After deciding not to re-sign longtime placekicker Matt Stover in the off season, the placekicking competition came down to current kicker Steven Hauschka and rookie Graham Gano during Training camp this summer. Hauschka was sort of the incumbent, having kicked a 50+ yarder in 2008 as Stover's sidekick, while Gano was the Lou Groza Award winner, given to college football's best kicker. Gano made 24 of 26 kicks for Florida State University in 2008, a pressure packed stage every week in the ACC and the rest of their tough national schedule.

While it appeared that Gano had the stronger leg and was outkicking Hauschka in Training Camp, that did not necessarily translate into the pre season games, where Gano only made one of three attempts while Hauschka had more attempts and converted most of his chances. However, just like Training Camp is not the pre season, the pre season is not the regular season. Hauschka has proven that he cannot handle the pressure since the opening game of the season when he missed a 41 yarder that set the tone for his poor season. At the same time, where has Graham Gano gone since his release?

Graham hooked up with the Las Vegas Locos of the United Football League. The Locos are in the UFL's Championship Game on November 27th and then along with the rest of the UFL, those players will be free to sign with any NFL team that contacts them. However, the Ravens probably won't wait until then, much less another week, before signing someone else to take Hauschka's place. Gano has had a stellar season with Las Vegas, converting nine of eleven FG attempts, with a long of 53 yards , including three FG's in their 16-10 semi-final victory to put  them in the Championship Game.

While it's probably too late to grab him at this point of the season, it definitely is obvious to me that the Ravens made the wrong choice at the end of Training Camp and never really gave Gano a fair shot to win the job in the pre season. However, if the team's next kicker doesn't make a huge difference, I just wanted to let them know here that Gano will be available shortly. Hint, hint.

NOTE: Graham returned my email to him, and you can see his response toward the end of the comments below. Last night, his Las Vegas Locos defeated the New York Sentinels 41-7 in the final regular season UFL game and Gano was 2 for 2 in FG's and made all five of his XP's.Las Vegas plays in the UFL Championship Game next week and then all UFL players may sign with any NFL team that contacts them. Are you listening Ozzie...?