Ravens kicker Matt Stover had the pressure on him during training camp at McDaniel College Thursday when coach Brian Billick challenged him to make a 48-yard field goal. Should he make it, Billick promised to cut 15 minutes off the afternoon special teams session.
With the poise he has shown throughout his 17-year career, Stover followed through with the kick and watched the ball sail just over the uprights. Although it was just a practice wager, Stover appreciated the chance to be placed in a situation where missing the kick came with consequences.
“I?ve asked Brian during this training camp to place me in situations which get me mentally ready for a game,” Stover said. “When you?re kicking on your own, you can?t simulate that pressure you get when you?re in a regular-season game.”
Stover said that even after being a kicker in the NFL for 16 years and being on two Super Bowl teams, he needs to do all he can to get in the right frame of mind to be ready for the season. This became apparent to him last season when he opened the year by missing his first three field goal attempts.
“Last year, I started out really bad,” Stover said. “Not that I wasn?t working hard that year, but I realized I need a little more game readiness.”
It is that understanding of the mental preparation of the game that has made Stover one of the game?s more consistent kickers. Last season, he made 30 of 34 field-goal attempts and 23 of 23 point-after attempts. For his career, he has made 272 of 323 field goals and missed just one point-after.
In addition, Stover is the lone player holdover from the franchise?s days in Cleveland and has played with the team for 16 of his 17 years, a rarity for someone at his position. He spent his rookie year with the New York Giants in 1990.
“Many years ago, I discovered how much of a privilege it is to play in this game,” Stover said. “For me to stay with one team during 16 of my 17 years in this league is amazing. The longevity comes not just from my efforts but from those around me ? from the training staff to my snappers and holders to my special team coaches to [coach] Brian Billick all working together to help me be successful.”
THE STOVER FILE
Age: 38
College: Louisiana Tech
Did you know? Stover was originally drafted by the Giants in the 12th round of the 1990 draft and spent the entire season on the IR. He then signed with the Cleveland Browns as a Plan B free agent in 1991. His 1,594 career points put him eighth all-time in NFL history. His lone Pro Bowl appearance came in 2000, when he connected on a franchise-record 35 of 39 field goals and all 30 of his PAT?s for 135 points.
