The Green Bay Packers worked out Havard Rugland, the Norwegian YouTube sensation, earlier this week. Rugland, who has been nicknamed “Kickalicious” from his internet videos, was cut by the Detroit Lions this week.
The Internet phenom tweeted that he worked out with the Green Bay Packers on Friday and that the opportunity went well.
Despite being beaten out for a roster spot by veteran kicker David Akers, “Kickalicious” proved that he has legitimate potential to be an NFL kicker. His solid performances in both practices and the preseason have no doubt been impressive, especially for an inexperienced kicker who has never played an organized game of football in his life.
For the Packers, it would suggest that head coach Mike McCarthy is looking for a replacement for his current kicker, Mason Crosby.
After well-documented struggles last season and a lackluster performance this off-season, the team is still not sold on in-house option Mason Crosby, who struggled last season for the Pack. Thus far, Crosby has beaten out two challengers this week and taken a pay cut to remain as the starter in Green Bay.
Boasting a strong leg, the Swedish-born Rugland was hoping to crack an NFL roster this season. Should no one take a flyer on the aforementioned “Kickalicious,” he will take the fall to enhance his craft at a kicking academy so that he can be better prepared when his time comes.
With some fine-tuning and the right opportunity, “Kickalicious” and his opportunity to bomb footballs between the uprights will be a matter of when, not if.
