Jude McAtamney has been cut from the New York Giants roster
McAtamney, the Swatragh Gaelic footballer who became an NFL kicker after playing college football at Rutgers, made his league debut last season against the Washington Commanders before making four starts this season, being thrust into the squad after an injury to Giants first-choice kicker Graham Gano.
McAtamney had a solid showing against the LA Chargers, as well as two more outings against the Saints and Eagles, before a disastrous day in Denver put his career in the incredibly ruthless NFL in question, as he missed two point-after-touchdown conversions (PATs) during the Giants’ 33-32 loss to the Broncos on October 19.
That game was one where the Giants had a total collapse, throwing away a 26-8 lead with just over 10 minutes left in the game, and although McAtamney’s missed kicks were far from the sole cause of the defeat, he faced heavy scrutiny from America’s largest and most merciless media market, as well as social media abuse from New York fans.
The margins for error, especially for PATs which are expected to be a near-formality, are slim at this level. His chances of playing for the Giants again after missing two PATs in the one game were next to none, and McAtamney was placed on waivers later that week.
He was retained on the Giants practice squad, filling an extra exemption slot held open for international players on the team’s reserves, but now he has been released for what is likely the final time by the Giants as German tight-end Maximilian Mang now fills that international exemption slot.
McAtamney will now search for another opportunity in the league, and with years of college and NFL tape behind him, as well as incentives to pick up international players on practice squads, his career in the world’s biggest sports league may still have life yet.
Meanwhile, signs are mixed for Charlie Smyth’s chances to be a starting kicker for the New Orleans Saints, despite the continuing struggles of starting kicker Blake Grupe.
Grupe looks to be on the way out of New Orleans after missing two kicks in their 24-10 defeat at home to the rival Atlanta Falcons, leaving him with a 18 from 26 record with no kicker in the NFL missing more field goal attempts, with Grupe having at least one miss per game.
It heightened hopes that Mayobridge man Smyth, who joined the Saints practice squad before the 2024 season, would be in line for his first regular season start in the NFL.
But the Saints are instead hosting tryouts for the position.
Justin Tucker, who was once the league’s best kicker at points of his 13-year stint in Baltimore, was invited to work out with the squad on Monday, in spite of the cloud hanging over the 36-year-old due to a 10-game suspension.
Tucker received the ban this year in connection to allegations by several Baltimore-area massage therapists that Tucker engaged in inappropriate sexual behavior during massage sessions. Tucker has served that suspension, so there are no technical obstacles to joining the team.
Journeyman kicker Cade York, who played college at the nearby Louisiana State University, is also trying out for the job.
After Sunday’s game, Saints head coach Kellen Moore was asked about a potential promotion for Smyth, and although the team are “evaluating all options,” Moore’s position is that Smyth is still in a development stage.
“Charlie is certainly in a developmental role,” Moore said. “He's done a lot of good as he's gone through this process for a couple of years now in the developmental role.
“It’s something we will have to spend some time and invest some time in. Today's not going to be the answer to all of that. I think it's a process that we are just going to have to go through.”
Further north, things are looking excellent for Wicklow-born punter Daniel Whelan, whose performances for the Green Bay Packers put him firmly in contention to make the Pro Bowl, the NFL’s answer to the All-Stars.
This is Whelan’s third season in the NFL, with his performances consistent, reliable and impressive, with his primetime showing in front of tens of millions of viewers at the Pittsburgh Steelers one for the highlight reel.
Whelan will be in action for the Packers as they play on Thursday at the Detroit Lions (6pm kick-off Irish time), with voting for the Pro Bowl open to fans that afternoon.