New Orleans Saints Coach Sean Payton expresses confidence in kicker Garrett Hartley

papz · 12-28-2009, 06:20 PM

By Mike Triplett, The Times-Picayune
December 28, 2009, 2:40PM

Kicker Garrett Hartley's missed 37-yard field goal may have cost the Saints a victory on Sunday. But he didn't lose the confidence of Coach Sean Payton, who offered some strong words of support on Monday.

And that's saying something, because Payton has not been quick to offer votes of confidence to kickers in the past.

In four years with the Saints, Payton has shipped out kickers John Carney (twice), Olindo Mare, Martin Gramatica and Taylor Mehlhaff - not to mention a handful of punters who didn't pass muster.

"I've got all the confidence in the world in him," Payton said on the morning after Hartley hooked the potential game-winner wide left in the final seconds of regulation Sunday, before the Saints went on to lose to Tampa Bay, 20-17 in overtime.

"It came down to a late field goal, so that kick is more magnified, but I've seen him operate in big situations," Payton said of Hartley, who has made 21 of 23 field-goal attempts and 37 of 38 extra points in two partial seasons with the Saints. "The key is the player knowing that you have confidence in him. And that's something that he has established. That's not always the case. We've been here, and you guys have seen it. I might not openly say it, but I might hold my breath with a kick (in the past), and it's not the case with him. I have a lot of confidence in his leg.

"When you see what I see during the workweek and you see the talent that he is, he's going to do a good job for us and make a lot of those kicks. He already has made some of them. ... Sometimes you're in a situation where you might not have the player that you think is going to be your kicker for the next five, six, seven years, but I do think we have that player. And that's something that he's had to earn, now. It isn't just because we want him to be."

Hartley, 23, has not faced many "pressure" kicks in his young NFL career. He missed a 58-yarder in the final seconds of a tie game at Washington three weeks ago, then made an 18-yard game-winner to beat the Redskins in overtime.

But Payton said he believes Hartley is a "pretty tough-minded guy" and that he is not stranger to pressure kicks, having been in some "big spots" during his college career at Oklahoma.
Payton said he briefly expressed his displeasure to Hartley on the sideline after his miss Sunday, but he liked what he saw from the kicker's reaction.

"I liked the look in his eye after the miss," Payton said. "I got after him a little bit, but it was important (to keep him ready), because here we are going into overtime, and he might be back out there again. And I think he had the right look."

New Orleans Saints Coach Sean Payton expresses confidence in kicker Garrett Hartley | New Orleans Saints Central - - NOLA.com

12-28-2009, 06:20 PM	#1
papz Problem? Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: New Orleans Posts: 11,768	New Orleans Saints Coach Sean Payton expresses confidence in kicker Garrett Hartley By Mike Triplett, The Times-Picayune December 28, 2009, 2:40PM Kicker Garrett Hartley's missed 37-yard field goal may have cost the Saints a victory on Sunday. But he didn't lose the confidence of Coach Sean Payton, who offered some strong words of support on Monday. And that's saying something, because Payton has not been quick to offer votes of confidence to kickers in the past. In four years with the Saints, Payton has shipped out kickers John Carney (twice), Olindo Mare, Martin Gramatica and Taylor Mehlhaff - not to mention a handful of punters who didn't pass muster. "I've got all the confidence in the world in him," Payton said on the morning after Hartley hooked the potential game-winner wide left in the final seconds of regulation Sunday, before the Saints went on to lose to Tampa Bay, 20-17 in overtime. "It came down to a late field goal, so that kick is more magnified, but I've seen him operate in big situations," Payton said of Hartley, who has made 21 of 23 field-goal attempts and 37 of 38 extra points in two partial seasons with the Saints. "The key is the player knowing that you have confidence in him. And that's something that he has established. That's not always the case. We've been here, and you guys have seen it. I might not openly say it, but I might hold my breath with a kick (in the past), and it's not the case with him. I have a lot of confidence in his leg. "When you see what I see during the workweek and you see the talent that he is, he's going to do a good job for us and make a lot of those kicks. He already has made some of them. ... Sometimes you're in a situation where you might not have the player that you think is going to be your kicker for the next five, six, seven years, but I do think we have that player. And that's something that he's had to earn, now. It isn't just because we want him to be." Hartley, 23, has not faced many "pressure" kicks in his young NFL career. He missed a 58-yarder in the final seconds of a tie game at Washington three weeks ago, then made an 18-yard game-winner to beat the Redskins in overtime. But Payton said he believes Hartley is a "pretty tough-minded guy" and that he is not stranger to pressure kicks, having been in some "big spots" during his college career at Oklahoma. Payton said he briefly expressed his displeasure to Hartley on the sideline after his miss Sunday, but he liked what he saw from the kicker's reaction. "I liked the look in his eye after the miss," Payton said. "I got after him a little bit, but it was important (to keep him ready), because here we are going into overtime, and he might be back out there again. And I think he had the right look." New Orleans Saints Coach Sean Payton expresses confidence in kicker Garrett Hartley \| New Orleans Saints Central - - NOLA.com
	Everyone is entitled to be stupid, but some abuse the privilege. All little common sense goes a long way. Last edited by papz; 12-24-2011 at 06:47 PM..