[ad_1]
NEW ORLEANS – Kicker Zane Gonzalez left some decisive points on the pitch in the Cleveland Browns' 21-18 loss to the Saints.
Eight points, to be exact, after missing two field goals – an attempt to draw 52 yards within 10 seconds of the clock – and two more points.
Receiver Jarvis Landry gave a short answer in four words after the party on his message to Gonzalez.
"Focus on the ground," insisted Landry.
Still, completing the mission proved easier to say than to do for Browns kicker. Gonzalez missed his first goal attempt on a 44-yard field, while the last attempt in the final seconds went well. The two extra point attempts went to the left.
To his credit, Gonzalez is held in the locker room surrounded by reporters and has accepted full responsibility for his mistakes.
"I was jostling in my head," said Gonzalez. "I was really angry about it, but as I said, it's about me 100%, and I can not be too angry with myself and I can not blame him for nobody's winning and it's been so long, and I'm letting everyone down. "
Saints kicker Wil Lutz clearly felt the pain of his counterpart. While the players went to the field to greet each other, Lutz was seen on the sidelines of the Browns consoling Gonzalez, who remained in the bench with his head down.
"It's an uncomfortable undertaking when it comes to that," Lutz told reporters in Saints' locker room. "I hate it for him, it's a hell of a kick, I know him personally, he has done incredible work every time I'm around him, I really hate that for him."
Great sporting moment between two kickers. �� @ wil_lutz5 pic.twitter.com/VgxHXVubj3
â € "The Checkdown (@thecheckdown)
September 16, 2018
Meanwhile, the Browns have not won a match since December 24, 2016 and Gonzalez has many chances to be a hero.
"I get paid for kicking and I have to do it," said Gonzalez.
Browns coach Hue Jackson said after the match that Gonzalez had a good week of practice leading up to Sunday's game against the Saints.
Jackson said during his post-game press conference that the Browns would keep the options open to the kicker position before the third week, and it now appears that Gonzalez has fought a deal or will have to prove that it is a better choice.
The Browns are scheduled Monday to hold a training session for a group of kickers, including veterans Blair Walsh and Cairo Santos, reported Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network, via sources informed of the situation.
#Browns working on kickers today, including veterans Blair Walsh and Cairo Santos, sources said. GM John Dorsey knows Santos well of his time with the # Heads.
â € "Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo)
September 17, 2018
[ad_2]
Source link
