During the slow times of Carolina Panthers’ practices, the past two seasons – when the offensive and defensive players refined the gameplan for their upcoming NFL matchup – specialists Eddy Pineiro and Johnny Hekker were often left to fill time creatively.
They made the best of the situation.
In 2023, before the practice dome behind Bank of America Stadium was leveled this offseason to make way for the new training camp practice facility, the duo would attempt to strike a target with a kick or throw.
Now, with the dome demolished, Pineiro, the newly-anointed kicker, and Hekker, the former Super Bowl punter, have altered their “skills” competition. Before Sunday’s practice, the pair could be seen engaging in an intense, high-stakes, on-field matchup, mano a mano.
“Me and Johnny, we get competitive,” Pineiro said with a laugh following Sunday’s practice.
Hekker would mark a starting line and the two would throw or roll or kick a football toward a chosen mark on the field. Following a series of attempts, a winner is declared and later receives a free lunch.
“We just pick and target and roll it and whoever gets closer, wins that round,” Pineiro explained. “Yeah, he gets kind of mad. I’ve been getting a lot of free lunches lately.”
@Panthers K Eddy Pineiro (4) says K Johnny Hekker (10) gets “competitive” during their pre-practice “skills” games of throwing-rolling-kicking an @NFL football closest to a target. The loser buys lunch … pic.twitter.com/zjsDg91fEg
— Jeff Hawkins (@WriterHawkins) August 14, 2024
Eddy Pineiro: ‘I’m Striking Ball Really Good’
Pineiro faced another off-season competition.
This one involved reclaiming his role as the Panthers’ primary placekicker. The front office signed undrafted free agent Harrison Mevis to challenge Pineiro during offseason training activities (OTAs). The matchup was delayed, however, when the incumbent skipped voluntary minicamp and the first of three phases of OTAs. He later claimed stalled contract extension talks did not play a role in his absence, despite reports that suggested otherwise.
Publicly, Pineiro, a late-bloomer, spoke openly of his desire to remain long-term with the Panthers. He will open this season on an expiring contract but remained the starter when the Panthers released Mevis on Sunday.
The undrafted rookie displayed a strong leg during the offseason program and connected on his lone preseason field goal attempt, a 41-yarder at the New England Patriots on Aug. 8. While Pineiro didn’t appear to associate much with Mevis while on the practice field, he said he was glad to see him put the kick “on film.”
Piñeiro, who has made 89 of 100 career field-goal attempts, claimed the training camp kicking competition after connecting on 23 of 25. Mevis missed six of 28 attempts, according to The Athletic.
“I feel really good,” Pineiro said. “I feel like I’m striking the ball really good (and) this is one of my best camps in my career. I’m hitting the ball well, I feel like my times are good.”
Pineiro seemed to solidify the Panthers’ decision by connecting on all five live chances Monday.
@Panthers K Eddy Pineiro talks about the “free lunches” he wins from P Johnny Hekker … @NFL pic.twitter.com/zK2JCzws3l
— Jeff Hawkins (@WriterHawkins) August 14, 2024
Pineiro Has Developed Allies, Detractors
Entering his third season with the Panthers, Pineiro has been one of the team’s few consistent offensive threats, hitting on 58 of 64 field-goal attempts. Pineiro connected as time expired in both of the Panthers’ wins last season.
But some Panthers fans appear to possess long memories. During a 2022 loss to the Atlanta Falcons in 2022, Pineiro missed a game-winning extra point following DJ Moore’s highlight-reel 62-yard touchdown reception and failed to hit a 32-yard field goal attempt in overtime.
Pineiro’s 89 percent field-goal percentage ranks third all-time, behind Baltimore’s Justin Tucker (90.1 percent) and Kansas City’s Harrison Butker (89.1), but he has yet to earn a long-term contract.
Pineiro indicated he was worth more than his annual average value of $2.5 million, which ranked 21st among NFL kickers last spring.
“This is a big offseason for me,” Pineiro said last June. “I have a lot of goals. I’m the third-most accurate kicker in NFL history right now. My goal is to be No. 1. So, that’s how I’m gonna attack this offseason.”
Pineiro will get his first chance to earn a new deal during Saturday night’s preseason matchup against the visiting New York Jets. The teams will engage in a joint practice on Thursday.
“I wanna have a great season this year,” he said.
Carolina Panthers kicker Eddy Pineiro shows off pregame range by making a 60 yarder … pic.twitter.com/usGkn92X42
— Jeff Hawkins (@WriterHawkins) October 1, 2023
Main Photo: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
