Novak beats out 3 other kickers for Redskins job

ASHBURN, Va. // Nick Novak spent the past few months living with his family in Indiana, waiting for but not knowing whether he would get another chance to kick in the NFL.

He kept the same schedule as he did last season, when he played in five games for the Washington Redskins and later kicked in three more with the Arizona Cardinals. He even took Tuesdays off, just as they do in the NFL.

"You've got to stay mentally prepared, just go through your routine like you were on a team," said Novak, who worked out at Purdue University, where his parents teach. "You practice different scenarios."

That preparation paid off when Novak won a competition Tuesday among four kickers vying to replace John Hall, whom the Redskins put on injured reserve after a reoccurrence of a groin injury that led to surgery after last season.

Novak, the leading scorer in Maryland and Atlantic Coast Conference history, has twice been brought in to replace an injured Hall. Last season, Novak made five of seven field-goal attempts, including the game-winner against the Seattle Seahawks. He also made all three of his attempts with Arizona in place of another injured veteran, Neil Rackers.

Novak knows that it's his job to lose since Hall, 32, can't return this season.

"I think I'm here for a while, but I have to take it one kick at a time, one week at a time and do my best," Novak, 25, said. "I don't think it's pressure. You go out there and do your job. At this level, you're expected to make the kicks, no matter where it is in the field."

In a competition Tuesday among 13-year veteran Todd Peterson, free agent Tyler Jones (who was cut this summer by Washington) and Jose Cortez, who replaced Hall for one game last season, Novak made all 12 of his kicks. Two were over 50 yards, including a 53-yarder.

"I think he's very accurate. His ball gets up quick. I'm just glad he was there," Gibbs said yesterday after practice. "He's improved his kickoffs. That will allow Derrick [Frost] to punt. You never want something like this to happen, but we felt this was the best way for us to go."

Novak, whose career-best field goal was a 54-yarder as a junior against Duke, didn't think what he had done for the Redskins last season gave him an edge.

"I really didn't come in here with the attitude like I had a leg up," said Novak, whose longest NFL field goal was from 40 yards, also against the Seahawks. "It really has to do with how you perform in these workouts. It was kind of a do-or-die situation. You have to do well."

Coincidentally, Novak had returned last week to Maryland to work out in College Park. He was staying with a friend in Rockville when he received the Redskins' invitation. Novak, who had worked out for the Green Bay Packers and New Orleans Saints since being released by Arizona, was happy to get another chance.

"For a young kicker, especially an undrafted free agent, it's been a journey," Novak said. "Every experience was an opportunity to get better. You've got to wait for your time, take advantage and make the kicks. I was pretty confident that the phone call would come."

That the offer came from the Redskins made it even more special for Novak, who grew up in Charlottesville, Va., as a die-hard fan.

"To play in the league, period, is a blessing. To be in this area, I'm familiar with it, a lot of great things have happened here. Growing up watching the Redskins, it's a treat coming back to play for them," he said.

Novak said he had empathy for Hall, whose 10-year career now seems to be in jeopardy after three straight seasons in which he has been hurt.

"It's unfortunate that somebody has to go down for you to get the opportunity, but that's just the way it is for kickers starting out," Novak said. "There's a ton of kickers that want this job."

• NOTE // Gibbs said 21-year veteran punter Sean Landeta, who also worked out Tuesday, isn't a candidate to replace the inconsistent Frost, adding that Landeta was brought in after Frost got kicked in the right leg last week. Still, Gibbs was impressed by Landeta (Loch Raven, Towson State). "He came out of the car, went out there and just started booming them," Gibbs said. "He said to me, 'I still think my best years are in front of me.'"

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