BEREA, Ohio -- While kickers around the NFL were missing field goal attempts and point-after tries on Sunday, former Florida Atlantic University specialist Greg Joseph was soaking up some free time in Florida.
However, just 24 hours later, Joseph found himself in Berea at a tryout for the Cleveland Browns, and despite competing against several NFL veterans and 25 missed kicks over his four years at FAU, he earned a contract with the team.
“Just living the South Florida life,” Joseph said Tuesday. “I was out by the water, just having some fun with some buddies, relaxing, watching the games. Nothing crazy.”
The Browns signed Joseph and waived second-year kicker Zane Gonzalez after the latter missed four kicks in Sunday’s 21-18 loss to the New Orleans Saints at Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, which brought his failed attempts to five over the first two games of the regular season.
And after spending training camp with the Miami Dolphins, Joseph is “absolutely” ready to make the transition to the NFL regular season.
“Been working a lot. Been busting my butt,” Joseph said. “I’m ready to give everything I’ve got. I know that there’s still room for me to get better, and I’m aware of that. That’s something I’m keying in on and definitely looking to improve my game on here and keep elevating it.”
During Joseph’s four-game stint with the Dolphins, he made all three of his field goal tries and both extra-point attempts before being released at the end of the preseason.
“I learned under players and coaches there to become a man of routine, and that’s worked for legends that have kicked in this league, and basically, just stay that way,” Joseph said. “Like I said, ‘Stay in the middle.’ I learned that there, too. If I make three kicks in a row, I’m not going to get too high, and if I miss a couple, I’m not going to get too low. Staying somewhere in the middle.”
“Staying somewhere in the middle” is exactly what Joseph did during Monday’s tryout.
Initially, Joseph missed a field goal from 56 yards wide to the right, but on a second attempt, he put it through the uprights. By his count, Joseph made six of his seven field goal attempts before moving onto kickoffs during the workout.
“I felt like I hit the ball well,” Joseph said. “Just came out here and focused on hitting my ball. There’s obviously some great competition out there, but didn’t watch them. Just focused on me and ecstatic to be here. Ready to give everything I’ve got and have a great time here.”
Joseph spent Tuesday acclimating himself to working with long snapper Charley Hughlett and holder Britton Colquitt, and by Thursday’s game against the New York Jets at FirstEnergy Stadium, he expects to be up to speed.
“I believe I’m here for a reason,” Joseph said. “You can look at it any way you want, but I believe I got here for a reason and I’m going to look to the biggest thing is proving you belong and believing you belong. That plays big in a kicker’s head, and I believe that’s something I’ll work to and get better at.
“‘Where ever coach needs me to,’ that’s gonna be my answer every time, and I believe I have a big leg and have been working on accuracy big time, but wherever coach needs me to, I’m sure he has a number in his head, and wherever tells me, I’m going for it.”
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