Chiefs Release Cheeks Sign Nick Murphy

[Realbaddog]

Nick Athan - Scout.com
December 22, 2004 at 4:42pm ET
If you are a punter in the NFL and you have Dick Vermeil as a head coach, chances are your career will be short lived. After releasing Jason Baker before the season, the team signed Steve Cheeks to be his replacement.

But that experiment ended on Wednesday as the Chiefs cut Cheeks and signed Nick Murphy to try and shore up their punting problems.

Steve Cheeks was supposed to be the savior after Vermeil publicly criticized Jason Baker after a pre-season loss against the Browns in Kansas City. Ever since then, Vermeil has kept an open door policy in regards to punters.


After several tryouts over the past three weeks, the Chiefs finally cut Steve Cheeks and gave the ball to Nick Murphy. Cheeks fate was sealed after his poor performance Sunday against the Broncos. He had several kicks that barely cleared 30 net yards and Vermeil was very angry on the sidelines after each punt.

Murphy had punted in three games for the Baltimore Ravens this season before being released. Undrafted out of college from Arizona State, Murphy tried out with the Minnesota Vikings and Philadelphia Eagles before playing in NFL Europe last season for the Scottish Claymores.

Cheeks only managed a 31.6 net yard punting average and that more than anything else doomed his fate. Murphy in three games with Baltimore did better but his net average was five yards better at 36.6 net yards.

The Chiefs signed Murphy to a three-year deal but rest assured that if he does not punt well the last two games, Kansas City will bring in more punters in training camp.

Link

[bogie]

good

[Mr. Laz]

in other news...


the sun came up today and then set later on

[Hammock Parties]

What I don't understand is how Cheek started sucking. He punted well in preseason and fairly well the first few games as I remember.

If this punter sucks as well I'm going to be resigned to the fact that every punter we come into contact with will suck.

[Realbaddog]

I guess you could say that DV turned the other cheek?

[morphius]

Yeah, we dropped the worst punter in the league, and ummm, signed a guy that barely beats out Kordell Stewert, and a bunch of FG kickers who had to sub in for an injured kicker for one or two punts. How pathetic.

[The Bad Guy]

It's the curse of Todd Sauerbrun.

[el borracho]

Sucks that we actually gave a draft pick for Cheeks.

[Chiefnj]

I still find it funny that DV always lays down the law with the punter. The Defense has sucked for 3 years but he's going to make an example out of the punter.

[alpha_omega]

Could be worse...we still could have Baker.

[Chan93lx50]

Originally Posted by Chiefnj

I still find it funny that DV always lays down the law with the punter. The Defense has sucked for 3 years but he's going to make an example out of the punter.

How true!

[nmt1]

Originally Posted by Chiefnj

I still find it funny that DV always lays down the law with the punter. The Defense has sucked for 3 years but he's going to make an example out of the punter.

I understand your point but I think Vermiel would say that the punter and kicker are on the roster for only one job. They should be better because they're not asked to do much else.
It's uncanny that when punters and kickers come to KC they start sucking but when they leave they start getting better. Look at Todd Peterson this season with the 49rs. He's 2-4 from 50+ yards and his FG percentage is almost 88% whereas his percentages for his two years in KC were 75% and 77% and he only made one from 50+.

[Braincase]

Vermeil's ultimate goal is to score every posession so we don't need a punter at all.

[nmt1]

Originally Posted by BrainCase

Vermeil's ultimate goal is to score every posession so we don't need a punter at all.

I'd vote for that.

[Thig Lyfe]

Hell yes. This is all we need to do. Now we are set for the Super Bowl. Screw free agency!