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Kicker Carousel Keeps Spinning: Neil Rackers, Former Cardinal, Signs with Texans
April 8, 2010
After eight years in a Texans uniform, kicker Kris Brown's days in Houston may be numbered.
This week the Texans announced the signing of 33-year-old veteran kicker Neil Rackers to a two-year, $4.1 million contract.
Rackers reached the end of his deal with Arizona and became a free agent this offseason when the Cardinals brought in Jay Feely to handle the team's placekicking duties.
Brown says he wasn't surprised by the move.
“I figured they were going to bring some competition in. It wasn’t surprising,” Brown told Fox Sports Houston. “That’s the nature of this league."
The only kicker in Texans franchise history, Brown is coming off his worst statistical season as a Pro.
He completed 65.6 percent of his field goals (21 of 32) and converted 43 of 44 PATs in a forgettable 2009 campaign. Brown has a career field goal percentage of 77.3 percent in 11 seasons with the Steelers and Texans and has never been named to the Pro Bowl.
Rackers, by way of comparison, converted 16 of 17 field goal attempts (94.1 percent) and 37 of 38 PATs for the Cardinals in 2009. He has a career field goal percentage of 78.2 percent in 10 seasons with the Bengals and Cardinals.
Rackers set an NFL record in 2005 by successfully converting 40 of 42 field goals and was named to the 2006 Pro Bowl.
I'm excited," Rackers told MyFoxHouston. "I'm a midwestern guy. It's nice to be back around good people. It's an opportunity to be a part of what I think is a team headed in the right direction. I'll bring them a positive attitude and a hard worker."
"Kris Brown is an excellent kicker, a guy I have a lot of respect for and has accomplished a lot in this league as well. I'm just here to compete and have a good time," said Rackers.
If there's a bright side for Brown, it's that only $350,000 of Rackers' two-year deal is guaranteed. That should help ensure a truly open competition at training camp.
