The Ohio State graduate talked about his brief experience in Arizona, where he owns a house, as well as the blocked field goal at Pittsburgh,, his late father and his beloved Buckeyes for this week’s Bengals High 5:
Q: How difficult was that 2009 season with your future up in the air a little bit?
A: I had a really good attitude about it. I didn't hit the ball very well when I was in Tampa, so I went to Ohio State and did a lot of kicking and working out because that's where I was living at the time. Going to Arizona was really good for me because the punter we had, Ben Graham, was my holder with the Jets. I knew from Day 1 I was just filling in for a few games because Neil Rackers pulled his groin or something like that. He was very welcoming and had a great attitude and really helped me out. I knew I was not only trying to help that team out, but I was also putting my on my resume for another team, which ended up being Cincinnati.
Q: Did you end up buying a house in Scottsdale because you fell in love with the area when you kicked for the Cardinals?
A: My wife (Emily) grew up in Columbus but she went to Arizona State, and we always went out there and visited friends. It was one of those things where in the offseason we would drive up to Columbus and have the same weather we would have here in Cincinnati, so we said 'let's try to enjoy some better weather' and we kind of turned into snow birds. It's our permanent spot. It's where we go in the offseason.
Q: Officially you've made nine of your last 10 field goals, but do you count the blocks as a miss in your own mind?
A: I don't unless it's like clearly one of those things where I hit the ball terrible and way too low. I'm not a huge fan of the fact that a block goes on your stats forever. It goes down as no different as a miss, and I don't agree with that part of it. When it comes to a block, for it to go against our stats it should mean somebody did something wrong. It's not giving the defense any credit for doing a great job. That one in Pittsburgh I hit great and they didn't really get any penetration, but (Cameron Heyward) just made an awesome play. It's one of those times where his hand was in the perfect spot.
Q: It's been almost a year since your dad passed away. Are you doing anything in your pre-kick ritual to remember or honor him?
A: Not anything physically. There's nothing you'd see watching me last year compared to this year and say 'Oh, that's something new that he does.' But definitely mentally. I think about him pretty much the entire time I'm on the field, like 'what would he be thinking right now?' Or if I hit a nice, solid swing, what would he have to say after the game?
Q: How much have you followed your Ohio State Buckeyes this year and what do you think their chances are of repeating?
A: I've followed them a little bit. I'm always cheering for them if I can watch the game. It's tough just being a regular fan now. Obviously I played there, but when I say 'regular fan' it's because I don't really know anybody on the team anymore. But we went to the Minnesota game a couple of weeks ago when we had the Thursday night game, and everyone is so welcoming and they really want the best for the guys, even the one who haven't been there in 10 years. They're having a great year. I like their chances.
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