11-29-2016, 07:18 PM
(11-29-2016, 06:58 PM)Benton Wrote: It depends. If by similar situations, you mean teams that were contenders the previous season but are very far from contenders a year later, I honestly don't know how often that happens. Every team has down years where you have to bring up new guys or adjust to new scheme or whatever. This largely isn't that, which is what makes it hard to put a finger on. Most of the core players are here, including Nugent who wasn't horrible last year.
But, in general, teams fire players and coaches as the season goes if it means improvement. Case in point, the Pats traded a guy who appeared to be getting the job done on the field because they thought it was the best move for the team. That's not the same as firing, no, but it's still getting rid of a guy to make a team better. If Nugent can't do arguably the easiest part of his job, then making the team better probably involves somebody that isn't him.
Oh I do not argue firing Nugent. I might argue if it's a huge necessity do do it right now. Since it couldn't save the season and there are probably no real top-notch kickers out there at this point. By doing it at the end of the season, you could get a kicker from another team or think about drafting one/adding one after the draft.
What I meant was: Did any other team recently fire and replace a kicker during the season when the season already was lost.