Reports: Stover Says He's Done

Updated March 7, 2009

The Baltimore Sun reported a day after Matt Stover said he is no longer wanted by the Ravens, general manager Ozzie Newsome said there is a chance that he could return here.

"Is the door closed on him coming back to kick in Baltimore? No, it's not," Newsome said.

"Are we looking to possibly have some competition for Hauschka? Yes," Newsome said. "Who that is going to be? I can't tell you."

The Ravens could ask Stover to come back if they aren't comfortable with their kicker situation before the regular season.

But Newsome reiterated that it's too early to presume that Stover's run with the Ravens is over.

"I never say never," Newsome said. "We've had guys come back to us all the time."

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Various media outlets have reported that former Ravens kicker Matt Stover has been told by team officials that his time in purple and black is coming to an end.

According to the reports, Stover approached the Ravens about an offer he received from the New York Jets earlier this week, but he was informed that the team was moving on.

"At that point, we knew for sure their direction was not to keep me," Stover told The Baltimore Sun. "They want to go in another direction."

The Jets signed Jay Feely, which means that Stover has no club because he is an unrestricted free agent.

Stover, 41, is the only player that remained from the team's relocation from Cleveland in 1996.

He is the third-most accurate kicker in NFL history with an 83.7 percent success rate over his long career, but only hit on 81.8 percent last year.

Still, Stover holds NFL records for most points for a franchise (1,464), most game-winning field goals (14), consecutive games with a field goal (38), most games with at least four field goals (26) and most consecutive extra point attempts converted (389).

The consummate clutch performer, Stover showed that he still had it last year when he split the uprights from 43 yards to defeat the Tennessee Titans at LP Field in the playoffs. 

The Ravens currently have Steve Hauschka, their kickoff specialist in 2008, on the roster.   Stover could still be brought back during the offseason to compete for a roster spot, as could another free agent kicker.