Billy Cundiff

William A. "Billy" Cundiff (born March 30, 1980 in Valley Center, California) is an American football placekicker for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. He was signed by the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2002. He played college football at Drake University.

Cundiff has suited up for nine different teams in just as many seasons, including the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Green Bay Packers, New Orleans Saints, and the Cleveland Browns.

Early years

Cundiff attended high school in Harlan, Iowa where he was a three time All-Iowa and helped lead his team to the Iowa state championship in 1998 as starting quarterback. Cundiff was also a starting point guard in basketball.

College career

Cundiff played college football at Drake University where he broke five Pioneer Football League records including most points and most career field goals. He made eight field goals over 50 yards during his career at Drake, including a Pioneer Football League record 62-yard field goal as a junior in 2000 against San Diego.^[1] Cundiff was brought to the 2002 training camp as a free agent, and won out over incumbent Tim Seder as the team's kicker.

Cundiff also was part of the Drake University Men's Basketball team during his time at Drake. He played sparingly, partly due to several members of the team being ruled academically ineligible.

Cundiff is married to his college sweetheart, Nicole. They have two children.

In July 2007, Billy enrolled in a full-time MBA program at Arizona State University, W.P. Carey School of Business. He graduated with his MBA from ASU in May, 2009.

Professional career

Dallas Cowboys

Cundiff played four seasons with the Dallas Cowboys from 2002 to 2005. He kicked a then-record seven field goals in a game against the New York Giants on Monday Night Football on September 15, 2003.^[2]

In 2005, which would have been his fourth season with the team, he was waived/injured during training camp following a quadriceps injury, and briefly replaced by kickoff specialist José Cortéz, who had not been expected to make the team. Cundiff was later re-signed on November 19, 2005 (directly following the mandatory period after an injury waiver) having recovered from his training camp injury. He replaced kicker Shaun Suisham, in the hope of providing greater consistency to the Cowboys' special teams. In his first game back with the Cowboys, Cundiff made a 56-yard field goal at the end of the first half to set a record for longest field goal in franchise history. Cundiff played six games that season before being released by the Cowboys on December 26, 2005 after missing two field goals in a critical game against the Carolina Panthers. The Cowboys re-signed Suisham to replace him for the season finale.^[3]

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

On February 15, 2006, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed Cundiff to a contract but released him after kicker Matt Bryant was re-signed.^[4]

Green Bay Packers

Cundiff signed with the Green Bay Packers on March 28, 2006 and was expected to compete with Dave Rayner for the starting kicking position before being cut by Green Bay on August 17, 2006.^[5]

New Orleans Saints

On November 22, 2006, the New Orleans Saints signed Cundiff as a kickoff specialist, easing the workload of John Carney.

Atlanta Falcons

After being released by the Saints, Cundiff signed with the Atlanta Falcons on May 4, 2007, but was released at the end of the preseason after losing the starting job to Matt Prater.

Kansas City Chiefs

In January 2008, Cundiff was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs to a two-year contract. He was released prior to the regular season.

Detroit Lions

Cundiff was signed by the Detroit Lions on August 26, 2009 after an injury to placekicker Jason Hanson. He was cut on September 5, 2009.

Cleveland Browns

Cundiff was signed by the Cleveland Browns on September 26, 2009 after an injury to placekicker Phil Dawson.^[2] Cundiff beat out Matt Bryant in a workout with the Browns' and was signed after the Browns first choice of Matt Stover declined to sign with the team.^[3] In week 5 of the 2009 NFL season, Cundiff hit the game-winning field goal to help the Browns beat the Buffalo Bills, 6-3. He was waived on November 3, 2009.

Baltimore Ravens

Cundiff was brought in by the Baltimore Ravens for a workout on November 10, 2009^[4] and was signed on November 18, 2009^[5] to replace Steve Hauschka, who was waived on November 17.^[6]

Cundiff re-signed with the Ravens to return for the 2010 season. Cundiff was voted to the 2011 Pro Bowl as the AFC placekicker after successfully completing 26 of 29 field goal attempts and a league-high 40 touchbacks.

On January 2, 2011, Cundiff recorded his league-leading 40th touchback, which tied the NFL record set by Mitch Berger. Berger performed his feat in 1998 with the Minnesota Vikings, playing at home in the indoor Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome before the NFL instituted the K-ball rule (where a brand new set footballs had to be used for every special teams play each game). Cundiff currently plays at home in the outdoor M&T Bank Stadium and set the record after the institution of the K-ball rule. He averaged 71.1 yards per kickoff to lead the league and had touchbacks on 51.3% of his kickoffs.

On January 23, 2011 Cundiff signed a 5-year $15 million dollar contract to become Baltimore's long-term kicker.

Notes and references

1. ^ Game Recap from Record-Tying Game Retrieved October 21, 2007.
2. ^ Billy Cundiff NFL players profile Retrieved June 23, 2006.
3. ^ Cowboys release Cundiff, re-sign Suisham for finale, ESPN.com Retrieved June 23, 2006.
4. ^ Tampa Bay signs kicker Cundiff as insurance, ESPN.com Retrieved June 23, 2006.
5. ^ Billy Cundiff news on Yahoo! Sports Retrieved August 23, 2006.

External links

• Official Website
• Cleveland Browns bio