GLENDALE, Ariz. — The Arizona Cardinals have signed Dan Carpenter to compete with Jay Feely as the team’s kicker.
Carpenter was released by the Miami Dolphins a week ago. He signed with the Dolphins as an undrafted rookie in 2008 and, coincidentally, took Feely’s job away from him there that season.
At 37, Feely is 10 years older than Carpenter.
“As you get older, you have to prove that you still have it and that you can still do the job and do a great job at it,” Feely said before Wednesday’s practice. “That’s what I’ve been trying to do every day.”
In Miami, Carpenter lost out to Caleb Sturgis, a fifth-round draft pick.
In addition to signing the kicker, the Cardinals released wide receivers Robert Gill and Robby Toma.
Carpenter was in uniform but didn’t do any kicking in practice on Wednesday. His wife gave birth to the couple’s first child on Monday.
“It’s been a little bit of a tornado the last five days or so,” he said, “so they didn’t want me to hop off a five-hour plane ride and have to come out here and kick.”
Carpenter said he had a few opportunities but chose Arizona.
“It all came down to where I felt like I had the best opportunity to help the team out,” he said.
Of trying to beat out Feely again, Carpenter said, “It’s kind of a little bit deja vu.”
“He’s a great guy, he’s a great competitor, obviously a great kicker,” Carpenter said. “He’s been in this league many, many years more than I have. You know, it will be fun.”
Carpenter made 22 of 27 field goals last season. Feely made 25 of 28. For their careers, Carpenter has made 81.9 percent of his field goal tries (127 of 155), Feely 82.6 percent (299 of 362).
“Healthy competition only makes us better,” coach Bruce Arians said of Carpenter’s signing. “We’ve been consistent that whenever there’s the potential to make our football team better we’re going to explore that opportunity.”
Asked about losing the job to Carpenter five years ago, Feely said “There was a lot more to it than my percentages and my performances on the field.”
Then he reeled off a list of what he said were his statistics since he joined the Cardinals.
“I think I’m third in the NFL in makes over 47 yards the last four years, fifth in percentage, fifth in percentage under 47 yards,” Feely said. “So I’m happy with how I performed over the last few years of my career and happy with my training camp so far.”
Since 2007, Feely has made 8 of 9 field goals of 50 yards or longer. Carpenter is 10 of 20 from 50 or farther.
In Saturday’s 12-7 victory over Dallas, Feely made field goals of 25, 53, 40 and 22 yards but missed one from 30.
“The miss was dumb,” he said. “It wasn’t a technical thing. I should have taken a delay of game and not rushed it.”