WRONG One of the major criticisms of the NFL from those used to the free-flowing nature of football (soccer) is that there are too many pauses, stops and breaks during the game. Even the most passionate NFL lovers have to admit that icing the kicker is a tedious ritual that rarely has an impact. Icing the kicker involves calling a timeout before he manages to hoof the ball between the posts for a game-winning or equally-crucial field goal. The logic is that the delay ramps up pressure on the kicker, enhancing the chances they'll slice it wide. In actual fact, some kickers actually prefer the extra time to compose themselves, while research by Moskowitz and Wertheim from 2001-2009 found that 'iced' kickers were actually more accurate in the last 15 seconds of games than those who were left alone.
What Culture contributor. NCTJ accredited Sports Journalist. Regret-filled Sunderland AFC season ticket holder. Optimism-filled NFL fan. Lover of all things Game Of Thrones, Breaking Bad, Walking Dead & more.
