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Bucs Sign Kicker Nugent To 1-Year Deal

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By ROY CUMMINGS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 4, 2009

TAMPA - That battle for the No. 1 quarterback spot won't be the only one to watch when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers open training camp this summer.

The Bucs will also stage a battle for the place-kicker's job after signing former New York Jets kicker Mike Nugent to a one-year deal.

The Bucs got a steady performance out of Matt Bryant during a trying season for the kicker last year, but Bryant struggled hitting kicks of 40 yards or longer, making just five of 11, including going 0-for-3 from 50 yards or longer. Bryant's 3-month-old son, Tryson, died in September, and Bryant kicked the game-winning field goal against Green Bay four days later.

Nugent had been with the Jets for the past four seasons and has made good on 75 of 92 field-goal tries and 83 of 85 extra-point attempts.

Nugent missed all but one game of the 2008 season because of an injury sustained in the preseason.

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