parker-romo-falcons-kicker
Getty Image
Carbonatix Pre-Player Loader
Audio By Carbonatix
Atlanta Falcons kicker Parker Romo had himself quite a game Sunday night. He went 5-for-5 on field goals and 1-for-1 on extra points to score 16 of the Falcons’ 22 points in the team’s win over the Minnesota Vikings.
That stellar effort was made even sweeter by the fact that it was his debut for the Falcons after the team benched incumbent kicker Younghoe Koo. Romo had only just signed with the Falcons after being cut by the New England Patriots on August 26th.
Parker Romo’s heroics, which included a 54-yard field goal, did not go unnoticed by NBC who decided to include him in the post-game interview session with Melissa Stark. Joining him in the interview were Falcons running back Bijan Robinson and linebacker Leonard Floyd.
“You found out yesterday morning that you were making this trip,” Stark said to Romo (no relation to Tony). “You told me before the game that it’s always nerve-wracking, but you were a perfect five-for-five on field goals. It wasn’t that nerve-wracking, was it? Where did the confidence come from?”
Romo then admitted that the first field goal was indeed nerve-wracking. He also thanked the Vikings, the team he just helped defeat, for signing him as an injury replacement for kicker Will Reichard last season.
Stark then pointed out that Romo was still learning his teammates’ names, asking him, “You know their names, right?”
“I know Bijan,” Romo replied, pointing at Robinson.
“This is Leonard Floyd over here,” Stark then said to Romo, who proceeded to shake hands with the pass rusher as the group had a good laugh.
“Man, 10 years in the league, come on! Former No. 9 pick in the draft. Dude, what’s your name, man? Nice to meet you,” Mike Tirico then said after the interview to a chorus of laughter.
“That’s my favorite!” Cris Collinsworth added. “I love that interview! Ohh, that’s awesome!”
Parker Romo’s career history
For those unfamiliar with Parker Romo (like Leonard Floyd), he played college football for the Central Arkansas Bears, Tulsa Golden Hurricane, and Virginia Tech Hokies. He went undrafted, but the New Orleans Saints signed him as an undrafted free agent, but never played a game for them.
From there he went to the XFL to kick for the San Antonio Brahmas where he made 17-of-19 field goal attempts. He made the All-XFL team and is the current XFL record holder for most field goals made.
Following that season he was signed and waived by the Detroit Lions, signed and released by the Chicago Bears, and then hooked up with the Vikings. With Minnesota he made 11-of-12 field goals and 7-of-8 extra points. Despite those good numbers, he was released after the season, signed and released by the Patriots, before finally making his way to Atlanta (the city in which he was born).