An Australian kicker playing his first season in the NFL caught the attention of commentators in today's game between the Seattle Seahawks and Chicago Bears by introducing a rugby technique to the sport.
Rookie punter Michael Dickson left ESPN commentators Joe Tessitore and Jason Witten stunned after he performed drop kick kick-offs in the Seahawks' 24-17 loss.
"A drop kick kick-off?" Tessitore asked.
"We are going to send our stat folks into overdrive here, but I'm going to put it out there.
"You tell me the last time you ever saw a drop kick kick-off in the NFL?"
"I don't know if it ever happened Joe," Witten, a star tight end for the Dallas Cowboys for 15 years, replied.
Veteran Sebastian Janikowski usually kicks off for Seattle and uses a tee but coach Pete Carroll, who is known for using non-traditional methods, gambled with Dickson's rugby method.
With 14 seconds left in the game and the Seahawks needing a touchdown to tie, the Aussie attempted a short drop kick hoping his team would recover.
They didn't and the Bears held on for the win, leaving Seattle without a win in their first two games of the new season.
"We're still a work in progress," Carroll said.
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