Former Titans punter throws shade at organization for moving on from most accurate kicker in the league

The Tennessee Titans’ latest humiliation came at the hands of the Houston Texans in Week 4, getting blown out and shut out 26-0 on the road. And while it didn’t come close to keeping them in the game in the end, what did keep them from getting on the board at all was a pair of missed field goals from K Joey Slye.

He came into Week 4 with a strong start to the season, hitting 10 of his 12 attempts with both misses being long-shot attempts. He’s accounted for a comfortable majority of Tennessee’s points this so far, and his coaches were extremely pleased until last Sunday.

But then he missed a pair of kicks under 45 yards. And to make matters worse, the kicker he replaced and spend the summer being scrutinized in comparison to did something only Slye was supposed to be able to offer. And the Titans former punter threw a little shade at the organization for it.

Ryan Stonehouse Pokes Fun At Titans Moving Off Nick Folk For Distance

Remember Nick Folk? He was this team’s kicker for two years, and during that time he became one of the most reliable kickers in the league. He cleared 95% in both seasons, with a sample size of over 50 attempts.

His longest make during that stretch, however, was just 56 yards. In today’s NFL, length is the name of the game for most special teams coordinators it seems. And at 40 years old, the Titans just didn’t see Folk offering that to them.

Enter: Joey Slye. He spent the past two years on two separate teams and failed to clear 80% on over 50 attempts during that same timespan, sure, but he’s got the juice. He hit from 61 and 63 in those seasons, with his range theoretically exceeding 65 on some Sundays. So the Titans transitioned.

Slye missing two kicks under 45 yards is of course unacceptable, and when it comes on the heels of two technical misses the previous week, it’s going to naturally be a hot seat situation for any kicker. But when your ex goes out and extends his perfect record with his new team on primetime, hitting comfortably from 58 yards, it stings even worse.

That’s what old man Folk went out and did for the Jets on Monday. Titans fans across the land, naturally reacted by remarking “I thought he wasn’t supposed to be able to do that!”. And you can lump former Titans punter Ryan Stonehouse into that bunch, because he took to X.com and said exactly that.

Stonehouse was moved on from this past offseason along with Folk, after Callahan’s coaching staff decided both kicking specialist positions needed shaking up. So it’s no wonder he’s sticking by his guy Folk, and taking a little jab at his former employer in the same breath. He’s only saying what everybody is thinking…