August 5, 2007
By Chaz Amidon Staff writer
As Pro Bowl kicker Robbie Gould stops to sign autographs, Nick Novak trots past, unnoticed by the crowd.
Amid the chants of "Rob-bie! Rob-bie!" from the fans, Novak is the first Bears player on the practice field at Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais. He warms up alone, though it doesn't seem to bother him.
So it goes for Novak, a perennial backup kicker who in the past two years has been waived by both the Bears and Washington Redskins before the start of the NFL regular season.
Being the No. 2 man -- and the man who so far has always gotten the hook at the end of preseason -- isn't always easy, but Novak remains optimistic about every new NFL season.
"My focus is always just to do the best that I can," Novak said. "All I can ever do is try to make every kick. Regardless of what happens, I can say that I did my best to improve from when I went to my first camp with the Bears."
Despite getting axed during final cuts in each of his two years of pro ball, Novak has played 16 regular-season games: five for Arizona in 2005, and 11 for Washington over the 2005 and '06 seasons.
"Football only lasts a short time," Novak said. "I know an opportunity will happen somewhere, just like last year and the year before. I guess it's just nice to know that I'm at the top of the list (as a free agent)."
According to Bears special-teams coach Dave Toub, Novak is on the brink of becoming one of the top kickers in the NFL.
"There's only 32 jobs out there, and he's in the top 35," Toub said. "We think Nick is a very good, quality kicker, and we're lucky to have him at camp.
"He's on the verge of breaking out to be on a squad."
Still, Novak will probably be released -- again -- when September rolls around. Even Toub admits that having Novak at camp is a necessity.
"The reason we have another leg in camp is because we can't have Robbie taking all the kicks," Toub said. "Plus, every camp, every team around the league is going to have two kickers before the season starts."
Novak also has to deal with being overshadowed by Gould, whose breakout season in 2006 included making 32 of 36 field-goal tries as well as being perfect on 47 extra-point kicks in earning All-Pro honors.
Instead of resenting the attention Gould gets, Novak speaks highly of his fellow kicker's success.
"That's the way it should be," Novak said. "If you have a good season, people are going to be there for you, giving you the love you deserve. That's just the way it is.
"I always call (Gould) up if I need advice. He's my age (25), yet he's someone I look up to, and I try to learn a lot from him."
In fact, Novak and Gould have become good friends over the past three seasons. Both entered the NFL as undrafted free agents in 2005, Novak with the Bears, and Gould with the New England Patriots.
And in Gould's estimation, Novak should be a starter -- maybe not for the Bears, but somewhere in the league.
"The biggest thing is that he's good enough to play in the NFL, and he hasn't found his break yet," Gould said. "He's got a lot of talent, and he should be playing somewhere in this league.
"(Novak) is a great guy. We're great friends. He's providing a lot of competition for me at camp, and that's what I need."
Novak has made 13 of 20 field-goal tries as a pro. After participating in six games for the Redskins in 2006, Novak was signed by the Bears during the spring and was allocated to the recently disbanded NFL Europa to play for the Cologne Centurions.
Novak has showed he can deliver in the clutch. On May 21, he connected for a 49-yard field goal late in the game to lift Cologne over the Rhein Fire. His first game-winner came Nov. 6, when he made a 47-yarder as time expired to beat the Dallas Cowboys 22-19.
"He's made some game-winning kicks, and so he's got a great chance to play here, or somewhere, down the road," Gould said.
Though Novak isn't likely to take Gould's spot here, he may find himself lining up against Gould and Co. in the near future.
"Hopefully, someday, they'll be cheering my name through the tunnel," Novak said. "That's not why I play this game, though. I play this game to be perfect through the uprights."

