Monday, November 12, 2001
Rackers a highlight on bad day
By Paul Daugherty
The Cincinnati Enquirer
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. The high-wire act that is Neil Rackers' Cincinnati Bengals career deserved applause Sunday. Rackers made both his field goal tries, including a 52-yarder that ended the first half.
That kick gave the Bengals a 13-7 lead and momentum. They squandered both. But it wasn't Rackers' fault. I just stayed down through it and got it through, Rackers said of the 52-yarder.
It must be hard to kick when looking over your shoulder. That's what Rackers has done the last three weeks. The Bengals have brought in a succession of kickers hoping to take his job. The latest, Jarat Holmes, is on the practice squad.
A kicker, like a closer in base ball, can be his own worst enemy. Thinking too much about what you do, or dwelling on your failure, is usually a formula for disaster. On the 52-yarder Sunday, Rackers said the best thing he did was not think about anything that happened before.
Rackers wasn't going to get the chance to kick, had the officials not reversed on review an incomplete pass from QB Jon Kitna to Ron Dugans. The 3-yard completion put the ball at the Jacksonville 36, with two seconds left in the half.
We expect to make those. I make them all in practice, Rackers said. I think they feel I ought to get it done (in the games), too.
Even after going 2-for-2 Sunday, Rackers still is just 9-for-16 overall, and has missed five kicks of 45 yards or less.
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