Although the Falcons are 2-0 in the young NFL season, they’ve had one glaring problem—field goal kicking. Today they signed 46 year-old veteran Morten Anderson to replace second-year kicker Michael Koenen, who has made only 2 of 8 attempts this season.
Anderson, who entered the league with New Orleans, has played over 20 years, including a six-year stint with the Falcons that started in 1995 and ended after the 2000 season. Last year with the Vikings, he hit 81.8% of his attempts, going 18 for 22.
Atlanta, which beat Washington 19-16 and Carolina 16-13 (OT), hopes that the signing will result in fewer close calls like the type they’ve had in the first two weeks.
Ironically, Anderson will first kick against the Saints, the team that released him in 1995 after nine years of service.
Anderson, who hails from Denmark and is known as the “Great Dane,� holds the NFL mark of 40 for most field goals 50 yards or longer. The other irony is that he also holds the franchise records for most points scored in both New Orleans and Atlanta. Anderson is 46 years old and still possesses a strong leg.
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