Heading into training camp, kicker Karl Schmitz was one of the best stories going in the NFL. Unfortunately for those looking for a Cinderella story, Schmitz will not be part of the Denver Broncos this season as he was waived on Thursday.
Imagine for a moment being a 28-year-old rookie having not a played a football game since 2008. Indeed, the odds were stacked against Schmitz from the beginning. But don’t for a second think he is going to give up that easily.
A British citizen and native of Bermuda, Schmitz has a very unique story that is very easy to root for. His dream was to play in the NFL, and this set back will only push him harder.
Keep in mind, the Broncos originally signed him only after watching Schmitz in a tryout camp for kickers earlier this season. Additionally, Schmitz took matters into his own hands and made himself quite famous on YouTube after he released videos of himself kicking field goals up to 60 yards long.
Kickers have some of the longest careers in the NFL, and while Schmitz has no true NFL experience, he’s got a leg that should earn him another chance. While the Broncos waived Schmitz, he is still young enough and has received enough publicity that he should get a call from another team down the road.
Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak said as much on Thursday after having to give Schmitz the bad news.
“I think that he will make it in this league,” Kubiak said. “I’m really proud of his work, but that’s tough—anytime guys do everything for you and you have to let him go. We had a good talk this morning and I just told him to stick with it. I think that he will make it somehow, someway.”
No, there was no fairytale ending, but at the end of the day, Schmitz got a chance to fulfill his dream and play in the NFL.
Hopefully he gets another shot down the road.
Sammy Mugharbil, a Mile High Sports intern and student at MSU-Denver contributed to this report