How Ireland's Charlie Smyth turned his NFL dream into a reality with the Saints

SmashMouth · 04-02-2024, 08:30 PM

Like plenty of football fans, Charlie Smyth would keep tabs on what was happening around the league through the NFL RedZone channel.

Unlike many fans of the American game, he was doing so in the wee hours of the morning in northeastern Ireland. And as he watched, paying close attention to those who were kicking the ball, he entertained a thought that might not have crossed the minds of most casual fans.

I can do this.

There was just a bit of a hitch in this idea. The NFL wasn’t exactly kicking down Europe’s door in its search for talent, and at that point, his home nation hadn’t produced an NFL player since Dublin native Neil O’Donoghue retired after the 1985 season (a barrier that was broken last season by former New Orleans Saints undrafted free agent Daniel Whelan with the Green Bay Packers).

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The Dude · 04-02-2024, 10:21 PM

Or we could stop trying to find these one in a million feel good stories and find someone who can actually kick.

AsylumGuido · 04-03-2024, 08:26 AM

Originally Posted by The Dude

Or we could stop trying to find these one in a million feel good stories and find someone who can actually kick.

You mean like the feel good story of that place kicker that we imported from Denmark? I believe his name was Morten Andersen.

Or that feel good story of the kicker born with no fingers on his right hand or toes on his right foot? I believe his name was Tom Dempsey.

AsylumGuido · 04-03-2024, 08:54 AM

I like the fact we're using the International Player Portal to bring in competition for Grupe. Smyth won't count against the roster numbers and we can keep him on the practice squad, if need be, as a non-counting number during the regular season, as well. It's definitely a no lose proposition.

The Dude · 04-07-2024, 07:26 PM

Originally Posted by AsylumGuido

You mean like the feel good story of that place kicker that we imported from Denmark? I believe his name was Morten Andersen.

Or that feel good story of the kicker born with no fingers on his right hand or toes on his right foot? I believe his name was Tom Dempsey.

Well if we keep trying for the next 20-30 years we might hit gold! What a brilliant strategy! Knowing we only have to wait a few decades will take the sting away every time we lose a meaningful game because our kicker misses a chip shot kick.

AsylumGuido · 04-08-2024, 08:33 AM

Originally Posted by The Dude

Well if we keep trying for the next 20-30 years we might hit gold! What a brilliant strategy! Knowing we only have to wait a few decades will take the sting away every time we lose a meaningful game because our kicker misses a chip shot kick.

What are you even talking about? Overall our "strategy" for acquiring kickers is not much different than any other team in the league. We've had plenty of good ones over the past 20-30 years. The great Morten Andersen was hitting at lessor average than the kicker we have now when he first started his career. He didn't even better a 75% success rate until his 4th season! Guess we should have kicked him to the curb and called him a bust after those first three seasons, huh?

vpheughan · 04-08-2024, 09:27 PM

Originally Posted by AsylumGuido

What are you even talking about? Overall our "strategy" for acquiring kickers is not much different than any other team in the league. We've had plenty of good ones over the past 20-30 years. The great Morten Andersen was hitting at lessor average than the kicker we have now when he first started his career. He didn't even better a 75% success rate until his 4th season! Guess we should have kicked him to the curb and called him a bust after those first three seasons, huh?

Wil Lutz 85% (Replaced Kai Forbath)
Garrett Hartley 83.4% (Held record for most consecutive made kicks by a first year kicker. Broken by then Redskin Kai Forbath who replaced former Saints kickoff specialist Billy Cundiff.)
John Carney 82.8%
Doug Brien 82.6%
Blake Grupe 81.1% (Replaced Wil Lutz)
Morten Andersen 77.6% ***

***Proof that "Stats Don't Matter"

neugey · 04-03-2024, 09:40 AM

The Dude does have a point. There was nothing that remarkable about Justin Tucker, just an ordinary college guy that became the greatest to ever do it. I don't want us to overscout when there's a good chance Reichard from Alabama would do better.

AsylumGuido · 04-03-2024, 11:27 AM

Originally Posted by neugey

The Dude does have a point. There was nothing that remarkable about Justin Tucker, just an ordinary college guy that became the greatest to ever do it. I don't want us to overscout when there's a good chance Reichard from Alabama would do better.

I like the fact that Smyth doesn't count toward our roster number.

AsylumGuido · 04-03-2024, 12:35 PM

04-02-2024, 08:30 PM	#1
SmashMouth I donated, did you? Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Mandeville, LA Posts: 37,183 Blog Entries: 29	How Ireland's Charlie Smyth turned his NFL dream into a reality with the Saints Like plenty of football fans, Charlie Smyth would keep tabs on what was happening around the league through the NFL RedZone channel. Unlike many fans of the American game, he was doing so in the wee hours of the morning in northeastern Ireland. And as he watched, paying close attention to those who were kicking the ball, he entertained a thought that might not have crossed the minds of most casual fans. I can do this. There was just a bit of a hitch in this idea. The NFL wasn’t exactly kicking down Europe’s door in its search for talent, and at that point, his home nation hadn’t produced an NFL player since Dublin native Neil O’Donoghue retired after the 1985 season (a barrier that was broken last season by former New Orleans Saints undrafted free agent Daniel Whelan with the Green Bay Packers). more on NOLA Attached Thumbnails

