Rams All-Pro Kicker Jeff Wilkins Retires; Signed Josh Brown as replacement

RAMS Kicker Jeff Wilkins Retires

Kicker Jeff Wilkins officially decided to retire on February 29, bringing to an end one of the most successful careers a kicker has ever put together.

Wilkins had indicated that retirement could be on the horizon after the team’s final game of the season against Arizona because of some health issues, specifically a worn down and beaten right (kicking) leg.

Wilkins apparently decided that the leg wasn’t good enough to return for a 15th season. In that final game, Wilkins tied the record for most consecutive extra points made at 371.

Never one for the spotlight, though, Wilkins will go into retirement with just a share of that record.

But nobody can doubt Wilkins’ track record. On a 14-year career, 11 with the Rams, Wilkins set essentially every kicking record in franchise history and will leave as one of the most accurate kickers in league history.

Wilkins holds the NFL record for greatest success rate on kicks of 49 yards and longer and owns team records for longest field goal (57 yards), field goals made (265) and scoring (1,223 points).

Wilkins struggled some in 2007, mainly because of health issues as he was 24-of-32 on field goals and hit all of his 25 extra point attempts.

For most of his career, Wilkins has maintained he would know when the time to step away would come. He played in 200 games over the course of his career.

Rams signs Josh Brown as Wilkins' Replacement

A simple twist of fate brought Josh Brown home or at least as close as he can get to home Saturday morning.

In the prime of his career as one of the league’s top place kickers, Brown had a good grasp on his options as recently as Thursday night. Those choices didn’t include St. Louis.

By Friday morning, Rams kicker Jeff Wilkins had retired and the Rams immediately knew they didn’t have to travel too far outside the NFC West Division to find Wilkins’ replacement.

So it was only fitting as the man they called “Money” retired that the Rams pursued Brown and gave him plenty of currency to ensure he would be in St. Louis for the next five years.

With that, the Rams made Brown one of the highest paid kickers in the league, signing him to a five-year deal worth about $14 million Saturday morning.

source: St. Louis Rams.com