Packers claim kicker Sam Ficken off waivers

Mason Crosby has some competition, for now.

Mason Crosby has some competition, for now.

The Packers picked up a kicker off waivers this afternoon. 

Crosby had several notable misses in 2018 and is heading into the last year of his deal.

While it's unlikely the Packers move on from the team's all-time scoring leader, it certainly makes sense to bring in some competition after the inconsistencies he showed last season.

 

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2 points
 

Comments (48)

Fan-Friendly This filter will hide comments which have ratio of 5 to 1 down-vote to up-vote.
GBPDAN1's picture

April 15, 2019 at 05:30 pm

It's always good to have an extra camp leg

8 points
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Since'61's picture

April 15, 2019 at 07:20 pm

Agree! Thanks, Since ‘61

2 points
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Qoojo's picture

April 15, 2019 at 05:39 pm

Funny. I read just yesterday how Gute was saying he didn't see a reason to bring in competition for Crosby.

2 points
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Ferrari Driver's picture

April 15, 2019 at 05:46 pm

It doesn't sound like he did bring in any competition; the guy has only kicked 6 times in the NFL and missed half of them.

5 points
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dblbogey's picture

April 15, 2019 at 07:28 pm

We'll see. No harm done.

0 points
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CheesyTex's picture

April 15, 2019 at 05:53 pm

$$$.

0 points
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stockholder's picture

April 15, 2019 at 06:54 pm

Cole Tracy PK should be drafted.

2 points
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Coldworld's picture

April 16, 2019 at 09:59 am

Why this guy? Sample size is negligible but negative, yet he is not working out alone. What do teams see in him?

If it was just a leg we could have picked up one of the number of UDFAs that will be around in a week or so.

0 points
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Lare's picture

April 15, 2019 at 06:31 pm

Crosby cost them two losses last season. For his salary that's two too many.

5 points
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Pizzadoc's picture

April 16, 2019 at 12:53 am

I love proper English. Strong work.

4 points
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RickInCali's picture

April 15, 2019 at 06:38 pm

I fail to understand their faith and love for Crosby. He is mediocre at best. For that money? No. And it isn’t like we didn’t cast off very reliable punters in the past either.

-3 points
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dblbogey's picture

April 15, 2019 at 07:59 pm

Over his career, I'd consider him above mediocre, just not elite.

9 points
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Bearmeat's picture

April 15, 2019 at 08:57 pm

^^^ THIS ^^^

4 points
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RickInCali's picture

April 16, 2019 at 02:51 am

I meant now. He used to kick deeper and was more reliable than he’s been. For the money he gets? At least push the guy....

1 points
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Since'61's picture

April 15, 2019 at 06:48 pm

According to Tom Pellisoro @ NFL Network the Packers are bringing in Missouri QB Drew Lock on Tuesday.

Would they draft a QB early? Thanks , Since ‘61

1 points
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Demon's picture

April 15, 2019 at 07:13 pm

I dont care if they draft a QB just not with pick #12. If they do they are closing the book on AR, just like they did Favre. That tells AR your time is over, everything we do from here out is for your replacement. I dont think its that time yet. Not after giving him that contract.

0 points
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Since'61's picture

April 15, 2019 at 07:24 pm

I wouldn’t think that they would use pick # 12 on Lock but possibly 30 or 44. I was surprised to see they were bringing in one of the top 3-4 QBs from this year’s draft. Thanks, Since ‘61

1 points
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dblbogey's picture

April 15, 2019 at 08:04 pm

It could very well be a bluff, to make teams who really want him trade up, possibly even to GB's pick or earlier. The more QB's picked before #12, the better for the Packers.

2 points
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sonomaca's picture

April 15, 2019 at 10:45 pm

Perhaps, but I doubt that would work.

The real reasons they want to look at Lock (and wanted to look at Daniel Jones) is to:

A) see how good they are. If Lock is a stud, then that gives the Pack a stronger bargaining position at #12, should he still be there. If he’s there at #12, the Pack essentially own his rights for a short time, but they need to know the VALUE of those rights.

B) It’s possible that, in the future, the Pack might have an opportunity to trade for or sign Lock. Best to do homework on him now.

6 points
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dblbogey's picture

April 15, 2019 at 08:02 pm

The Packers just extended his contract with most of it guaranteed. Arod is going nowhere in the near future and they aren't going to spend the 12th pick on a QB.

4 points
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Coldworld's picture

April 16, 2019 at 10:02 am

Sometimes teams just want to get som extra assessment opportunities with future opposing players. As previously stated, sometimes it’s purely for external consumption.

0 points
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4thand10's picture

April 16, 2019 at 11:09 pm

I’d never say never. Rodgers sat for 3 years on the bench while Favre was still slinging it.

0 points
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jannes bjornson's picture

April 18, 2019 at 08:36 pm

Lock is NO Rodgers, closer to Cutler.

