Seahawks sign former Vikings kicker Blair Walsh

The Seattle Seahawks signed former Minnesota Vikings kicker Blair Walsh on Thursday.

Walsh was released by the Vikings after nine games this season as he had missed four field goals and four extra points this season. He was also responsible for missing a 27-yard field goal against Seattle in the NFC Divisional Playoffs last year that allowed the Seahawks to hold on to a 10-9 victory to advance to face the Carolina Panthers.

Walsh has a stellar first season in Minnesota in 2012, missing just three of 74 total kicks on the year. He became steadily more inconsistent in recent seasons before struggling at times this year for the Vikings.

Walsh's addition almost certainly marks an end to Steven Hauschka's tenure with the Seahawks.

Hauschka has served as Seattle's kicker each of the last six seasons but will become a free agent when the league year comes to an end next month.

Hauschka missed four field goals this season and six extra point attempts. Six of his 10 missed kicks this year were blocked. While snapping issues occasionally factored in, Hauschka's kicks were seemingly much lower this season, which led to the multiple blocked kicks.

Hauschka also missed a 27-yard field goal in overtime against Arizona in Week 7 that would have given Seattle a victory. The game ended in a 6-6 tie and ultimately cost the Seahawks the No. 2 seed in the postseason. Instead, they had to travel to Atlanta in the Divisional Round and missed out on a first-round bye.


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