Former New Orleans Saints kicker John Carney calls Garrett Hartley's misses "blip on the radar"
 

NEW ORLEANS – The New Orleans Saints have been off limits to the media since last Friday, so I sought the educated opinion of former Black and Gold kicker/kicking consultant/swing doctor and ageless Zen foot-specialist, John Carney.

Is 24-year-old kicking sensation Garrett Hartley going to be OK? Will he rebound from those wide left FG attempts of 46- and 32-yards on opening night against the Minnesota Vikings and become “Mr. Automatic’’ again?

“This is just a blip in the radar and it’ll pass by quickly I believe,’’ Carney said when reached Tuesday at his home in San Diego. “He’s very solid in his approach to kicking. He’s very solid in his mechanics. He’s an aggressive kicker. I have extreme confidence that he’ll have a great season in 2010 for the New Orleans Saints.’’

Without jeopardizing his “coach/friend/player relationship’’ with Hartley, Carney assures Planet Who Dat that the hero of the NFC Championship game who made all five FG attempts during the postseason has already taken the necessary steps to get his game back on solid footing.

I’m guessing that Hartley went to the Saints’ indoor facility Friday morning and recreated each of those misses from the night before against the Vikings.

That was his course of action after missing a potential winning 37-yard FG attempt as time expired against lowly Tampa Bay in Game 15 last season, a game the Buccaneers eventually won in overtime, 20-17. The next morning, Hartley went to the facility and nailed 10 in a row from the same hash mark and same distance.

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I am sure this was just a bad game, like all NFL players have at one time or another. Hartley is a great kicker with a very bright future. Of course if he does crap out, Carney is available to come to the rescue...

Hartleys are kicker

he made some when it counted last year.

he'll come around.

I have faith in him. And from looking at Payton when Hartley walked off after missing both attempts he still has faith in him.

There was a blip on the radar at Opana station on December 7, 1941...

Look I'm not pushing the panic button; but, there are still some experienced kickers on the FA market that I would bring in just so Hartley is focused...

Don't throw away a season because of a kicker...