Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Flutie has first successful drop kick since 1941 season


Patriots QB Doug Flutie, second from left, is mobbed by his teammates after his historic drop kick on Sunday.
 (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
The Spokesman-Review

For 21 years, Doug Flutie’s career has been defined by one play. Now Flutie’s “Hail Mary” has its historic bookend.

The 43-year-old Patriots backup converted the NFL’s first successful drop kick since 1941, making an extra point in the fourth quarter of the Miami Dolphins’ mostly meaningless 28-26 victory Sunday over New England in Foxborough, Mass.

“I think Doug deserves it,” said Patriots coach Bill Belichick “He is a guy that adds a lot to this game of football, has added a lot through his great career – running, passing and now kicking.”

According to the Pro Football Hall of Fame web site, the league’s last drop kick for points was on Dec. 21, 1941 – two weeks after the bombing of Pearl Harbor – when Ray “Scooter” McLean converted for the Chicago Bears to beat the New York Giants 37-9 in the NFL championship game.

“Flutie might have been there the last time it happened,” placekicker Adam Vinatieri joked.

Vikings’ Tice, Texans’ Capers fired

The Minnesota Vikings fired coach Mike Tice after a victory over Chicago in Minneapolis.

The team announced that owner Zygi Wilf would not renew Tice’s contract less than an hour after the Vikings’ 34-10 win over the Bears in the regular season finale. Tice finished his fourth full season with a 32-32 record.

•The Houston Texans will fire coach Dom Capers, but will retain general manager Charley Casserly, a person close to the organization told the AP. The Texans plan to make the announcement today, according to the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Vermeil says he’ll retire for good

With trademark tears in his eyes, Dick Vermeil said this is really it – a third retirement means he’s out of football.

Unlike his other two retirements, there’ll be no returning to the profession he loves so dearly, Vermeil tearfully told a news conference after his Kansas City Chiefs beat Cincinnati 37-3 in Kansas City, Mo.

“I didn’t get you to a Super Bowl, Lamar (Hunt),” he told the owner, who sat a few feet away. “But you’ll get there some day, and I’ll go with you.”

Vermeil said he had no plans for the future.

Cardinals reach milestones

Arizona’s Neil Rackers broke the NFL’s single-season field goal record by hitting a 42-yarder with 10:59 left in the game at Indianapolis, his 40th field goal this season.

Rackers broke the mark set by Miami’s Olindo Mare in 1999 and tied by St. Louis’ Jeff Wilkins in 2003.

The Cardinals also hit another milestone late in the game, becoming the first team in five years with two receivers to catch 100 passes.

Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin both reached the century mark, the first duo to accomplish the feat since Denver’s Ed McCaffrey and Rod Smith in 2000.