Chad Ryland's Brief Tenure with the New England Patriots Comes to an End
When the New England Patriots selected Chad Ryland in the NFL Draft, it appeared they were setting their sights on a long-term solution at the kicker position. Fast forward just one year, and the organization has made the surprising decision to part ways with Ryland.
Ryland's rookie season with the Patriots saw him lead the team in scoring, amassing a total of 72 points. Despite this, his performance was riddled with inconsistencies, which ultimately led to the Patriots' decision to release him. Ryland managed to convert only 64% of his field-goal attempts, hitting 16 out of 25 attempts, placing him last in the NFL for field goal percentage. Disturbingly, his success rate from beyond 45 yards stood at a disappointing 45.5%, making just five out of 11 attempts.
The Patriots, a team known for their meticulous approach to roster construction, were not willing to endure this level of inconsistency in such a critical special teams role. In search of stability, the team brought in veteran kicker Joey Slye during training camp. Slye, with six years of NFL experience and a proven track record, was seen as a potential solution to their kicking woes.
During training camp, Slye demonstrated a marked improvement over Ryland. Slye successfully converted nearly 80% of his kicks, compared to Ryland's 75.9%. More importantly, Slye showcased his ability to handle long-distance kicks, converting eight of nine attempts between 50 and 59 yards. In stark contrast, Ryland made only three of his seven attempts from the same range during camp.
This disparity in performance ultimately led to the inevitable decision. "Slye outkicked Ryland in camp by hitting nearly 80% of his kicks compared to just 75.9% for Ryland," reported 98.5 The Sports Hub in Boston. The writing was on the wall for Ryland, and the Patriots' decision to release him was confirmed by ESPN.com in a concise statement: "The Patriots have decided to cut ties with Ryland after just one year."
Joey Slye's journey to the Patriots has been one of resilience and perseverance. Slye spent his first two years in the NFL with the Carolina Panthers before embarking on a somewhat nomadic career path. In 2021 alone, he played for the Houston Texans, San Francisco 49ers, and Washington Commanders. Slye's tenure with the Commanders spanned two-and-a-half seasons until the team decided to let him walk in free agency. The Patriots now represent the sixth team of Slye's six-year NFL career.
As the NFL season approaches, all eyes will be on the Patriots' special teams, eager to see if Slye can carry his training camp momentum into the regular season. With Slye showing promise in camp, the Patriots are hopeful that he will provide the consistency and reliability they so desperately need in their kicking game.
For Chad Ryland, the sting of being released after just one year is a harsh reminder of the unforgiving nature of professional sports. As the last kicker drafted by the legendary Bill Belichick, there was a significant level of expectation placed upon him. Unfortunately, Ryland was unable to meet those expectations, leading to his premature exit from the team. It remains to be seen where Ryland's career will head next, but for now, Joey Slye stands as the man tasked with stabilizing the Patriots' kicking game.
In the high-stakes world of the NFL, where each kick can be the difference between victory and defeat, establishing reliability in the kicker position is paramount. The Patriots are betting that Joey Slye is the answer to their special teams' dilemma. As the season kicks off, fans and analysts alike will be closely monitoring Slye's performance, eager to see if he can deliver under the pressure and bring much-needed consistency to New England's kicking game.