The only ex-Packer I liked, but......

That's such a crock of Viking, err shit. You frickin idolized Brett Favre.

Suppose this is the Vikings turn to do a Brent Conway?

wow without even going thru the training camp battle.

I'd say we should unretire him, but it's bad enough that the Vikings got sloppy seconds. Don't need their terrible thirds.

Bummer. I've always liked Longwell and was bummed when we released him.

I hope he plays another year and he plays against the Vikings and gets a game winning field goal.

That's what surprised me. Didn't even give him a shot.

Semantics, but he wasn't released, he chose to play with the Vikings because of the controlled climate. He made it clear he wanted to finish his career in a dome or in a warm climate like Tampa Bay or San Diego, etc.

I liked him too. He got a bad rap for kickoffs. When he lined up for anything 45 or less, I felt it was money. I still think it was a mistake to pass the ball instead of giving Longwell a chance to win it with a 50+ FG indoors.

Don't forget he wanted to go to a city that had better restaurants than Applebees.

Well, we all know why he went to the Vikings in the first place. He wanted a REAL chance to get a Super Bowl ring![grin1]

Wasn't it to eat at a fancy restaurant?

That's what he wants you to BELIEVE!
I guess he wanted to be near a "Olive Garden".[grin1]

This must be why McCarthy does it every chance he gets.

It was the lutefisk.

He couldn't pass up the vaguely fish shaped gelatinous mass that smelled like lye. It was like a sickness.

I trust Longwell over Crosby when it comes to 50+ field goals, lol.

I don't. Crosby has much more power to get it through the uprights, but Longwell is more accurate. Crosby has demonstrated capability of 60+ yd. field goals, well beyond Longwell's range. Crosby at least gives us a chance whereas Longwell didn't in certain situations.

The guy made barely over 50% of his kicks last year and they just handed him the job? sweet.

doesn't matter if you can kick it 60+ yards if you can't get it between the goalposts.

Mason Crosby, 12 of 24 on 50+ yard field goal attempts.
Ryan Longwell, 11 of 15 on 50+ yard field goal attempts since '07 when Mason was drafted.

73% or 50%

Longwell's longest kicks those years were between 48-55 yards. Prior to being in a dome his longest between 45-54 yards. Crosby's have been between 52-58 yards. Crosby gives a better chance at longer range.

Considering McCarthy uses him in almost any 4th down scenario where there's a remote chance that he MIGHT make a FG I don't feel that stat line is an even comparison. There are situations in which Longwell would never have a chance of putting it through.

I think a more accurate comparison would be at each distance in one yard increments. For instance, let's say that 5 of Crosby's missed FG's were from 57 yards or more and Longwell never attempted a 57 yarder. It skews the stats. Using your stats I could argue that Crosby is the better kicker because he has made more total kicks.

I still stand by my assertion that Crosby is better because he at least provides a chance whereas Longwell just doesn't have the range and gives you no chance.

The stat line isn't a comparison at all because Ryan Longwell is one of the most accurate kickers in NFL history, Mason Crosby is not. Twist the numbers around all you want, bottom line, Longwell is a more accurate kicker than Crosby, even on 50+ yard field goal attempts.

One yard increments would be better, no doubt. Although, when you'd see that Longwell had a higher percentage there too, then we'd have to factor in wind, the direction of wind, precipitation, etc ... until your assertion becomes more believable. [aiee] Maybe you're just a pissed off Applebee's employee? :P