Nick Novak, Placekicker and Travelin’ Man
Posted by Randy Lange on February 9, 2011 – 6:39 pmThe Jets announced today they have signed placekicker Nick Novak today. If it doesn’t work out for Novak with the Green & White, his next gig could be as a Travel Channel host.
Novak is a well-traveled footman. It all began for him after the 2004 season at Maryland when he signed as an undrafted free agent with the Bears. Most recently his career path took him to Orlando, Fla., where he earned UFL special teams player of the year honors for the Florida Tuskers.
In between? There’s no short way to sum it up.
He’s been signed and released by Chicago, Dallas, Washington, Arizona, Washington again, Chicago again, Kansas City and San Diego. He even kicked for the ‘Skins, Cards and Chiefs in the regular season, hitting 19 of 30 field goals and 32 of 32 PATs.
In between the cuts and the signings, Novak got a lot of looks. Among the NFL teams he’s either worked out for or was reported to be scheduled to work out for are Green Bay, Kansas City (twice before the Chiefs signed him), Cincinnati (twice), Jacksonville, Seattle, San Diego, Indianapolis, Detroit, Washington (again) and Cleveland.
Needless to say, Jets special teams coordinator Mike Westhoff was aware of Novak. One other coach may also have been somewhat familiar with his work coming out of college, since one of the teams the 6’0″, 191-pounder visited before the ’05 draft was Baltimore, whose first-year defensive coordinator at the time was none other than Rex Ryan.
Novak, who was a two-time All-ACC first-teamer and is still the conference’s all-time leading scorer (393 points in four seasons with the Terps) will join the kicking fray with Nick Folk as the Jets head toward the 2011 season.
Two ‘Backers Signed
The Jets also announced the signings of two linebackers, Brandon Long and Garrett McIntyre.
Long (6’3″, 254) didn’t play in the ’10 season after signing with San Francisco out of Michigan State following the draft and being waived by the 49ers on Aug. 29. On his résumé: He earned All-Big Ten honorable mention as a senior, and he hails from the Fame-ous town of Canton, Ohio.
For McIntyre (6’3″, 270), the Jets once again went north of the border, where he played the past two seasons for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Before that, it was two seasons with the San Jose SaberCats of the Arena League. He spent time with Seattle, Arizona and Tennessee in the 2006 preseason after being named the WAC Defensive Player of the Year for Fresno State.
Tags: Brandon Long, Garrett McIntyre, Mike Westhoff, Nick Folk, Nick Novak, Rex Ryan
Posted in Randy Lange | 12 Comments »
By Tommy on Feb 9, 2011 | Reply
Brandon Long;
MARK IT DOWN: NEXT SLEEPER SENSATION
Seriously, he’s that good and a good young man
By eric on Feb 9, 2011 | Reply
the jets should try to get barry cofield, keith bullocks, nnamdi asomugha (not really possible but worth a shot), and draft casey mathews
By Mike Jet Vet on Feb 9, 2011 | Reply
So why are we signing him more musical chairs coming up
By eric on Feb 9, 2011 | Reply
also sign mathias kimanuka from giants, giants actually have a lot of good defensive players on free agency, i just hope we get most of our players back, especially on offense, our D does need a lil help as in pass rush and DE, but its still a great defense, it stinks that schottys coming back, but i admit he did step it up after criticism, he still needs to let sanchez off the chains more and make his own plays. i love the way sanchez plays in the postseason, great passer rating, keep it up kid, and the whole team too this time until febrary 2012, i see the jets winning the big one within the next 2 years, if not next season, then definetly the year after, hopefully next year though, lets go jets baby! oh yea btw plz release gholston!
By IRA on Feb 10, 2011 | Reply
No shock that they signed a kicker. Bottom line is if Folk has a good summer he will be back. Sure he had his ups and downs but his troubles really came from 40 yds and out. From 1 -39 yds he was 25-28 for 89%. From 40 yds and out he was 5-11 which included 2-5 from 50 yds and out. Still would like to upgrade at this position but unless they find a diamond in the ruff Folk will be back.
GO JETS!!!!
By MARKG on Feb 10, 2011 | Reply
BROWNS JUST RELEASED SHAWN RODGERS JETS SHOULD JUMP ON HIM. WOULD IMPROVE RUN DEFENCE AND HO HIT THE QB
By GaryC on Feb 10, 2011 | Reply
like the mcintyre signing,sounds like a guy with that non stop motor that jets are going to use as that hybrid de/lb, like jason babin of titans. had 8 sacks with ti-cats.more than any jet. hopefully this guy is the start of good things and jet management is learing. he is only 27.keep signing if player is under 30 and draft wisely.
By paul on Feb 10, 2011 | Reply
Good to see the jets fishing for linebackers, though they may be long shots, The jJets linebacking core is aging, doesn’t cover well over the middle and needs help. Scott really hasn’t produced as promised. That number 2 draft pick we gave for Cro is looming big if we can’t resign him, Defense could use some youth and speed.
By GaryC on Feb 10, 2011 | Reply
some fans never learn, they still are looking to sign these guys who are over 30 because they have the name.I guess I will be reading we have to bring back Barton and Bowens because they were cut also.
By Caseyy on Feb 10, 2011 | Reply
they need to get some better olb so they can bring down QB’s if J-taylor isns]t coming back.
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By Jets Fan Since '64 Tom on Feb 11, 2011 | Reply
I’m sorry, I resisted saying this for a whole day, but are we going backwards at K? Last yr we got cheap with Feely for Folk, who’d just had the most laughable yr of any NFL kicker in decades. Now we’re going to “turn the heat up on Folk” with some guy who’s tried out for just about every team and stuck with none? No harm in giving him a shot, but I’m starting to wonder about ST wizard Westhoff, at least where K and P are concerned. The number of guys who’ve played or tried out with the Jets and then done well elsewhere (Graham, Kapinos, Stitser) is starting to become a bit curious. Hopefully Conley grows into his potential soon or Weatherford steps up still another notch to fight him off. I’m still not sure about Folk, though.
By punchie from OZ on Feb 13, 2011 | Reply
Lets just hope that we won`t need to kick for points very often this season, schotty needs to unleash the beast more often this season and let MACH SANCHIZE send it deep