When Chad Ryland was drafted by the New England Patriots, the organization envisioned him as their kicker of the future. However, after just one year, the Patriots have decided to move on from Ryland, citing inconsistency in his performance. During his rookie season, Ryland led the team in scoring with 72 points but struggled with accuracy.
Ryland managed to convert 64% of his field goal attempts, hitting 16 out of 25. This placed him at the bottom of the league in terms of field goal percentage. The young kicker particularly struggled with long-range attempts, making only 45.5% of his kicks from beyond 45 yards by successfully converting just 5 of 11 tries.
Veteran Competition
In an effort to improve their special teams, the Patriots brought in veteran kicker Joey Slye during training camp. With six years of NFL experience under his belt, Slye has previously played for multiple teams, including the Carolina Panthers, Houston Texans, San Francisco 49ers, and Washington Commanders. His tenure with Washington lasted two-and-a-half seasons before the Commanders chose not to re-sign him in free agency.
Slye quickly proved his worth during training camp by outperforming Ryland. According to 98.5 The Sports Hub in Boston, "Slye outkicked Ryland in camp by hitting nearly 80% of his kicks compared to just 75.9% for Ryland." This stark difference in performance was particularly evident in their long-range attempts. Slye successfully converted eight of nine kicks between 50 and 59 yards, while Ryland managed only three of seven from the same distance.
The Decision
The Patriots' choice to release Ryland after just one year is a significant move. ESPN.com reported that "The Patriots have decided to cut ties with Ryland after just one year." This decision underscores the team's need for a more reliable option at kicker, especially with the regular season fast approaching.
Slye's Opportunity
Now, Joey Slye has a golden opportunity to cement his place as the Patriots' starting kicker. With a solid performance in training camp, he appears poised to carry this momentum into the regular season. The Patriots are the sixth team that Slye has joined in his six-year career, and he is undoubtedly eager to prove his worth and bring stability to the position.
All eyes will be on the Patriots' special teams unit this season to see if Slye can maintain his form and provide the consistency that the team has been missing.