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Ultimate Pro: Modest Kasay having another strong season
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Published: October 26, 2008
CHARLOTTE - John Kasay often prefers not to talk about his personal successes, and when he does, he is quick to talk about his faith and the strength he gets from it.
He is more likely to stand up and take the blame when he fails.
It's just one of the reasons that teammates on the Carolina Panthers respect Kasay, their veteran place-kicker, so much.
The thing is, Kasay hasn't failed yet this season.
He will come into today's game between the Panthers and the Arizona Cardinals perfect on the season, having hit all 14 of his field-goal attempts and all 15 of his extra-point attempts. He is in position to climb another rung on the NFL's career field-goals list today, and to continue to close in on several other individual milestones.
With his next field goal, Kasay will tie Jan Stenerud for eighth place on the NFL list with 373. With 19 straight made field goals dating to last season, he is also bearing down on his personal-best streak -- 22 straight in 2006.
So others were doing the talking for Kasay last week, as he purposely avoided the spotlight during the team's media-availability sessions.
"I think John is one of those guys you think about as the ultimate pro," wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad said. "You think about his dedication, hard work, and his consistency -- just showing up day after day, game after game, week after week and year after year. He's one of those guys that you can count on. You know what you are going to get and what to expect.
"I remember early on in my career it was like when we crossed the 50, we felt like we had three points. And that is quite an honor for a coaching staff and teammates to kind of respect you in that manner, to know that you're good for it. And when you are not good for it, it's a very rare occasion. It's almost like people are counting on the three points and they don't even look. They aren't standing up and saying, ‘Is he going to make that?' Guys just go sit down on the bench because they expect him to make it."
Kasay, who will turn 39 on Monday, moved into range to pass Stenerud with field goals of 39, 48 and 29 yards last week against New Orleans. Seven of his 14 field goals this season have come from 40 yards or more, with the longest from 49 yards. Just two of his field goals have come from inside 30 yards, so it's not as if he's getting chip shots all the time.
He holds six franchise records, including points scored (1,208).
"I don't think there's any illusion between any other player on the team that John's a major factor," said Rhys Lloyd, who was brought in to handle kickoffs this season. "Week after week, he puts points on the board. He hasn't missed, and that puts confidence in people that even if you don't score, you can put three points up because John's here. That's a big deal mentally to a lot of people."
Lloyd's presence has no doubt helped Kasay, because it has lightened the workload. Lloyd has kicked off 35 times, putting 26 kicks in the end zone, and leads the NFL with 15 touchbacks. At this pace, he'll save Kasay more than 70 kickoffs over the course of the season.
"I don't think people realize how much kickoffs and field goals affect you during a game, especially if (the team) puts a lot of points on the board," Lloyd said. "That's saving his leg, especially with John's age. He knows he's not getting any younger, that's just a reality."
Kasay's contribution as elder statesman has also been vital. He's the only player on the roster who has been with the franchise since its expansion season of 1995. He has been through all the good times and bad and has kept it all in perspective.
"John's a smart guy," Coach John Fox said. "He understands the business, he understands the game. I think he's got a lot of wisdom -- not just footballwise, which he does, but also life skills and understanding the business part of the National Football League. He's been a player rep. He understands how the business works. The example he sets as far as his tenure in the league as well as the example he sets in his life as a man and a player, he's got great wisdom for young players."
The longer that the veterans are around Kasay, the more they appreciate him.
"It's like you find a kid who has a teddy bear or a security blanket, and you look there and that is what John is," quarterback Jake Delhomme said. "So many people will say he's a kicker, but he isn't. What he's been through, the injuries he's been through, to come back and kick as well as he's done is a tribute to him. But everyone sees how he prepares. They see him every day on the practice field. He is always doing something, and that's a plan."
It's why he's in range to reach another milestone today.
■ John Delong can be reached at jdelong@wsjournal.com.
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