Who'll get the boot?

Bryant, France do their best to make Gruden's decision difficult.

By RICK STROUD
Published September 1, 2005

	[Times photo: Jim Damaske]
	Both Todd France (above) and Matt Bryant kicked well in the preseason, but only one will survive this weekend's final cutdown.

TAMPA - The battle between place-kickers Matt Bryant and Todd France could come down to the final field goal attempt of the preseason tonight against the Texans.

The race remains toe-to-toe.

What arguably has been the most important off-season contest is a virtual deadlock, but that would seem to favor the experienced Bryant, a career 80 percent kicker who has played for the Giants, Colts and Dolphins.

France, an All NFL-Europe player, has failed to earn a job in previous training camp stints with the Vikings and Giants.

"It's been my experience the last three or four years that if it's anywhere close, it's going to go to the guy with experience, and I can totally understand that because they're going to go with someone who has proven themselves," France said. "I'm just looking for my opportunity to finally break in."

France, 25, would appear to have slightly out-performed Bryant during training camp and in games. At one point, he made 33 consecutive field goal attempts at Disney's Wide World of Sports. France also has been perfect in the preseason, making all four of his field goal tries, including a 46-yarder at Miami Saturday.

Bryant, 30, has connected on three of four field goal attempts, missing only from 53 yards, a kick that would have sent the game against Jacksonville into overtime. Both have kicked off well, frequently reaching the goal line with excellent hang time.

"I've been accused of not liking young guys, so I'm sure Todd France really feels the heat," coach Jon Gruden said. "It's a valid point. Have you ever kicked in the Meadowlands? Have you ever kicked in this dome? Or into the wind in this stadium? There's a lot of tricks to the trade. And some of these kickers, they're like a little tight-knit fraternity.

"It's a tough call, you know what I mean? Because it is close and logic says take the experienced guy at that position. Because age, is he 28 or is he 25? Both of them kick right-footed ... it's going to be a tough call."

In an effort to continually apply pressure, Gruden won't disclose the Bucs rotation of place-kickers for tonight's preseason finale until minutes before it's necessary.

"We don't want to say yet. We're trying to keep both of these guys in a situation where you don't know for sure yet, to be honest with you," Gruden said.

"Both guys have kicked well. I'm really proud of what they both have done. They have been supportive of one another, they've kicked the ball through the uprights and they've been here working hard."

Last week, the kicking duties belonged exclusively to France. Playing outdoors on a grass field and with the remnants of Hurricane Katrina still visible, Gruden wanted to use the elements as another test for France.

"We'd really hoped it would be more windy and rainy," Gruden said. "We really did hope he would be in some adverse situations. And we kick in Florida. You forget, if you go up and kick in Chicago or kick outside and see if you can kick this 46-yarder in bad weather. So there is some speculation you've got to speculate on. It is tough."

France obviously passed that test, but he still doesn't know how to handicap the decision the Bucs will make Saturday when teams must reach the 53-man roster limit.

"I really have no idea," France said. "I think both Matt and I have performed to a level that we deserve to be playing somewhere, if not here. I just anticipate that one of us will get the job here and hopefully the other one gets a job somewhere else in the league.

"I'm looking forward to some finality to this team. Hopefully, I make it, but if not, hopefully I get a shot somewhere else."

Ultimately, it's been Bryant's job to lose. He was the first player signed by the Bucs when free agency began, an attempt to erase the stain of a league-worst 62 percent field goal accuracy over the past two seasons.

"They've made their kicks," Gruden said. "They've made clutch kicks. They've kicked the ball from just about every venue on the football field - hash marks, long kicks, short kicks. They've shown good aptitude kicking the ball off; onside kicks, squib kicks, they can hang the ball high. Whatever kicks they want to do, they can kick the ball.

"Both of these guys are accomplished and they appear to me like they're NFL-ready. These guys are both going to be NFL kickers. I don't think there's any question."

[Last modified September 1, 2005, 00:58:13]