Check out our favorite photos of Stephen Gostkowski from the 2014-15 Championship season.
Dont'a Hightower.
Dont'a Hightower.
Danny Amendola.
Danny Amendola.
Malcolm Mitchell and Cyrus Jones.Â
Malcolm Mitchell and Cyrus Jones.Â
Kamu Grugier-Hill.
Kamu Grugier-Hill.
Woodrow Hamilton and Vincent Valentine.Â
Woodrow Hamilton and Vincent Valentine.Â
New England Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski follow the flight of an extra point in action against the Seattle Seahawks Sunday February 1, 2015 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, site of Super Bowl XLIX. New England defeated Seattle 28-24 to win Super Bowl XLIX. (Damian Strohmeyer AP Images)
Marcus Cannon and Josh Kline.
Marcus Cannon and Josh Kline.
Trey Flowers.Â
Trey Flowers.Â
AJ Derby
AJ Derby
Chris Hogan.
Chris Hogan.
Martellus Bennett.
Martellus Bennett.
Stephen Gostkowski.
Jacoby Brissett.
Jimmy Garoppolo.
Chris Long.Â
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - The New England Patriots announced that they are utilizing the franchise designation on kicker Stephen Gostkowski.
The Patriots issued the following statement on the use of the franchise tag: "Stephen has been extremely productive and a vital component to our success since joining our team in 2006. Utilizing the franchise designation allows both sides more time to try to reach an agreement, which is the goal."
Gostkowski was named to the Pro Bowl for the second straight season in 2014 and for the third time overall since joining the team as a fourth-round selection in the 2006 NFL Draft out of Memphis. He led the NFL in 2014 with 156 total points. Gostkowski also led the NFL in points in 2008, 2012 and 2013, becoming just the third player to lead the NFL in points in at least four seasons. He has connected on 86.8 percent of his regular-season field goal attempts since entering the NFL (243-of-280), the best field goal percentage in Patriots history.
Gostkowski became the Patriots' all-time leading scorer in the win vs. Miami on Dec. 14 and now has 1,179 career points. He was 35-of-37 on field goals in 2014 for a 94.6 field goal percentage, the highest field goal percentage in a single season for the Patriots.
