Zane Gonzalez will no longer be an Arizona Cardinal
Zane Gonzalez will be released.
As the most embattled kicker since Chandler Catanzaro, Zane Gonzalez is being released into free agency. We all know the two huge misses against the Dolphins and Patriots in their respective games which if both attempts were made, might have changed the entire season looking back on it. For many fans, this move is a vindicating one for them to see, myself included.
It’s about time that the special teams unit gets addressed. I’m sure Devin Fitzsimmons and crew had to take a look at Zane Gonzalez and say, “We can do better”. Which they absolutely can, as no one remembers how important kickers are until you need them most. While there is the valid argument that the offense can do more to not put a kicker on the spot, an NFL kicker has got to be as clutch as he can.
The #AZCardinals are releasing K Zane Gonzalez today, source says, though there's still a chance he could be back in Arizona. Long story short: He was slated to be a free agent anyway. It's a procedural move because they put him on IR.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 5, 2021
In terms of available free agents, Matt Prater who previously worked with Fitzsimmons in Detroit is available, and is the record-holder for the league’s longest field goal at 64 yards. Stephen Gostkowski is also out there too, but his first game back for the Titans last season may be keeping teams at bay. Younghoe Koo of the Atlanta Falcons is technically set to hit free agency too, but with how fast he developed for them (and his affinity for recovering onside kicks) will most likely have him signed before he gets anywhere close to other teams.
Next. An update on the center position. dark
Another frustrating kickers’ era is over in the desert. Let’s hope the team can find it’s next Neil Rackers.