Aussie NFL star on ridiculous $A24m contract fumbles the ball for the SECOND week in a row, but thankfully his team rallied to spare his blushes
He is the Australian superstar NFL punter on a monster $A24m contract but for the second week in a row Michael Dickson has elected not to kick and cost his side a touchdown.
The 26-year-old Seattle Seahawks star was overlooked at the 2014 AFL draft but has proven to be a sensation in the NFL with his booming kicking skills.
However Dickson was lambasted last week for electing not to punt at a crucial moment in the Seahawks match against the New Orleans Saints last week where he coughed up possession that led to a touchdown – and ultimately a 39-32 loss.
He was battered by Seahawks coach Pete Carroll after the match.
‘I know you want to know about the punt, that was not a fake punt,’ a seething Carroll told reporters in the post-match press conference.
‘It was a roll-out punt, you might have to run something if things aren’t there, but we were supposed to kick the football.
‘We had our chances, and all kinds of opportunities to get this done (the win), but there were too many things that went wrong and we made it too easy for them [Saints].’
Today, against the Arizona Cardinals, Dickson did it again. Required to punt out of trouble in his own endzone, the Aussie again elected not to kick and was smashed into the turf leading to an Arizona touchdown.
Fortunately, this time it didn’t cost his side a loss as the Seahawks were able to hold on for a 19-9 win.
‘This is the second straight week where Michael Dickson has had a play where he just, didn’t punt, holding onto the ball and getting tackled with disastrous consequences. He’s on his Bartleby the Scrivener right now, he would prefer not to punt,’ US journalist Rodger Sherman tweeted.
Dickson has failed to punt two weeks in a row, although this time it didn’t prove as costly
The Arizona offence ran over the top of Dickson to knock the ball loose and score a touchdown
‘So … Michael Dickson has had a fumble on a punt 2 weeks in a row. Didn’t he used to be great?’ Cardinals fan Jess Root asked.
‘Michael Dickson is really good once his foot hits the ball,’ Danny O’Neil added.
However others were to quick to defend Dickson for having little choice after his blockers were ineffective.
‘Cardinals score game’s first touchdown. Half the state of Arizona runs in unblocked on Seahawks punter Michael Dickson in the end zone. Dickson hesitates, tries to juke guys then punt, is hit, loses the ball and Cardinals recover in the end zone,’ Seahawks beat writer Gregg Bell posted.
Dickson pictured with glamorous girlfriend Gianni Outram is an elite level NFL punter
To Dickson’s credit, he was forced to improvise because his blockers did not provide him the protection and time need to get a punt away.
For the rest of the game, his punting was at his usual elite level.
Dickson, who signed a four-year, $14.7 million [$A24m] extension last season, kicked the ball six times, including one inside-20.