Comments on: Andrew ‘Kirby’ Thell: NFL Kicker

By: Kevin

Kevin — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 02:10:10 +0000

Thats a great way to get your son to move away the second he turns 18.

By: Brendan

Brendan — Sat, 05 May 2007 00:53:18 +0000

Brilliant!
I have a similar plan. Instead of kicking, my unborn son will be conditioned to play the most underappreciated position on the field: the long snapper. The day the boy comes out of the womb, he will learn how to fire tight spiral 7 to 17 yards directly back. Again, genius!

By: Bob

Bob — Fri, 04 May 2007 19:27:38 +0000

Excellent story. Excellent idea.
I was a Division I kicker and punter. What a Job? what a way to get college paid for!!!
a good suggesstion is to work on mental toughness, either you love the kicker or you hate him. he needs to block out all things and have a straight forward positive attitude no matter what is thrown at him, or he will be your mess!
Cheers,

By: The Decider

The Decider — Fri, 04 May 2007 13:37:49 +0000

You are my hero, but seriously, consider punting instead of placekicking. These guys play for decades, never get injured, and it’s free from pressure–your job is essentially to give the ball back to the other team.

By: Chris

Chris — Fri, 04 May 2007 12:45:57 +0000

Unbelievable! I’ve had this idea for years. Telling all my buddies having kids to raise them as a field goal kicker. It’s really a no-brainer if you want to be a professional athlete. 1)you rarely get hurt 2)get paid well 3)get all the glory for minimal effort on the field.

But you just had to go write an article and share this idea!!! Now the competition to raise a field solid goal kicker will be that much tougher. Thanks a lot pal.

By: Fobert Rink

Fobert Rink — Fri, 04 May 2007 06:23:06 +0000

Andrew – beautiful. A couple things:

1) I was the placekicker for the Sunnyside Lions in third grade (this was the team that eventually enveloped the Jacobsons, Joe Erickson, et al and moved on to Irondale). Okay, this is me, and you know how inept I am at sports. That this is doable for your son is a massive understatement.

2) I like the guilt-inadequacy trip you’re planning for your son. If done right, you should correct the “Scott Norwood problem”. Norwood, if you’ll remember, missed the potential game-winning kick between Super Bowl (something) between Buffalo and the New York (football) Giants. He also practiced kicks repeatedly in the front yard with his father. I suspect there wasn’t enough drive on the part of young Norwood.

3) Overall, I was moved. I know it’s early, but can I be his godfather?

By: PJ

PJ — Thu, 03 May 2007 20:46:39 +0000

You are missing out on perhaps one of the most devastating tackler/kickers on the planet – former Alabama Place Kicker Lane Bearden, look him up. The guy has caused more fumbles on tackles than most DLs.

By: Matthew Noll

Matthew Noll — Thu, 03 May 2007 20:20:11 +0000

What about teaching him to golf. That worked out pretty well for Tiger Woods and his father.

By: Joe

Joe — Thu, 03 May 2007 19:43:48 +0000

Really hilarious… but not that bad of an idea. Even some lightweight preparation before high school could land jr. a scholarship to a D2 or 3 college with school paid for in full just because he learned to kick 45 yarders. That’s thousands of dollars…

By: Roger

Roger — Thu, 03 May 2007 15:34:39 +0000

Sebastion Janikowski is 6’2″ tall and weighs 250 pounds but he doesn’t really look that fat. Obviously he is bigger than most NFL kickers though. Great article Andrew, I will be watching for “Kirby” in the future.