Leave Kaeding Alone!

A Raider Has a Rant

by Martin Zazueta



For the past week I have been annoyed when hearing insults and attacks towards the San Diego Chargers kicker Nate Kaeding who missed three field goal attempts in the Chargers' first round playoff game this year. Charger fans are so upset at Kaeding because the game ended 14-17 with the Chargers losing to the New York Jets. Fans claim that its Kaeding's fault that the game was lost.



Although I am in favor of people's expressing their opinions freely, I originally did not mind the the talk against Kaeding; what really got me ticked was that minutes after the game anti-Kaeding Facebook groups started showing up saying to get off the team or the witty "Are You Kaeding me?". I also cannot imagine the amount of emails and letters Kaeding must have received from disgruntled fans. What I have to say about that is, Charger fans have to stop being so narrow minded, and look at what really happened at the game.



The Chargers played one of the most terrible games they had all season, with the offense receiving over 9 flags and losing over about 45 yards throughout the entire game. The situation was so bad that they had to bring out Kaeding for the field goal 3 times: one at about 43 yards, another at 57 yards and the third being in the 30s. Ok, first off, all these are difficult kicks and even though Kaeding's record is a 57-yard field goal kick, it does not mean he is going to get it every time. And then again, the offense they did not do their job. If they did, they would not have needed Kaeding to attempt the field goal in the first place.



So, if the Chargers end up losing Nate Kaeding, one of the best kickers in the NFL, because irrational fans cannot put the pieces together as to why the Chargers lost and are taking it out on someone who has done nothing but great work until this one game, then we will have other problems to worry about next season. So please don't hate.