Cameron Dicker pointed to an image of a soccer card to the digital camera. The colour drawing confirmed a person in a royal blue San Diego Chargers jersey with thick brown hair and a thick mustache.
“From me to Ray,” the Chargers kicker mentioned whereas tapping his chest, “let’s go.”
Ray Wersching’s mustache has gone grey, as has the hair on his head, however 48 years after he made a 45-yard fair-catch free kick, the previous Charger and San Francisco 49ers kicker is joyful to go the torch to Dicker.
After Dicker made the primary profitable fair-catch kick within the NFL since 1976 final Thursday, Wersching was a shock visitor within the Chargers observe facility Monday, invited by the Spanos household to fly from his house within the Bay Space to satisfy with the group. Earlier than observe, he chatted with reporters and particular groups coordinator Ryan Ficken and addressed the gamers.
For Dicker, he had a particular message: “Thank you.”
The San Diego Chargers’ Ray Wersching was the final NFL participant to achieve success on a fair-catch free kick earlier than the Chargers’ Cameron Dicker did it in Week 16 this season.
(James Flores / NFL)
“It brought that rule into now where everybody knows it,” Wersching mentioned with a proud smile.
The obscure rule permits a group to kick instantly after a good catch and if it goes via the uprights and over the crossbar, it counts as a three-point area purpose for the kicking group.
In 2019, Joey Slye, then with the Carolina Panthers, was the final NFL participant to try one. The Chargers watch the movie of the try each week throughout particular groups conferences.
Gamers generally roll their eyes when Ficken cues up the footage. They had been celebrating the second the ball shot off Dicker’s foot, nevertheless, giving the Chargers a jolt of power going into halftime towards the Denver Broncos.
“It’s always something that you never know if it’s going to occur or when it’s going to occur,” Ficken mentioned, “but you’ve got to be prepared and ready.”
Chargers coaches realized the chance early sufficient to give Dicker sufficient time to observe one rep on the sideline with punter JK Scott. It was a stark distinction to Wersching’s kick. He instructed Dicker on Monday he didn’t get any warm-up kicks earlier than his 45-yard kick practically 50 years in the past.
“They showed me a picture of him kicking and, I mean, the dude’s quads were massive,” Dicker mentioned. “I called him the ‘Quad Father.’”
Wersching received two Tremendous Bowls with the 49ers and kicked 4 area objectives within the 49ers’ 26-21 victory in Tremendous Bowl XVI. Wersching deserved essentially the most beneficial participant award for that, Dicker mentioned.
Dicker made his personal MVP-worthy play Thursday as his unorthodox kick catapulted the Chargers to a comeback win over their AFC West rivals, clinching a season sweep and boosting their playoff alternatives. The Chargers (9-6) can clinch a postseason berth Saturday with a street win towards the New England Patriots.
Watching video games from the Bay Space, the place he nonetheless lives after 11 years with the 49ers, Wersching used to breathe a sigh of aid each time he noticed a group name a good catch deep in its territory. His declare to fame could possibly be protected for an additional play.
Wersching perked up, nevertheless, when he noticed Derius Davis get interfered with whereas trying to make a good catch. The 15-yard penalty put Dicker on Denver’s 47-yard line.
Wersching knew the 24-year-old would make it. Dicker is among the many younger NFL skills who’ve impressed Wersching with their precision from lengthy distances.
“I’m impressed with everyone because a 60-yard field goal now it’s like, ‘yeah, we can make this,’” mentioned Wersching, whose profession lengthy was 53 yards. “Fifty-yard field goals now, you’re expected to make them. It’s amazing.”
NFL kickers are 173-for-245 (70.1%) on field-goal makes an attempt of fifty yards or longer this season going into Monday evening’s sport. Dicker’s 57-yard kick was the longest fair-catch kick in NFL historical past and ranks because the third-longest area purpose in Chargers historical past. He already tied a franchise report this season with a 59-yard kick towards the Arizona Cardinals
Dicker has tried 10 kicks from 50 yards this season and made 9. After signing a four-year contract extension price reportedly $22 million, the previous Texas Longhorns star is 31 of 33 on field-goal makes an attempt and 27 of 30 on additional factors.
Dicker was additionally the group’s nominee for Walter Payton Man of the 12 months, which honors a participant’s achievements on the sphere and in the neighborhood. Two nights earlier than making his historic kick, Dicker hosted a charity buying spree for 20 children from Large Brothers Large Sisters at Dick’s Sporting Items in El Segundo. Whereas teammates had been leaving the ability after an extended day of conferences, Dicker scurried out of the Chargers locker room dressed as Buddy from Will Ferrell’s “Elf.”
“Really whatever he touches,” coach Jim Harbaugh mentioned, “he’s going to be a force for good.”
And so on.
Working again J.Ok. Dobbins (knee) returned to observe off injured reserve Monday, starting his 21-day window. … Security Alohi Gilman (hamstring) is eligible to return off IR this week, however the group didn’t open his window Monday. … Safeties Elijah Molden (knee) and Marcus Maye (ankle) and linebacker Denzel Perryman (groin) didn’t take part in observe whereas cornerback Cam Hart (concussion) and tight finish Will Dissly (shoulder) had been on the sphere.
