The 10-4 LA Rams' New Kicker For The Rest of the Season Recently Worked at a Brokerage Firm
The Rams’ new kicker Sam Ficken just got a heck of a promotion. After the Rams lost star kicker Greg Zuerlein for the season to a back injury, the Rams poached Ficken from … a brokerage firm.
Ficken — who played on the Jaguars in the preseason before being waived in 2016 and then joined the Chiefs’ preseason roster in 2017 before being released — was working as a brokerage dealer for the Weeden & Co. in Connecticut (no relation to the legend Brandon Weeden) when the Rams called him up to replace Zuerlein.
According to ESPN, when Ficken got the call, his boss told him he hoped he’d never see him again. “I believe in myself, I believe in the work that I’ve put in,” Ficken said, via ESPN. “It was just a matter of time.”
What a crazy turn of events for Mr. Ficken here. One day you’re working in the cubes at a brokerage firm, thanking your lucky stars you actually went to class in college. The next thing you know you’ve got Sean McVay calling you on the phone saying he wants you to come in for an NFL tryout. The Rams just got dealt a tough blow to their magical season when stud kicker Greg “Legatron” Zuerlin was sidelined with a herniated disc and later placed on the IR, ending his season. Zuerlin was having an unbelievable year, leading the entire league in field goals and extra points made (95% on both) while also leading the entire NFL in scoring by 21 to the next closest (Gostkowski). Losing him stings, especially in the playoffs when having a reliable kicker is paramount.
Now the Rams turn to a cube monkey to help get them in the playoffs (just needing a win or Seattle loss) and make a hopeful deep run. They’ll be doing it with Ficken who has never attempted an NFL extra point or field goal. The last game he played in college, The Pinstripe Bowl, he kicked the game-tying and game winning field goals so he’s coming in red hot. Granted that was also three years ago, but who’s keeping track?
No pressure Sam! Just know if you miss a few kicks on Sunday you’re probably back in the cubes for life. This must make Robert Aguayo feel awesome. You were an unbelievable college kicker and now that one of the best teams in the league needs a man with a leg, you’re being overlooked for a financial broker. That’s a tough pill to swallow.