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.

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