Dave Rayner
Encyclopedia
David Michael "Dave" Rayner (born October 26, 1982) is an American football
placekicker
who currently plays for the Buffalo Bills
. He was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts
in the sixth round of the 2005 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Michigan State
.
Rayner has also been a member of the Green Bay Packers
, Kansas City Chiefs
, San Diego Chargers
, Miami Dolphins
, Washington Redskins
, Detroit Lions
, Dallas Cowboys
, and Oakland Raiders
.
where he played as a kicker for the varsity football team. As a three-year starter he broke all but one school punting and placekicking record. He also played as a wide receiver
, catching 13 passes for 210 yards and three touchdowns.
and graduated in 2004 with a major in kinesiology
. He served as the football team's placekicker for four years and was a four-year letterman. He left Michigan State as the school's all time leading scorer with 334 points.
in the 2005 NFL Draft
, and served as the kickoff
specialist for the Colts. He was released by the Colts on April 3, 2006.
on April 6, 2006. After Billy Cundiff
was released, Rayner became the Packers' full-time kicker for the 2006 season.
It has been noted that Rayner has one of the stronger legs amongst NFL placekickers. During the 2006 season, he kicked a 54-yard field goal against the Philadelphia Eagles
, tying the longest field goal in Packers' history (Ryan Longwell
and Chris Jacke
also have made 54-yard field goals). He also made a 55-yard field goal two weeks later against the Miami Dolphins
; however, it was called back due to a defensive penalty that occurred before the snap, nullifying the play.
On September 1, 2007, the Packers released him in favor of highly-touted rookie Mason Crosby
.
to replace struggling rookie kicker Justin Medlock
. After beginning the 2007 season with 13 field goals made in his first 16 attempts, he was released on November 26 after missing a fourth quarter attempt against rival Oakland
. Rayner's inability to consistently make short field goals, with three misses from under 40 yards, was the primary reason for his departure from the Chiefs. He was replaced by veteran kicker John Carney.
after full-time kicker Nate Kaeding
was injured while making a tackle on a kickoff. With the Chargers, Rayner served as the kickoff specialist for the last two games of the regular season as well as the 2007-2008 playoffs.
. However, he was released on June 6 before training camp.
on August 9, 2008 after the team waived punter Eddie Johnson
to perform kicking duties during some pre-season games while kicker Jason Hanson
was nursing an injury. He was once again released on August 26, 2008, as Hanson had recovered from his injury. He was 6 for 7 with the Lions during the pre-season.
on October 11 while placekicker
Shayne Graham
nursed a groin injury. The team waived fullback
Reagan Mauia
to make room for Rayner. The Bengals released Rayner on October 21, as Graham had recovered from his groin injury. Rayner was 1-for-1 on field goals and 3-for-3 on extra points during his stint with Cincinnati.
on February 3, 2009. He was released on September 5, 2009 after signing an injury contract which prevents him from signing another contract in the 2009 season.
on February 13, 2010, but was released on September 4, 2010.
.
In a December 19, 2010 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
, Rayner kicked a game-tying field goal as time expired in the 4th quarter. He then kicked a game-winning field goal in sudden death overtime. He became the first Lions kicker to accomplish this feat.
On January 2, 2011 against the Minnesota Vikings
, Rayner kicked a career-long 55 yard field goal. Only Jason Hanson had kicked a longer field goal as Lions kicker.
On August 29, 2011, Rayner was released by the Lions.
on August 30. Rayner was then released after missing two field goals in the last game of preseason.
after their starting kicker Sebastian Janikowski
suffered a hamstring injury. He didn't score as the Raiders were shut out by the Chiefs. He was waived on October 25.
after their starting kicker Rian Lindell
suffered a shoulder injury the previous Sunday against the New York Jets
.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
placekicker
Placekicker
Placekicker, or simply kicker , is the title of the player in American and Canadian football who is responsible for the kicking duties of field goals, extra points...
who currently plays for the Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
in the sixth round of the 2005 NFL Draft
2005 NFL Draft
The 2005 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 23–24, 2005. The league also held an supplemental draft that year, which was held after...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Michigan State
Michigan State Spartans football
The Michigan State Spartans football program represents Michigan State University in college football as members of the Big Ten Conference at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level...
