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And just like that, the kicking battle is over. With a tweet announcement, the Miami Dolphins have officially released kicker Dan Carpenter today. The team will now carry rookie Caleb Sturgis as their lone placekicker.
Sturgis was selected in the fifth round of the NFL Draft back in April, and the writing was clearly on the wall following that selection that Carpenter could be on his way out of Miami. The two were said to be in an open battle throughout training camp, but clearly the team favored the draft pick, and lower salary, of Sturgis over the veteran "DC$."
Miami drafted Sturgis to challenge the veteran after Carpenter missed multiple big kicks for the team last year, kicks that could have won games for the Dolphins. During Strugis' professional debut against the Jacksonville Jaguars last week, he hit a 58-yard field goal, as well as kicked off six times, four for touchbacks. The Jaguars never began a drive beyond their own 20 yard line when Sturgis kicked.
Carpenter first joined the Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2008, beating out the incumbent Jay Feely when Carpenter out kicked him in training camp. Nearly five years to the day (August 12, 2008 for Feely's release, August 14, 2013 now), Carpenter is on the other end of that move.
The Dolphins now have an open roster slot.