The Philadelphia Eagles cut David Akers to everyone’s surprise two years ago. Although the Eagles lost in the 2010 playoffs because Akers missed two key field goals, it was a sudden end for the greatest place kicker in Philadelphia history. But it was far less of a surprise when Akers got cut again by the San Francisco 49ers on March 6.
After getting cut by the Eagles in 2011, Akers made headlines by kicking the most field goals in a single season. However, Akers’ big headlines in 2012 were about how many kicks he missed, which endangered his job all the way up to the Super Bowl.
The prospect of Akers trying a last-second Super Bowl kick was nerve wracking in San Francisco, yet the offense blew that game at the very end instead. Nevertheless, the 49ers cut Akers for all of his erratic play before the Super Bowl. They couldn't find a suitable replacement for him during the postseason, but they have the whole offseason to try again.
The last time that Akers was unceremoniously released, it worked out well for him in the short term. Yet it is unlikely that he will set records for a new contending team in 2013 while his old one completely collapses.
Although Akers thrived in San Francisco in 2011 while Philadelphia struggled, fortunes changed quickly again for the most part. The Eagles as a whole bottomed out in 2012, yet Alex Henery emerged as an ideal replacement for Akers after all. Henery may never be as accurate and clutch as Akers was in Philadelphia, but the Eagles have hardly given him a chance to come up big.
Akers had no trouble finding a new team after the Eagles got rid of him, yet it might be a different story this time. He is now 38 years old and is coming off one of the most infamous seasons a place kicker has ever had. Of course, after a whole city hoped and prayed that his foot wouldn’t decide the Super Bowl, there are few places to go but up.
The Eagles have gotten rid of most of their old figureheads, with Akers being the first domino to fall two years ago. Now Philadelphia is starting over in order to regain its old glory, while Akers begins his efforts to do the same.
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