.
Rayner has also been a member of the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
, Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
, San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
, Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
, Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
, and Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
Early years
Rayner attended Oxford High SchoolOxford High School (Michigan)
Oxford High School is a coed public secondary institution located in Oxford, Michigan within the Oxford Community Schools district. The school draws from an area of The Village of Oxford and Oxford Township, as well as portions of Oakland Township, Dryden Township, and Metamora Township...
where he played as a kicker for the varsity football team. As a three-year starter he broke all but one school punting and placekicking record. He also played as a wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
, catching 13 passes for 210 yards and three touchdowns.
College career
Rayner attended Michigan State UniversityMichigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
and graduated in 2004 with a major in kinesiology
Kinesiology
Kinesiology, also known as human kinetics is the scientific study of human movement. Kinesiology addresses physiological, mechanical, and psychological mechanisms. Applications of kinesiology to human health include: biomechanics and orthopedics, rehabilitation, such as physical and occupational...
. He served as the football team's placekicker for four years and was a four-year letterman. He left Michigan State as the school's all time leading scorer with 334 points.
Indianapolis Colts
Rayner was drafted by the Indianapolis ColtsIndianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
in the 2005 NFL Draft
2005 NFL Draft
The 2005 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 23–24, 2005. The league also held an supplemental draft that year, which was held after...
, and served as the kickoff
Kickoff (American football)
A kickoff is a method of starting a drive in American football and Canadian football. Typically, a kickoff consists of one team – the "kicking team" – kicking the ball to the opposing team – the "receiving team"...
specialist for the Colts. He was released by the Colts on April 3, 2006.
Green Bay Packers
Rayner was then signed by the Green Bay PackersGreen Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
on April 6, 2006. After Billy Cundiff
Billy Cundiff
William A. "Billy" Cundiff is an American football placekicker for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. He was signed by the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2002...
was released, Rayner became the Packers' full-time kicker for the 2006 season.
It has been noted that Rayner has one of the stronger legs amongst NFL placekickers. During the 2006 season, he kicked a 54-yard field goal against the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, tying the longest field goal in Packers' history (Ryan Longwell
Ryan Longwell
Ryan Walker Longwell is an American football placekicker for the Minnesota Vikings in the National Football League. After playing college football for the California Golden Bears, he started his professional football career with the San Francisco 49ers, but never played a game for the franchise...
and Chris Jacke
Chris Jacke
Christopher Lee Jacke is a former professional American football placekicker best known for playing for the Green Bay Packers in the National Football League....
also have made 54-yard field goals). He also made a 55-yard field goal two weeks later against the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
; however, it was called back due to a defensive penalty that occurred before the snap, nullifying the play.
On September 1, 2007, the Packers released him in favor of highly-touted rookie Mason Crosby
Mason Crosby
Mason Walker Crosby , is a professional American football placekicker for the Green Bay Packers in the National Football League. During his playing days at the University of Colorado, Crosby was widely considered the best kicker in college football, as evidenced by ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper Jr.'s...
.
Kansas City Chiefs
Nine days later, Rayner was signed by the Kansas City ChiefsKansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
to replace struggling rookie kicker Justin Medlock
Justin Medlock
Justin Charles Medlock is a professional American and Canadian football placekicker for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the fifth round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football at UCLA.Medlock has also been a member of the St...
. After beginning the 2007 season with 13 field goals made in his first 16 attempts, he was released on November 26 after missing a fourth quarter attempt against rival Oakland
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. Rayner's inability to consistently make short field goals, with three misses from under 40 yards, was the primary reason for his departure from the Chiefs. He was replaced by veteran kicker John Carney.
