Other than his choke against the Jets (aaargggh) and those weak kick-offs (which, believe it or not, used to be consistently even weaker), he’s been solid — and his career stats back this up. Obviously very accurate (best ever!), and yet most of that is inside of 40 yards.

He’s got good range, too (don’t get me wrong) — and I don’t want anyone else, but if you look at the seasons some other kickers are having, Nate’s, I’m afraid, isn’t necessarily the best in the AFC…. Let’s see where we are at the end of the season….

(Right now it’s debatable who’s most deserving: Nate’s in the conversation, along with Dan Carpenter, Matt Prater, and Jay Feeley, I’d say…. I know Nate has more points, but that’s because his team has more td’s and red zone scores; he’s only 8 of 11 on FG’s 30 yards and longer, while Prater’s 12 of 15, and Feeley’s 17 of 20…. And Carpenter’s 19 of 20 overall…. Not saying I’d give the nod to any of these guys necessarily, but there’s still a quarter of the season to go — and it’s real close, I’d say….)

He’s only had what he’s been given to work with of course, but it’s just a fact that Kaeding has kicked a lot of what should be gimmees this season — because of the Chargers’ ability to the move the ball and their accompanying struggles in the red zone; this isn’t the first year for that either…. At this point I’d rather see more TD’s and fewer 25 and 29-yard FG’s from Nate, whether or not he goes to the Pro Bowl.

Nonetheless, whether Scifres sets the ball down on the 15 or the 35, ya’ still gotta’ make ‘em (and Kaeding has — and does…)…. Just ask the Redskins’ kicker….

Kaeding, Merriman, AND RIVERS … — as a result of Archie’s and Eli’s egocentric greed…. Eli does have a ring, though…. Maybe this is one of things where it truly did work out best for everybody.