Ex-Vike Hauschka gets chance in Baltimore

Posted on March 6th, 2009 – 2:03 PM
By Mark Craig

With Matt Stover’s days in Baltimore apparently over, the Ravens are ready to turn their place-kicking duties over to 23-year-old Steven Hauschka, a second-year player who entered the league as one of the Vikings’ undrafted free agents.

Stover, 41, has played 18 years for this franchise and is the only player left from when it relocated from Cleveland and changed its name from the Browns to the Ravens. He is the third most accurate field goal kicker in NFL history (83.7) and has 14 game-winning field goals, including one in January during an AFC divisional playoff game at Tennessee.

Stover, however, no longer has a strong enough leg to kick off. That’s why the Ravens signed Hauschka last summer after the Vikings released him. Hauschka was signed by the Vikings last summer as basically a camp leg. He showed promise, but had no chance to beat out Ryan Longwell.

Hauschka ended up as Baltimore’s kickoff specialist and long-range field goal kicker. He was 1 of 2 on field goal attempts. The field goal he made was from 54 yards.

Stover drew interest from the Jets, but they ended up signing Jay Feely. Stover wants to keep playing. If no team signs him, it’s possible he could rejoin the Ravens, but only if Hauschka can’t live up to the pressure of the opportunity he’s been given.  Â

2 Responses to "Ex-Vike Hauschka gets chance in Baltimore"

JIM CLARK: THE QUIET CHAMPION | Cars, Leasing and more. says:

March 12th, 2009 at 7:38 am

[…] Ex-Vike Hauschka gets chance in Baltimore […]