Barth Will Stay Ready

All things being equal, an NFL team would rather have a kicker with experience, than one without.

And that being said, Nick Novak, not Wilmington native Connor Barth, will be the Chiefs kicker when they open the regular season Sunday at New England.

Upon selecting Novak, the Chiefs placed Hoggard grad and former Tar Heel Connor Barth on waivers, ending the camp-long battle between the two kickers.

Barth’s hopes seemed faint when the Chiefs signed veteran kicker Jay Feeley two weeks before the season was to open, but the Chiefs cut him the following day.

It was between Barth and Novak down the stretch. Both kickers made 86 percent of their field goals during training camp and were two of three in the preseason. Barth’s miss hit the post and may have hindered his chances of making the team, one year removed from UNC.

The Chiefs expectably chose the more experienced Novak, who has kicked in 16 NFL games, making 65 percent of his field goals while kicking for Arizona and Washington.

Barth will stay ready. His next job is just a phone call away, and if Novak should falter, Barth may re-join the Chiefs.

-- Jesse Jones, CAPE FEAR SPORTS REPORT