Cleveland kicker Zane Gonzalez took full responsibility for another Browns loss, shortly after the New Orleans Saints escaped with a 21-18 win thanks for four missed kicks (two extra points and two field goals). Now, the Cleveland Browns are taking responsibility and trying out new kickers today to replace Gonzalez, according to reports.
"It's on me 100 percent," Gonzalez said after the game. "I can't be too mad at myself because I'm the one that did it, you know what I mean? I can't blame it on [anybody] else. It sucks because we were so close to that win, and it's been so long. I just let everybody down."
The Browns, who haven't won a single game since 2016, are holding kicker tryouts on Monday, cleveland.com reported. Cleveland has experienced two heart-breaking setbacks in 2018 with games that appeared to be won but slipped away, are holding kicker tryouts today after Gonzalez's dismal performance in New Orleans, several news agencies are reporting Monday.
Gonzalez, an All-American at Arizona State, had already missed two extra points and a field goal when he got an attempt to tie the game with three seconds to play on Sunday at New Orleans. The kick sailed wide right, leaving the Browns at 0-1-1 this season after another game of heartbreak.
Cleveland.com reported today that the Browns are trying out new kickers, while ESPN reported that the Browns are expected to change kickers this week.
Gonzalez suggested after Sunday's loss that he got into a funk after missing on a 44-yard field goal in the fourth quarter that would have given Cleveland a 15-3 lead.
"I was cursing myself out in my head," he said, according to the AP. "I'm really upset about it."
The Browns had a chance to win in week 1, a game that ended in a 21-21 tie against Pittsburgh, but he had a game-winning field goal attempt blocked in the final seconds. Gonzalez was a rookie in 2017 – a winless season for the Browns – and he made 17 of 25 field goal attempts and 25 of 26 PATs.
Against New Orleans on Sunday, each of Gonzalez's misses came in the second half, and two were in the last 75 seconds. Cleveland had a 12-3 lead in the fourth quarter and could have sealed the win with some kicking success.
His final attempt to tie the game never had a chance.
"I'm not going to lie about it," Gonzalez said after the game. "It snowballed. I was pulling them, and the last one I pushed it because I was overcompensating. I get paid to make those kicks, and I have to make them."
Browns coach Hue Jackson wasn't sure after the game if the team would start looking for a new kicker.
"I don't know that," he said. "We will address all of that once we get in (the office) tomorrow."
On Monday, the team began a search for a new kicker, according to the reports.
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