Rating: (0 votes - average)

Dustin Hopkins and Zach Hocker find themselves on opposite sides of the same coin.

Two young kickers, separated by one year in age and not much else. Two former draft picks, cut loose by the teams that selected them before even attempting a regular-season kick, briefly stuck on the endless NFL road that is the end of the roster, only to find an exit ramp in New Orleans.

Hopkins was signed after the Saints brought in four kickers for a tryout in December. Hocker, who was a part of that tryout, spent three months on a future/reserve contract with the Dolphins, only to land in New Orleans after a May cut by Miami and another open tryout, this time at the Saints’ rookie minicamp.

Two days later, New Orleans cut its incumbent, Shayne Graham, and cleared the path for an open competition between Hopkins and Hocker, two old friends who have known each other for years.

“The way this business is, I wasn’t surprised just the way everything unfolded,” Hopkins said. “But it’s definitely something I didn’t expect.”


Read more: Old friends Dustin Hopkins, Zach Hocker now vying for same job as Saints kicker | Saints | The Advocate — Baton Rouge, Louisiana

QBREES9

What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger.

Rugby Saint II

We may still see Shane Graham again.

QBREES9

Hope their still friends at the end.

WillSaints81

Are we sure this is good for us. Are they going to be able to make 40-50 yard field goals, or 25 yard PATs? If I had to choose the starter out of those two, it would be Hocker because he kicked against the SEC. However, I don't know how often he was successful.