New Orleans Saints To Try Out Kickers as Garrett Hartley's Struggles Continue

After a painful 27-24 loss to the Falcons, in which kicker Garrett Hartley missed a 29-yard field goal that would have won the game in overtime, the Saints will work out kickers this week.

"The game came down to a 29-yard field goal and I yanked it left," said Hartley. "No ifs or buts about it. It was clearly my mistake. I need to go back to the drawing board."

According to NBC, the Saints will bring in veteran John Carney for a tryout this week, while other free agent kickers such as former Bengal Shayne Graham, long-time Texan Kris Brown, and former Raven Matt Stover may also get consideration.

"It’s the highs and lows of being a kicker," said Hartley. "I need to get back to kicking the football and not over-kicking it like I did today."

Hartley missed two field goals in Week One against the Vikings, and head coach Sean Payton pledged his allegiance to Hartley after the game, saying the team still had confidence in him.

It was Hartley’s 40-yard overtime field goal in the NFC Championship in January, also against the Vikings, that put the Saints in the Super Bowl.

Hartley is in his third NFL season, all with the Saints, and has an 83.9 career field goal percentage.

After going 22-for-24 in his first two years, he is just 4-of-7 (57.1 percent) in 2010.

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