Gonzalez thankful for another chance

Zane Gonzalez is the Browns’ kicker coming out of the bye week. That status was in question after a rough game in London. “It means everything that they still believe in me,” Gonzalez said of his coaches.

The Browns have decided to give rookie kicker Zane Gonzalez one more chance — in part because none of the kickers standing in the unemployment line is any better.

Coach Hue Jackson strongly hinted other kickers would get tryouts after Gonzalez missed an extra point and a field goal when the score was still close in a game the Browns eventually lost to the Vikings, 33-16, in London on Oct. 29. However, the Browns went through their bye and another week of practice without making changes. When the Browns face the Lions on Nov. 12 in Detroit, Gonzalez will try to redeem himself.

“There probably wasn’t anybody out there that we felt really good about, and then No. 2, we felt comfortable that this guy can work through where the issues are if Tabes (special teams coach Chris Tabor) spent more time with him. That’s all coach Tabor’s been doing.

“I know we’re opening ourselves up to this yo-yoing of going up and down, and hopefully, the guy can kick consistently and stay that way for the rest of the year, but he has a job to do. If we have to move forward as we go down the road here these last eight games, then we‘ll do that, but right now, I think we feel very good that he’s making progress and that he’s going to do better.”

Nick Folk, released by Tampa Bay last month, is the most notable free agent kicker available.

The Browns chose Gonzalez over Cody Parkey after a fierce battle that lasted all preseason. Gonzalez, a seventh-round draft pick from Arizona State, has made 7-of11 field goal attempts. He is 5-of-9 from 30 yards and beyond.

Parkey is 9-for-10 on field goals with the Dolphins, but just 9-of-12 on PATs. He was 20-for-25 on field goal attempts with the Browns last season.

Gonzalez will be kicking in ideal conditions in Detroit because the Lions play inside in Ford Field. The rookie is grateful for what amounts to a third chance; he missed two field goal tries in a 17-14 loss to the Jets.

“It means everything that they still believe in me,” Gonzalez said. “Having two coaches like that (Jackson and Tabor) giving me the chance to bounce back in the second half of the season and help win games goes a long way with my confidence.”

Gonzalez said he used the bye week to get away rather than stress out about his precarious situation. He said he worked on technical aspects of his kicking to improve his consistency.