August 18, 2007
BY BRAD BIGGS bbiggs@suntimes.com
BOURBONNAIS, Ill. -- A couple of years of up-and-down play by kickers was settled when Robbie Gould came on two years ago and then earned All-Pro honors last season, scoring 143 points. Joining him in camp is Nick Novak, the man who would have had his job with the Bears in 2005 had Novak not been in Washington at the time filling in for injured John Hall. Novak, who spent the 2005 preseason with the Bears, was the kicker they intended to bring in when Doug Brien faltered that fall, but he wasn't available. Talk about opportunity knocking for Gould.
Novak later bounced to Arizona and back to Washington. The Bears signed him in February and allocated him to Europe, and now he's hoping to get on tape during the preseason. ''He's got a chance to stick in this league,'' special-team coordinator Dave Toub said. ''I told him I think he is among the top 35 kickers in the league. He is on the verge of having a job. We liked him two years ago, and we like him now. He's improved.''
Novak has hit 39 of 45 field goals (87 percent) in camp. He said the main thing is proving that his leg strength has improved on kickoffs. Novak has changed his approach and moved up his plant foot to generate more distance.
He knows there's no job here for him unless something unfortunate happens to Gould.
''I consider myself a competitor, and I want to do the best I can, not just in games but in camp against Robbie,'' he said. ''He is the best in the league at what he does, and I want to compete against that.''
Toub gave Novak one extra point in the preseason victory at Houston, and he had one kickoff, which he drove to the Texans' 1-yard line.

Just for Kicks

from NFL Europe site

Also taking part in the kicking camp is Nick Novak, who kicked in 16 regular season games for the Arizona Cardinals and Washington Redskins in 2005-06, converting 13 of 20 field goals, with a long of 47 yards, and all 25 PAT attempts for a total of 64 points. Story

Bears sign Nick Novak

The Chicago Bears announced the signing of placekicker Nick Novak and have allocated him to NFL Europe. (See News)

WOW!!!!!!!

Novak rescues 'Skins, career
Given second chance, former Terp kicks unlikely game-winner
By Jeff Barker
sun Reporter
Originally published November 6, 2006
LANDOVER // Nick Novak's NFL career was drifting away, just like his kick.
The Washington Redskins kicker had just pushed his potential game-winning, 49-yard field goal wide right with 35 seconds left against the Dallas Cowboys. It could have been the last kick for the former Maryland star, who missed two field-goal attempts in Washington's previous game and has been released by four NFL teams.
But Novak got an improbable second chance moments later and converted a 47-yarder with no time on the clock to lift the Redskins to a 22-19 victory over the Cowboys, ending a three-game losing streak.(More)

U-Md. Grad Keeps Gridiron Dreams Alive
Nomadic Kicker Trying for a Permanent Spot Lands With Redskins -- for Now
By Timothy Dwyer
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, November 5, 2006; Page C08
Nick Novak is not unlike many other recent college graduates trying to establish themselves in the real world. Okay, calling the National Football League the real world is a bit of a stretch, but maybe not so much of one for a young kicker whose life has consisted of bouncing from team to team with weeks, and sometimes months, of unemployment in between.(More)

Novak gives Dallas the boot

By Jim Corbett, USA TODAY
LANDOVER, Md. — It was over.
And then in a wild, six-second swirl of special-teams fates and answered prayers, a Washington Redskins season that appeared all but done was alive and kicking, thanks to Troy Vincent's field goal block and Nick Novak's redemptive, 47-yard game-winner. (More)

Frantic FG finish caps Redskins’ win over ’Boys
Novak misses 1st attempt, gets shot at another after Vanderjagt’s blocked

Updated: 11:53 p.m. ET Nov 5, 2006
LANDOVER, Md. - Joe Gibbs watched his Washington Redskins go from blowing a chance for a last-minute victory over the Dallas Cowboys to preventing a last-minute loss to, somehow, pulling out a win with no time left on the clock.(More)

For Novak, a Bit of Job Security
Kicker Missed From 49 Yards, but a 47-Yard Winner Keeps Him on the Payroll
By Jason La Canfora
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, November 6, 2006; Page E15Had the ball not curled back inside the upright and plopped over the crossbar, Nick Novak expected to be unemployed today. Missing one potential game-winning kick was damaging enough for a vagabond specialist, but missing two in the same wild game against the Washington Redskins' chief rival with the season on the line would have surely sent Novak scurrying for work.(More)

