Saints Sideline Blog

THE HARTBREAKER

Tuesday, August 31st, 2010      Email Print

THE HARTBREAKER
 
DATELINE: Metairie, LA/ August 31,2010 (Saints Hero looking for more kicks)
 
Sean Payton calls this week one of the worst of the year. Next to losing, an NFL coach despises cutting players, something he will have to do following his team's final preseason game on Thursday. Sean Payton will have to take long hard looks at wide receiver, running back, defensive line and safety. One stress free zone lies in his kicker Garrett Hartley, who doesn't have any competition, he kicked away any concerns with his play last season.
 
In the Saints Super run, Hartley was a  Who Dat version of a Brinks truck-simply money. He broke the VIkings' harts in the NFC Championship game insuring he will never have to buy a drink in the Greater New Orleans area the rest of his life. The effort hardly got him fat and happy entering the Super Bowl though,where he became the first kicker in NFL history to nail three from 40 or more yards. Besides going 5 for 5 last postseason, his career numbers in a year and a half in New Orleans have been near perfect. You know how many field goal's he's missed in 24 regular season attempts? How about 2! The Saints Hartbreaker loves them and leaves them where he's becoming a Fantasy Football favorite and a growing Saints legend.
 
The kicking road hasn't been pothole free though. Hartley was suspended last season for taking a banned substance and then you had his crazy roller coaster ride just to get to the Big Easy. Garrett was a Lou Groza finalist at Oklahoma but was bypassed in the NFL Draft. He signed a free agent deal with the Broncos only to be cut days before the 2008 season opener, ironically on the same day as future Saint teammate and former Bronco Mike Bell. The road then took an unusual fork when he had to pay for his own plane ticket to Tampa and then was required to shell out 50 dollars just for the right to try out for the Arena League's Tampa Bay Storm. He didn't make the cut but it didn't matter because they didn't play Arena football that year anyway. He never got the 50 bucks back?
 
After returning to Norman Oklahoma to finish his degree, a destiny dial from the New Orleans Saints came calling in October of 2008 when Martin Grammatica and Taylor Mehlhaff weren't kicking in their fair share. Hartley won the job and was perfect-setting a team rookie record by nailing all 13 field goals and 28 PAT's. His 2 career Saints misses have been a 58 yarder versus the Redskins and of course his potential game winner late last season versus the Bucs which sailed wide left. Drew Brees said recently that he felt if Hartley hadn't missed that FG, he wouldn't have made the legendary kick against the Vikings. Hartley's past has served him well in maintaining a humble approach to his future.
 
Garrett has had a solid and unpredictable preseason. Due to Thomas Morstead's injury, he's served as a fill in punter (something he tells me he didn't even do in high school), filled in admirably in kickoffs and once again has been Mr Automatic in the field goal department. At the age of 24, the Saints young star is just warming up. Hartley learned a lot being around veteran John Carney last season. Garrett tells me he still talks to Carney from his San Diego home where the 46 year old is working out and believe it or not is still holding out hope he can catch on with a team this season. Think about that, Hartley could kick for the Saints the next 20 years and still be two years younger than Carney is now! Don't count out the Who Dat Hartbreaker, who owns the biggest kick in team history but is poised to deliver many more encore performances.
 
AROUND THE CAMPFIRE
 
VILMA UPDATE: Jonathan Vilma wasn't at Monday's practice, he was in Philadelphia getting a second opinion on his groin injury. The good news, doctors say he won't need surgery but won't play in Nashville on Thursday. Payton seemed optimistic his middle linebacker would suit up for the season opener, we will keep you posted.
 
YOU CAN GO HOME AGAIN: Searching for depth and answers at defensive tackle, the Saints welcomed back Kendrick Clancy who told us after practice he was on the verge of retirement.
 
SICK PUPS: Payton has tough calls on Safety Darren Sharper and Linebacker Clint Ingram. While he admits both have made nice strides the past week, its unknown if either player will suit up against the Titans. Time will tell if they are put on the PUP (Physically Unable to Perform) list or possibly cut from the team?
 
60 MINUTES: No Andy Rooney at practice, but a crew from 60 minutes was on hand doing a story on Drew Brees. It airs Sunday in Week Three of the regular season..
 
UNTIL NEXT BLOG,
Mike Nabors
CST

By: Mike Nabors

An Emmy award winning sports reporter who covers a wide variety of events for CST. Primarily, Mike serves as the network's reporter for Saints coverage.

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