 |
 |
By The Associated Press
Arizona Daily Wildcat
August 22, 1996
DAVIE, Fla. - Pete Stoyanovich, one of the Miami Dolphins' most popular players and fourth in field-goal accuracy in NFL history, was traded Wednesday to Kansas City for a draft choice.The Chiefs are intent on avoiding a repeat of last year when an excellent season unraveled with three missed field goals against Indianapolis in Kansas City's playoff opener.
Stoyanovich has never failed three times in one game - and only twice has missed three in a row over seven seasons.
''We all know what happened there the last few years,'' Stoyanovich said. ''They are going to put a lot of emphasis on the kicker this season.''
The 29-year-old kicker was called over to talk to coach Jimmy Johnson during practice. Later, he choked back tears.
''Coach Johnson is a businessman and very well respected,'' Stoyanovich said. ''I kind of saw things coming. There will always be a place in my heart for South Florida. It's been a great thrill.''
To make room for Stoyanovich, the Chiefs waived placekicker Bjorn Nittmo.
Chiefs president and general manager Carl Peterson said Wednesday that the club believes the move ''makes a positive statement to our fans, players and staff.''
The trade marked another move by Johnson to reshape the Dolphins. While Don Shula emphasized field goals in his 26 years as Miami coach, Johnson puts a high price on field position. He will go with untested but strong-legged kicker Joe Nedney.
''He's got some big shoes to fill,'' Stoyanovich said. ''But he has a size 13 foot.''
Kansas City cut erratic kicker Lin Elliott after he missed the three field goals - one a 42-yarder with 37 seconds left - in a 10-7 playoff loss to the Colts.
Kicking was thought to be one of the few weak spots this season for the Chiefs, who return their skill players from a team that had an NFL-best 13-3 record in the regular season.
The Chiefs waived kicker Roman Anderson this week and it was thought Nittmo had won the job. Talk that Stoyanovich would be traded heated up Monday after Nedney made a 48-yard field goal in the rain against Minnesota, while Stoyanovich hit the uprights on a 42-yard attempt.
Officials for the Chiefs, who play Chicago on Thursday, could not be reached for comment after holding an early morning practice so the city could hold its annual football rally.
''Very rarely do you trade kickers,'' Johnson said. ''It's an unusual case. Pete is a quality kicker and Kansas city had problems with their field goals last year. It cost them in the playoffs.''
Stoyanovich, who has played only for Miami, holds the Miami record for field goals of 50 yards or more with 16. He also made the longest field goal in NFL playoff history, a 58-yarder against the Chiefs on Jan. 5, 1991.
He ranks as the No. 2 scorer in Dolphins history with 774 points. In the past seven seasons, only Atlanta's Morten Anderson has more points and field goals.
The draft pick the Dolphins receive from the Chiefs can move up one round if Stoyanovich makes the Pro Bowl. Miami also gains by going with Nedney, who will make the NFL minimum $131,000 this year.
|
|
|