Redskins block FG, then make one to win
Associated Press
Posted: 10 hours ago
LANDOVER, Md. (AP) - Joe Gibbs watched his Washington Redskins go from blowing a chance for a last-minute victory over the Dallas Cowboys to preventing a last-minute loss to, somehow, pulling out a win with no time left on the clock.
"Gosh," the Hall of Fame coach said, "I don't know if I've experienced anything like that."
In a finish as crazy as they come, Washington's Nick Novak got two chances to try a winning field goal, missing the first from 49 yards with 31 seconds to go before barely making the second, a 47-yarder after time expired that lifted the Redskins past the Cowboys 22-19 on Sunday.(More)

Novak back in the NFL
Former Albemarle standout returns to Skins
By Sean McLernon / Daily Progress staff writer
October 17, 2006
Click here.Click here.Click here.
LANDOVER, Md. - Twenty-five years old, unemployed and staying with his parents, Nick Novak wasn’t exactly living the dream.
As recently as two weeks ago, the ACC’s all-time leading scorer and Albemarle High School graduate had no job and an uncertain future after failing to land a kicking gig with an NFL team this fall.
So Novak, who saw limited action with the Washignton Redskins and Arizona Cardinals in 2005, did the next best thing - he pretended he was back in the NFL. (More)

VINNY'S BLOG

Last week on the Blog, we talked about what we do if a player gets hurt on Sunday and the process that we go through. It just so happened that this past week our kicker John Hall has a sore groin and thigh. He'll go on injured reserve. (More)

Novak: He's 'More Confident' Now
By Gary Fitzgerald
Redskins.com
October 11, 2006
For the last five weeks, Nick Novak was never too far away from a phone on Monday mornings. Living at home in Indiana with his parents, Novak knew that NFL teams typically make calls for tryouts on Monday morning, the day after games.(More)

Novak Sticks With It, Gets Another Shot
By Lindsay Applebaum
washingtonpost.com Correspondent
Wednesday, October 11, 2006; 1:50 PM
When Nick Novak found out that he'd been selected as the Washington Redskins' replacement for injured place kicker John Hall yesterday, he was still getting over the fact that he'd even gotten a call to try out. (More)

Novak beats out 3 other kickers for Redskins job
Ex-Maryland player goes 12-for-12 in field-goal tryout
By Don Markus
Sun Reporter
Originally published October 12, 2006
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. (More)

Redskins Sign Novak; Hall Placed On IR
By Gary Fitzgerald
Redskins.com
October 10, 2006
The Redskins have re-signed kicker Nick Novak, the team announced on Tuesday. Novak will take over place kicking duties for John Hall, who was placed on injured reserve.
Novak returns to the Redskins after spending the latter half of the 2005 regular season and the 2006 preseason with the Arizona Cardinals. (More)

Redskins sign K Novak in wake of Hall's latest injury

Associated Press
Posted: 49 minutes ago

ASHBURN, Va. (AP) - Nick Novak is taking over from John Hall as the Washington Redskins' kicker for the second time in as many years. (More)

Final Score Cardinals 17 - 49ers 10
Cardinals Website
azcardinals.com
The Arizona Cardinals completed a series sweep against divisional rival San Francisco Sunday afternoon when they beat the 49ers 17-10 at Monster Park.
Quarterback Kurt Warner got the offense rolling early, completing his first nine passes of the game and driving the team 68 yards down the field on their first possession of the contest. The offense struggled to find the endzone early in the game, but recently signed kicker Nick Novak capped off the 14 play drive by connecting on a 30 yard field goal to give the Cardinals a 3-0 lead late in the first quarter. More

Cardinals Sign K Novak, Release Keys
Cardinals Website
azcardinals.com
The Arizona Cardinals Football Club today announced that the team has signed kicker Nick Novak and has released linebacker Isaac Keys. Novak (6-0, 190) was signed by the Washington Redskins on September 13 and kicked in five games (games 2-6) for the Redskins, converting five of seven field goal attempts and all 15 extra points. He was released by the Redskins on November 5. More

Redskins Release Novak, Sign 2 to Roster
By Gary Fitzgerald
Redskins.com
November 5, 2005
The Redskins released Nick Novak on Saturday, ending the kicker's seven-week run with the team. With John Hall fully recovered from a quad injury and punter Derrick Frost available for kickoffs, the team no longer needed two kickers on the roster. More