San Diego Chargers
After being released from the Chiefs, Rayner signed a contract with the San Diego ChargersSan Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
after full-time kicker Nate Kaeding
Nate Kaeding
Nathaniel James Kaeding is an American football placekicker who plays for the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Chargers in the 2004 NFL Draft in the 3rd round with a pick acquired from the Phillip Rivers-Eli Manning trade. He played college football at Iowa...
was injured while making a tackle on a kickoff. With the Chargers, Rayner served as the kickoff specialist for the last two games of the regular season as well as the 2007-2008 playoffs.
Miami Dolphins
On March 11, 2008, Rayner was signed by the Miami DolphinsMiami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. However, he was released on June 6 before training camp.
First stint with the Detroit Lions
Rayner was signed by the Detroit LionsDetroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
on August 9, 2008 after the team waived punter Eddie Johnson
Eddie Johnson (punter)
Edward Lynn Johnson is a professional American and Canadian football punter who is currently a member of the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League. He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the sixth round of the 2003 NFL Draft...
to perform kicking duties during some pre-season games while kicker Jason Hanson
Jason Hanson
Jason Douglas Hanson is an American football placekicker for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League, where he has spent his entire 20 year career. He was drafted by the Lions in the second round of the 1992 NFL Draft...
was nursing an injury. He was once again released on August 26, 2008, as Hanson had recovered from his injury. He was 6 for 7 with the Lions during the pre-season.
First stint with the Cincinnati Bengals
Rayner was signed by the Cincinnati BengalsCincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
on October 11 while placekicker
Placekicker
Placekicker, or simply kicker , is the title of the player in American and Canadian football who is responsible for the kicking duties of field goals, extra points...
Shayne Graham
Shayne Graham
Michael Shayne Graham is an American football placekicker. He was signed by the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent in 2000, and most recently played with the New England Patriots...
nursed a groin injury. The team waived fullback
Fullback (American football)
A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
Reagan Mauia
Reagan Mauia
Reagan Maui'a is an American football fullback who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the sixth round of the 2007 NFL Draft...
to make room for Rayner. The Bengals released Rayner on October 21, as Graham had recovered from his groin injury. Rayner was 1-for-1 on field goals and 3-for-3 on extra points during his stint with Cincinnati.
Washington Redskins
Rayner was signed by the Washington RedskinsWashington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
on February 3, 2009. He was released on September 5, 2009 after signing an injury contract which prevents him from signing another contract in the 2009 season.
Second stint with the Bengals
Rayner was re-signed by the Cincinnati BengalsCincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
on February 13, 2010, but was released on September 4, 2010.
Second stint with the Lions
Rayner was signed on November 9, 2010 to fill in for the injured Jason HansonJason Hanson
Jason Douglas Hanson is an American football placekicker for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League, where he has spent his entire 20 year career. He was drafted by the Lions in the second round of the 1992 NFL Draft...
.
In a December 19, 2010 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
, Rayner kicked a game-tying field goal as time expired in the 4th quarter. He then kicked a game-winning field goal in sudden death overtime. He became the first Lions kicker to accomplish this feat.
On January 2, 2011 against the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
, Rayner kicked a career-long 55 yard field goal. Only Jason Hanson had kicked a longer field goal as Lions kicker.
On August 29, 2011, Rayner was released by the Lions.
Dallas Cowboys
Rayner signed with the Dallas CowboysDallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
on August 30. Rayner was then released after missing two field goals in the last game of preseason.
Oakland Raiders
On October 22, 2011, Rayner was signed by the Oakland RaidersOakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
after their starting kicker Sebastian Janikowski
Sebastian Janikowski
Sebastian Janikowski is a left-footed Polish placekicker who plays for the National Football League's Oakland Raiders. He is nicknamed The Polish Cannon because he is considered to have one of the strongest kicking legs in the league, and leads the NFL in kickoffs for touchbacks. He lives in...
suffered a hamstring injury. He didn't score as the Raiders were shut out by the Chiefs. He was waived on October 25.
Buffalo Bills
On November 8, 2011, Rayner was signed by the Buffalo BillsBuffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
after their starting kicker Rian Lindell
Rian Lindell
Rian Lindell is an American football placekicker for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League. He was signed by the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2000...
suffered a shoulder injury the previous Sunday against the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.