First Drop Kick in Modern Football History 



I was halfway watching the Patriots and Miami NFL football game this afternoon. Right after the Patriots scored, they lined up for an extra point attempt in a weird formation like a punt formation with 43-year old Doug Flutie in as quarterback. Miami called a time out, the Patriots came back in the same formation, snapped the ball to Flutie who dropped kicked the ball through the uprights for the extra point. It was an amazing play to cap off a great career (Flutie as a backup probably won't play in the playoffs). After a few minutes, the announcers said it was the first successful dropkick in the NFL since 1941! SI article on the kick. Link. The dropkick remains in the rules despite being made almost impossible to kick when the ball was made pointier to encourage the forward pass in 1934. Before that, the ball was shaped like a rugby ball with blunt ends and players often would dropkick the ball even after a running play. Here is an great article on the dropkick. Link.

I remember from my high school athlete days talking with one of my older coaches named De Francesco (who claimed to be old enough play high school ball in Chicago back in the leather helmet days) and he spent some time with my teaching me how to dropkick a football. It was very difficult to drop the ball on its point and kick it as it touches the ground or on the bounce. I have great respect for Doug Flutie's kick today. It made my year! 

Posted: Sun - January 1, 2006 at 10:16 PM          

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