Franke Carlino
10-08-2008, 09:07 PM
Mehlhaff heads to Big Easy
By Dave Vilhauer, dvilhauer@aberdeennews.com
Published on Wednesday, October 08, 2008
It appears Taylor Mehlhaff is on the verge of become a starting kicker
in the National Football League.
Mehlhaff was contacted by the New Orleans Saints on Tuesday, who
wanted him to catch the first flight out of Wisconsin and come down to
join the team.
“I'm heading back down to New Orleans,” Mehlhaff said late Tuesday
night.
The only flight out of Madison, Wis., was delayed, preventing the
proper connections to reach Louisiana, so the former Aberdeen Central
and University of Wisconsin standout will head out early this morning.
“They can't sign me until I pass a physical,” Mehlhaff said.
However, all indications are that Mehlhaff will now be the Saints
kicker come game time on Sunday when New Orleans hosts the Oakland
Raiders.
“I'm going to go down there and find our more details,” Mehlhaff said.
“I think I'm ready and I'm excited for it.”
Mehlhaff lost a kicking battle to veteran Martin Gramatica in the
preseason, but Gramatica has missed two costly field goals the last
two weeks, including one against the Minnesota Vikings on Monday
night. Mehlhaff has been led to believe that the Saints have cut
Gramatica and awarded him the job.
“From what it sounds like, they basically released him and are
bringing me in,” Mehlhaff said.
Mehlhaff was more than just a casual observer as he watched the game
on national television Monday night.
“I have really been rooting for the Saints. I want the Saints to do
well. I know all those guys down there,” Mehlhaff said. “I was
frustrated with the situation, but I was really rooting for the
Saints. Obviously, I'm rooting against all the kickers, because I'm
sitting here as a free-agent wanting to land a job.”
While Mehlhaff is ecstatic about becoming a member of the NFL, he also
feels for Gramatica.
“He was a good guy. We had a good relationship,” Mehlhaff said. “I
feel bad for the situation that he and his family are going through
right now.”
Mehlhaff was the first kicker taken in the NFL draft, selected by the
Saints in the sixth round after a stellar collegiate career in which
he earned All Big-Ten Conference and All-America honors at Wisconsin.
He was locked in a tight battle with Gramatica, who eventually
retained his job as the Saints starting kicker.
Mehlhaff has patiently waited for his chance since being one of the
Saints' final roster cuts before the start of the regular season.
He has worked out on his own and recently was brought in with three
other kickers by the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants.
Mehlhaff said the workout went well and the Giants were impressed.
They pulled him aside following the workout and told him, “You're the
top guy on our list.”
Now, from all indications, Mehlhaff is the top guy on the Saints' list
and will get his opportunity in the highest league in the land.
“This is an unbelievable opportunity,” Mehlhaff said. “That's all I
can ask for is to get an opportunity. It sounds like a good
situation.”
____________________________________________________
Peace,
Franke Carlino
LETS GO METS!!!
GEAUX SAINTS
By Dave Vilhauer, dvilhauer@aberdeennews.com
Published on Wednesday, October 08, 2008
It appears Taylor Mehlhaff is on the verge of become a starting kicker
in the National Football League.
Mehlhaff was contacted by the New Orleans Saints on Tuesday, who
wanted him to catch the first flight out of Wisconsin and come down to
join the team.
“I'm heading back down to New Orleans,” Mehlhaff said late Tuesday
night.
The only flight out of Madison, Wis., was delayed, preventing the
proper connections to reach Louisiana, so the former Aberdeen Central
and University of Wisconsin standout will head out early this morning.
“They can't sign me until I pass a physical,” Mehlhaff said.
However, all indications are that Mehlhaff will now be the Saints
kicker come game time on Sunday when New Orleans hosts the Oakland
Raiders.
“I'm going to go down there and find our more details,” Mehlhaff said.
“I think I'm ready and I'm excited for it.”
Mehlhaff lost a kicking battle to veteran Martin Gramatica in the
preseason, but Gramatica has missed two costly field goals the last
two weeks, including one against the Minnesota Vikings on Monday
night. Mehlhaff has been led to believe that the Saints have cut
Gramatica and awarded him the job.
“From what it sounds like, they basically released him and are
bringing me in,” Mehlhaff said.
Mehlhaff was more than just a casual observer as he watched the game
on national television Monday night.
“I have really been rooting for the Saints. I want the Saints to do
well. I know all those guys down there,” Mehlhaff said. “I was
frustrated with the situation, but I was really rooting for the
Saints. Obviously, I'm rooting against all the kickers, because I'm
sitting here as a free-agent wanting to land a job.”
While Mehlhaff is ecstatic about becoming a member of the NFL, he also
feels for Gramatica.
“He was a good guy. We had a good relationship,” Mehlhaff said. “I
feel bad for the situation that he and his family are going through
right now.”
Mehlhaff was the first kicker taken in the NFL draft, selected by the
Saints in the sixth round after a stellar collegiate career in which
he earned All Big-Ten Conference and All-America honors at Wisconsin.
He was locked in a tight battle with Gramatica, who eventually
retained his job as the Saints starting kicker.
Mehlhaff has patiently waited for his chance since being one of the
Saints' final roster cuts before the start of the regular season.
He has worked out on his own and recently was brought in with three
other kickers by the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants.
Mehlhaff said the workout went well and the Giants were impressed.
They pulled him aside following the workout and told him, “You're the
top guy on our list.”
Now, from all indications, Mehlhaff is the top guy on the Saints' list
and will get his opportunity in the highest league in the land.
“This is an unbelievable opportunity,” Mehlhaff said. “That's all I
can ask for is to get an opportunity. It sounds like a good
situation.”
____________________________________________________
Peace,
Franke Carlino
LETS GO METS!!!
GEAUX SAINTS