1 points
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jgando12's picture

April 15, 2019 at 07:39 pm

I think it’s a smokescreen. It greatly benefits us to have teams drafting ahead of us select a qb. Why not host a top qb pick to get the other teams thinking it could be possible and thereby leave a main target available.

2 points
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KnockTheSnotOutOfYou's picture

April 15, 2019 at 07:51 pm

I think we can have our favorite players in draft but should keep an open mind on the GBP draft selections. The draft normally does not fall the way most of us want it to. The Pack will have a plan and I hope they execute it to perfection.

Just hope there are several true BPA selections particularly high.

Separately, I hope they have the injured Ohio State 4.31 CB (Kendall Sheffield) on their radar around 4th or 5th round and can snag him for next year or maybe later this year.

1 points
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mamasboy's picture

April 15, 2019 at 07:52 pm

I'm sure Crosby will be losing sleep over this signing. 3 out of 6. He's a threat!

2 points
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Coldworld's picture

April 16, 2019 at 10:05 am

Kickers often mature. Tavecchio being an example. Six is not sufficient sample size to make any assessment, especially without knowing the circumstances. Not enough info to write off, or in for that matter.

0 points
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jannes bjornson's picture

April 18, 2019 at 08:38 pm

Where is Tavecchio?

0 points
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LeotisHarris's picture

April 15, 2019 at 09:01 pm

A Ficken kicker?

2 points
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Mojo's picture

April 16, 2019 at 05:00 pm

You Ficken better believe it.

0 points
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JerseyAl's picture

April 15, 2019 at 09:23 pm

The Packers would never bring in competition for Crosby that would actually have a chance to unseat him. It's always just a meaningless token move to say they did something.

8 points
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albert999's picture

April 15, 2019 at 09:46 pm

They should bring in serious competition I think

1 points
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Coldworld's picture

April 16, 2019 at 10:09 am

Al, your comment is probably spot on if the TT paradigm still applied, particularly if you add MM to the mix. Now you have a new GM, HC, and also a new experienced STC. Perhaps there might be a new approach too?

That said, I don’t know and have seen no insight as to why this guy.

2 points
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Dagger's picture

April 15, 2019 at 10:03 pm

Too much tread on the tire to give up on Mason Crosby. I would never give up on ficken Crosby.

2 points
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12guage's picture

April 15, 2019 at 10:05 pm

"Playing Poker" with most of the players they are bringing in right now...me thinks. Draft can't come soon enough.

2 points
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Lphill's picture

April 16, 2019 at 05:45 am

So they brought in a guy who made 50 % of his kicks?

0 points
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Archie's picture

April 16, 2019 at 06:03 am

Time to move on from Bing Crosby's kid ......if they can find a top prospect. He's getting less effective as he gets older and he could fall off the cliff at any moment. He will not be around for next Packer's Super Bowl unless they surprise in 2019 or 2020. Last year we went young at P and DS. May as well make it a clean sweep and put money to work elsewhere. We have overpaid him for years. Thanks Russ Ball.

0 points
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NickPerry's picture

April 16, 2019 at 06:24 am

Hmmm... I don't think 2020 would be a surprise at all Archie... I'm starting to think 2019 MIGHT not be a total pipedream.

First the draft, then the SB!!!

3 points
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dobber's picture

April 16, 2019 at 08:05 am

College profile on Ficken here:

nfl.com/draft/2015/profiles/sam-ficken?id=2552703

Not a strong leg, but an accurate and clutch college kicker who needs to get the ball up better (correctable). They have Scott who can handle kickoffs.

0 points
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blondy45's picture

April 16, 2019 at 09:08 am

Ficken was good at Penn State. Worth a look in my book.

1 points
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Coldworld's picture

April 16, 2019 at 10:26 am

Improved a lot in his time there looking at his stats. Went from bad to very good completion percentage over the years. Did well in preseason nfl play but longest of 34 yards in the nfl. Did well from 40 to 50 in college though. Best out 11 others to get McVay’s Rams opportunity when Zuerlein was injured.

I can only presume Packers know something given that they clearly have links to his previous coach.

0 points
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4thand1's picture

April 16, 2019 at 09:40 am

The Kicken Ficken.

1 points
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Johnblood27's picture

April 16, 2019 at 10:15 am

Im already sicken of kickin fickin, lets get to pickin and not be chicken. or we'll take a lickin but keep on ticken.

1 points
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dobber's picture

April 16, 2019 at 02:17 pm

You can tell it's early April when bringing in a camp kicker garners almost 50 comments.

0 points
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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

April 17, 2019 at 04:11 am

If Ficken makes the team, I see potential for a lot of alliteration in the comments.

1 points
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dobber's picture

April 17, 2019 at 05:00 am

Certainly at least a little alliteration...

0 points
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Packercruising's picture

April 22, 2019 at 12:37 pm

Ryan Longwell was a camp leg.

0 points
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IceBowl's picture

April 22, 2019 at 01:14 pm

To me this is Gute's sign to the team that there is competition for every job, every level. Even a leading scorer.

If Cosby has to compete, so will all. And good for the Pack, every level.

0 points
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