Charlie Smyth’s game-winner for Saints is ‘dream scenario’ for Northern Irish kicker

NEW ORLEANS AP Barely months after he kicked an American football for the first time Northern Ireland native Charlie Smyth drilled a game-winning field goal in the NFL His -yarder with seconds left on Sunday gave the New Orleans Saints their first lead and handed the Carolina Panthers a - loss that was as excruciating for them as it was exhilarating for him I was just delighted to get the opportunity mentioned Smyth who was serenaded with chants of Charlie Charlie in the locker room after receiving a event ball from coach Kellen Moore It was a good moment and one I ll never forget I m pretty ecstatic right now to be honest The -year-old Smyth graduated college as a primary school educator in the summer of with his only kicking experience coming in Gaelic football as a goalkeeper He signed up for a master s effort in Belfast but ended up pursuing the NFL instead joining the league s International Performer Pathway Initiative If you described me I d be kicking in a encounter in the NFL I presumably would have laughed at you he noted Just the way things panned out it s been really a dream scenario During the preseason Smyth hit a -yard field goal with seconds left to beat Arizona and ended up on the practice squad After the Saints cut Blake Grupe three weeks ago Smyth was promoted to the current roster for the first time in Week at Miami where he made a -yard field goal in his first attempt That one came in a loss His latest kick gave the Saints their second consecutive win after they started - The outside world would say there s a lot of pressure on you but I d like to say I embrace those moments Smyth explained It s just up to you to go out and execute everything you ve been practicing the last two years His teammates felt his confidence We had no doubt reported rookie quarterback Tyler Shough who guided the Saints yards to set up Smyth s kick He does that every single day in practice You ve got to have a level of cold-bloodedness to play that position I think everybody knew what the effect was going to be AP NFL https apnews com hub nfl Source