Viking Could Start Soon
Current Patriots kicker Joey Slye has missed 4 of his last 8 field goals. That type of performance generally leaves a kicker in hot water. And it just so happens that New England has Romo on the practice squad in case Slye falters.
Well, Slye is faltering.
Ryan Bunton of Champions and Chowder, a Patriots-themed analysis site, detailed the possibility of Romo as the new kicker this week after New England’s Week 15 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. “Given his struggles, it would not be far-fetched to suggest that Slye’s job could be in jeopardy. On Tuesday, the Patriots signed kicker John Parker Romo to their practice squad. Romo filled in for Minnesota Vikings Kicker Will Reichard for four games this season, making 11 of 12 field goals with a long of 55,” Bunton opined.
“Interestingly, Romo is also the all time XFL field goal leader. With the signing of Romo, it appeared the door could be open for Slye’s departure should his struggles continue. After another miss on Sunday, that door might just be open wide enough.”
In Minnesota, Romo served as the Vikings’ primary kicker from Week 10 to 13 after the usual specialist, Will Reichard, hit injured reserve with a quad ailment. He delivered every step of the way, acting as the only scoring source in a win over the Jacksonville Jaguars a few weeks ago and nailing a game-winning field goal at Chicago in Week 12.
The Vikings cut Romo loose a week and a half ago when Reichard was activated to the active roster following his quad injury recovery.
Purple fans will reminisce on Romo’s dependability. Ordinarily, a kicker holding down the fort for an NFL team is “no big deal.” However, Minnesota has been notoriously snakebitten by kicker tomfoolery in the last three decades, so when Romo showed up and drilled kicks with ease, he pleasantly surprised onlookers.
The team’s loyalists already enjoy tracking former Vikings players — Romo’s next chapter(s) is supersized with intrigue. Think of it this way: outside of the Ryan Longwell era, fans have chanted for a reliable kicker since the late 1990s. Minnesota had two, and NFL teams rarely employ multiple kickers.
New England ranks 16th per special teams DVOA through 15 weeks and 27th in field goal kicking percentage.
If Romo swipes Slye’s job, he’ll have a reasonable opportunity to latch on as the Patriots’ kicker for the long haul.
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Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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