Rookie Cade York on begging Browns for 68-yard field goal: 'I wanted to break the record'

BEREA — Days after Cade York unsuccessfully pleaded with the Browns to kick a 68-yard field goal in Cincinnati, the rookie didn't waver.

“If I'm asking for the kick, I think I can make it,” York told the Beacon Journal on Wednesday in the locker room at team headquarters.

“I wanted to break the record. That was it.”

Justin Tucker set the NFL record for the longest field goal made when he nailed a 66-yard attempt last season, and the five-time All-Pro kicker and the Baltimore Ravens (9-4) will face the Browns (5-8) at 4:30 p.m. Saturday at FirstEnergy Stadium.

With the Browns trailing by 10 points Sunday in a 23-10 AFC North road loss to the Cincinnati Bengals (9-4), York wanted a shot when quarterback Deshaun Watson spiked the ball to stop the clock, setting up second-and-10 at the 50-yard line with three seconds left in the first half.

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The CBS telecast showed an animated York lobbying to Browns special teams coordinator Mike Priefer on the sideline. York repeatedly pointed to himself and raised his arms while saying, “Come on,” among other things.

“I've never been set up so perfectly to have a chance like that before,” York said. “Three seconds left in the half. Really not much repercussions if things don't go well on it. So I think that was more what it was about.

“I know it may not have looked great on TV, but it was more me being confident, saying, 'I want it.'

“I had some people mention, 'Why were you like crying about wanting to kick?' It wasn't really supposed to be like that. Obviously, the camera paints a picture, but it was more just I wanted the chance to go hit it.”

York, 21, didn't get his way. Coach Kevin Stefanski called a Hail Mary. Watson's desperation pass into the end zone fell incomplete, and the Browns were behind 13-3 at halftime.

Priefer supported Stefanski's decision.

“I'm looking at the yard line, and I told Coach [Stefanski] what I thought was a good yard line to get to, and we weren't quite there yet,” Priefer said. “And Cade's over there campaigning, which I love. I love the competitiveness of the young guy. I kind of chuckled. Somebody said I was laughing, but I was smiling because I was pleased that he wanted to kick that.

“But he doesn't look at the big picture of we have to cover with a lot of big people against a return man. They're going to put a guy deep like we would underneath the goal post, and if [his kick is] short, they're going to bring it back. That's a hard thing to cover for. We have two D-linemen on our field. We have six offensive linemen on our field-goal unit. We have a snapper, a holder and a kicker. So it's going to be tough to cover with those guys against a good returner.

“That's why I'm glad we didn't kick that in that situation. A game-winner, obviously, you have to [kick]. I think we were close on the Hail Mary, so I think the percentages say go with the Hail Mary there. Maybe if it's 5 yards closer, maybe we go for [the field goal].”

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York said he didn't talk to Stefanski about his verdict, but Priefer delivered the message and explained the thinking.

“Prief mentioned that they were worried about if I hit it short, they wouldn't want a return on it,” York said. “Obviously, I didn't really care about that, but just they thought it was a better idea to throw it.”

Although York conceded the kicks he practiced in pregame warm-ups weren't as long as 68 yards, he added, “I just knew I could make it.”

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Priefer said he would rather have “a volunteer” like York in that scenario than some of the kickers he has coached in the past who would “kind of back into the shadows” instead.

“I think as we get more confident with [York], he gets more confident and continues to mature as a young kicker, maybe you do kick those,” Priefer said. “But you gotta look back — he's had a couple blocked that were low. Those are the things that go through my mind all the time.

“The weather was actually pretty nice. The wind was blowing slightly in that direction, so that would've been the direction to kick that in. But I was happy that he did [state his case]. He is competitive, and he's very confident and I love that about him.”

Stefanski said he didn't see York imploring Priefer on the sideline.

“But it's good that your kicker has confidence, and it's good that they don’t lack confidence,” Stefanski said. “It's like anything else, they want the ball in a big moment, just like a point guard wants the ball or a receiver wants the ball. That's the mentality of guys who want to help the team. We'll continue to make decisions that are best for the team. If it calls for it, I think Cade will be ready to go.”

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A fourth-round draft pick (No. 124 overall) from Louisiana State University, York has made 20 of 26 field goals and 28 of 30 extra points this season. He has made 4 of 4 field goals from 20-29 yards, 7 of 9 from 30-39 yards, 5 of 6 from 40-49 yards and 4 of 7 from 50 or more yards. His successful attempts from 50-plus yards have been from 58, 55 and 51 (twice).

York has had three field goals blocked — 60 yards against the Ravens on Oct. 23, 53 yards against the Bengals on Oct. 31 and 34 yards against the Buffalo Bills on Nov. 20.

“The thing with Cade ... is getting the ball up in the air — great elevation,” Priefer said. “Ever since the Buffalo game, he's done a really nice job of getting the ball up in the air. That's been the emphasis.”

The scene this past weekend in Cincinnati provided Priefer with a flashback to Oct. 2.

York made a similar push for a long field goal in the event the Browns had reached a certain yard line in the waning moments of a 23-20 road loss to the Atlanta Falcons, Priefer said. However, the offense never advanced to the range York had in mind.

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Obviously, York isn't likely to place limitations on himself.

“I'm always pretty fired up,” he said. “I want to go out there and hit field goals.

“But I understand that they have a game plan, and it's ultimately their decision.”

Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com.

On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Browns rookie Cade York wanted shot at NFL field goal record