From Mayobridge to Madden: Smyth settling into NFL spotlight
New Orleans Saints kicker Charlie Smyth, from County Down, enters his third pre-season camp as the team's starting kicker while adjusting to newfound fame including a Madden video game appearance.
Charlie Smyth, who reached the NFL through the league's International Player Pathway programme, is entering his third pre-season training camp with the New Orleans Saints. While not yet a veteran, he says the unfamiliarity of his early days has faded.
Smyth's breakthrough came last November when he replaced a struggling Blake Grupe in Week 13 against the Miami Dolphins. He signed a three-year contract the following month and played the final six games of the season, converting 12 of 16 field goal attempts and all 13 extra-point attempts.
Growing familiarity
Smyth says this camp feels more familiar than previous ones, crediting his continued work with the same special teams coordinator for building strong relationships and a sense of support within the team.
Unusual attention
As the Saints' starting kicker, Smyth is adjusting to being discussed in fantasy football circles and appearing in the Madden video game series. He recalled a game against the New York Jets in which he scored five field goals worth roughly 19 fantasy points, outscoring several well-known players that week. He described seeing himself in Madden as surreal, but said he is focused on being a player rather than a fan of the attention.
Comparing notes with Shane Lowry
During the off-season, Smyth spent time with fellow Irish sportsman Shane Lowry at the Zurich Classic PGA Tour event in New Orleans. Alongside light-hearted banter about their home counties Down and Offaly, the pair discussed similarities between kicking and golf, including weight transfer, ball contact and shot shape.
New competition at camp
For the first time, Smyth faces genuine competition for his job, with the Saints signing Tanner Brown, this year's UFL championship winner with the Louisville Kings, to challenge him in pre-season. Smyth said such competition is simply part of the business and that he does not take it personally, having faced similar situations in previous off-seasons.
