Michael Rothstein, ESPN Staff Writer 10y

Akers understands Lions' kicker tryouts

ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- David Akers understood. He missed an easy 31-yard field goal. His percentage is one of the lowest in the league.

So the two-day tryout of other kickers, a tryout that ended with Akers remaining as the kicker for the Detroit Lions, didn’t bother him. He’s been around long enough to see all of it.

“That’s part of the business, man,” Akers said. “Been on the other side as well.”

Akers has made 15 of 20 field goals this season, including 3 of 6 field goals from 40-49 yards. His 75 percent field goal rate is tied for 28th in the NFL, only ahead of Washington’s Kai Forbath, Oakland’s Sebastian Janikowski and Houston’s Randy Bullock among full-time kickers.

His 50 percent ratio from 40-49 yards is tied with Forbath and Tennessee kicker Rob Bironas for worst in the league.

So Akers didn’t take Detroit’s decision to bring in a cavalcade of kickers for tryouts as a warning or a message that his job is in jeopardy. It is just part of the business.

“After 17 years of trying to play in this game, I don’t take anything as a kick in the pants,” Akers said. “It’s kind of an 'It is what it is.' You deal with it and it’s out of your control, and there’s no excuse.

“You’ve got to make a 31-yard field goal. So, you know, management doing their job and I’m trying to do my job.”

Akers will keep his job for now -- and just in time for him to return to Philadelphia on Sunday. Akers still has a home in the area, and the 38 year old spent the first 10 years of his career with the Eagles.

This won’t be his first trip back. He returned in 2011 with San Francisco and made his lone field goal attempt in that game.

^ Back to Top ^