Seems like there'll be more intrigue in the kicking competition this summer.
According to media reports in the Boston area, the Patriots appear interested in signing veteran punter **Scott Player** as early as today.
The 38-year-old Player would likely compete with 31-year-old Chris Hanson, the incumbent punter who took over the job here in New England last season.
And what about the placekicking position? Could the Pats draft a kicker, or even another punter, in next weekend's NFL Draft?
It was only two years ago that the Pats took kicker Stephen Gostkowski in the fourth round, as the Sun Chronicle points out today. But in that same feature, the author also makes a case for the team taking a chance on more specialists this year.
"In a year in which the Patriots don't have a plethora of picks - just eight, one each in every round and two in the third - [head coach Bill] Belichick and personnel guru Scott Pioli must ask themselves if there is a punter and kicker worth using one of those precious picks," the story concludes.
Meantime, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell remains hopeful that he'll soon speak with former Patriots employee Matt Walsh about the so-called Spygate controversy.
"I have never met Matt but I'm hoping to meet him some time in the near future," Goodell said during a speech in Texas this week. "He's indicated he has evidence and new information that would lead to further disciplinary action. I'm anxious to meet with him. I hope that’ll happen some time in the next couple weeks."
As always, stay tuned ...