Redskins 52, 49ers 17
Redskins Website
Sunday, October 24, 2005

You could feel it coming. After five consecutive close games to open the regular season, and two tough road losses the last two weeks, the Redskins were determined not to let up against a San Francisco 49ers opponent that was 1-4 and ranked among the league's worst on offense and defense.
It was over by halftime. Maybe sooner. More

Chiefs 28, Redskins 21
Redskins Website
Sunday, October 24, 2005

It was a game of big plays, but in the end the Kansas City Chiefs had one more big play in them.
The Chiefs defeated the Redskins 28-21 on Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium, capitalizing on a fumble that was returned for a touchdown and a screen pass that led to a 60-yard touchdown run by Priest Holmes.
The loss dropped the Redskins' record to 3-2. It was the Redskins' eighth consecutive loss to an AFC team dating back to the 2003 season. More

Broncos 21, Redskins 19
Redskins.com
October 9, 2005

The Redskins appeared to be on the verge of another stunning road comeback, reminiscent of the Week 2 win at Dallas. This time, the Redskins were thwarted by the Denver Broncos, losing 21-19 at Invesco Field at Mile High. The loss dropped the Redskins' record to 3-1 on the season.

More

News & Notes: Waiting Game at Kicker
By Gary Fitzgerald
Redskins.com
October 5, 2005
The Redskins' 2000 team is mostly remembered as a Super Bowl contender faltering down the stretch. Perhaps more than anything else, it was field goal kicking that cost that Redskins team a possible playoff berth.
When Brett Conway was injured early on in 2000, the Redskins struggled to find a replacement. Despite going through Michael Husted, Scott Bentley, Kris Heppner and Eddie Murray, the team could not find a consistent kicker that year. It cost them at least two wins.
That's one example of why place kicking is so important in football.
Want another? More

For Redskins' Novak, Kicking Is a Mind Game
By Jason La Canfora
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, October 6, 2005

In Nick Novak's perfect world, he never sees the football sail through the uprights. He has already picked a target and, at the peak of his mechanics, Novak can feel success the moment his foot swings through the ball. His eyes remain focused on the ground and the screaming crowd is but a secondary indication that his kick is true. More

Kicker Novak saves best for last
By Jon Siegel
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
Published October 3, 2005
Nick Novak watched the first field-goal attempt of his NFL career get sent back to him, thanks to a strong rush from the Seattle Seahawks.
The rookie from Maryland finished in much more satisfying fashion, kicking the game-winner -- a 39-yarder -- in overtime to keep the Washington Redskins undefeated. More

Three and Overjoyed
Field Goal by Novak Settles Thriller, Extends Perfect Start
By Jason La Canfora
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, October 3, 2005; E01
An exhausting afternoon of football finally came to close when the rookie place kicker punctuated his second NFL game with a 39-yard field goal 5 1/2 minutes into overtime, giving the Washington Redskins their first 3-0 start since their Super Bowl year of 1991. It was only after that moment -- with Coach Joe Gibbs on the verge of tears again -- that all of the preceding twists could be placed into proper context, and the Seattle Seahawks were assured of defeat. More

Novak Dedicates Winning Kick to Sick Friend
By Leonard Shapiro
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, October 3, 2005; E17
As Nick Novak stood in the Washington Redskins' locker room yesterday and began talking about the most important field goal of his life, his thoughts drifted home to West Lafayette, Ind., where a long-time family friend and neighbor, Annie Arth, is battling cancer, first breast cancer and now ovarian. He knew she was probably too ill to be watching, but as he tried to talk about her, his eyes filled with tears and he was overcome with emotion, too choked up to continue. More

Kicker dedicates game to inspirational friend
By Jeff Washburn
jwashburn@journalandcourier.com
On the last day of her life, Lafayette's Annie Arth accomplished her favorite mission -- inspiring others to be the best they can be.
Less than an hour before Arth's death Sunday -- she battled breast and then ovarian cancer for years -- Highland Park neighbor Nick Novak kicked a 39-yard field goal with 9:29 remaining in overtime, lifting the National Football League's Washington Redskins to a 20-17 victory against the Seattle Seahawks. More