04-02-2024, 10:21 PM	#2
The Dude 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 9,009	Re: How Ireland's Charlie Smyth turned his NFL dream into a reality with the Saints Or we could stop trying to find these one in a million feel good stories and find someone who can actually kick. Danno, MatthewT and K Major like this.
The Dude 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 9,009

04-03-2024, 08:26 AM	#3
AsylumGuido 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bossier City, LA Posts: 24,464	Re: How Ireland's Charlie Smyth turned his NFL dream into a reality with the Saints Originally Posted by The Dude Or we could stop trying to find these one in a million feel good stories and find someone who can actually kick. You mean like the feel good story of that place kicker that we imported from Denmark? I believe his name was Morten Andersen. Or that feel good story of the kicker born with no fingers on his right hand or toes on his right foot? I believe his name was Tom Dempsey. SaintFanQ, SmashMouth and Rugby Saint II like this.

04-03-2024, 08:54 AM	#4
AsylumGuido 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bossier City, LA Posts: 24,464	Re: How Ireland's Charlie Smyth turned his NFL dream into a reality with the Saints I like the fact we're using the International Player Portal to bring in competition for Grupe. Smyth won't count against the roster numbers and we can keep him on the practice squad, if need be, as a non-counting number during the regular season, as well. It's definitely a no lose proposition.

04-07-2024, 07:26 PM	#5
The Dude 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 9,009	Re: How Ireland's Charlie Smyth turned his NFL dream into a reality with the Saints Originally Posted by AsylumGuido You mean like the feel good story of that place kicker that we imported from Denmark? I believe his name was Morten Andersen. Or that feel good story of the kicker born with no fingers on his right hand or toes on his right foot? I believe his name was Tom Dempsey. Well if we keep trying for the next 20-30 years we might hit gold! What a brilliant strategy! Knowing we only have to wait a few decades will take the sting away every time we lose a meaningful game because our kicker misses a chip shot kick.
The Dude 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 9,009

04-08-2024, 08:33 AM	#6
AsylumGuido 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bossier City, LA Posts: 24,464	Re: How Ireland's Charlie Smyth turned his NFL dream into a reality with the Saints Originally Posted by The Dude Well if we keep trying for the next 20-30 years we might hit gold! What a brilliant strategy! Knowing we only have to wait a few decades will take the sting away every time we lose a meaningful game because our kicker misses a chip shot kick. What are you even talking about? Overall our "strategy" for acquiring kickers is not much different than any other team in the league. We've had plenty of good ones over the past 20-30 years. The great Morten Andersen was hitting at lessor average than the kicker we have now when he first started his career. He didn't even better a 75% success rate until his 4th season! Guess we should have kicked him to the curb and called him a bust after those first three seasons, huh? Rugby Saint II likes this.

04-08-2024, 09:27 PM	#7
vpheughan 1000 Posts + Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 4,500	Re: How Ireland's Charlie Smyth turned his NFL dream into a reality with the Saints Originally Posted by AsylumGuido What are you even talking about? Overall our "strategy" for acquiring kickers is not much different than any other team in the league. We've had plenty of good ones over the past 20-30 years. The great Morten Andersen was hitting at lessor average than the kicker we have now when he first started his career. He didn't even better a 75% success rate until his 4th season! Guess we should have kicked him to the curb and called him a bust after those first three seasons, huh? Wil Lutz 85% (Replaced Kai Forbath) Garrett Hartley 83.4% (Held record for most consecutive made kicks by a first year kicker. Broken by then Redskin Kai Forbath who replaced former Saints kickoff specialist Billy Cundiff.) John Carney 82.8% Doug Brien 82.6% Blake Grupe 81.1% (Replaced Wil Lutz) Morten Andersen 77.6% * Proof that "Stats Don't Matter"* Rugby Saint II likes this.
vpheughan 1000 Posts + Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 4,500

04-03-2024, 09:40 AM	#8
neugey Hu Dat! Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 6,612 Blog Entries: 13	Re: How Ireland's Charlie Smyth turned his NFL dream into a reality with the Saints The Dude does have a point. There was nothing that remarkable about Justin Tucker, just an ordinary college guy that became the greatest to ever do it. I don't want us to overscout when there's a good chance Reichard from Alabama would do better. Rugby Saint II likes this.

04-03-2024, 11:27 AM	#9
AsylumGuido 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bossier City, LA Posts: 24,464	Re: How Ireland's Charlie Smyth turned his NFL dream into a reality with the Saints Originally Posted by neugey The Dude does have a point. There was nothing that remarkable about Justin Tucker, just an ordinary college guy that became the greatest to ever do it. I don't want us to overscout when there's a good chance Reichard from Alabama would do better. I like the fact that Smyth doesn't count toward our roster number. MarchingOn likes this.

04-03-2024, 12:35 PM	#10
AsylumGuido 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bossier City, LA Posts: 24,464	Re: How Ireland's Charlie Smyth turned his NFL dream into a reality with the Saints Twitter