By Budd Bailey, Buffalo Sports Page Columnist
Rian Lindell – Signed by the Bills in 2003
Kickers in the National Football League aren’t known for their job security. One bad game, or a couple of bad kicks, and a placekicker can be on the unemployment line. It’s good to salute, then, someone who manage to stay with the Bills for 10 years.
Rian Lindell had won the Seahawks’ kicking job in 2000, and had done well in three seasons there. The Bills thought he would be an upgrade over Mike Hollis, particularly when it came to leg strength, so they signed him as a restricted free agent.
Lindell needed little time to make an impact. He had a so-so initial season with the Bills but then improved noticibly. Lindell converted on 92 percent of his field goals in 2006. He never reached that height again but his percentage was in the 80s in seven of his 10 years as a Bill.
By the spring of 2013, the Bills saved a little money on the salary cap by releasing Lindell. He eventually was replaced by Dan Carpenter. Lindell kicks for Tampa Bay for one season and then retired.
Yes, this was a pretty nice moment:
(Follow Budd on Twitter @WDX2BB. And yes, we’re halfway to the end.)
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