The Detroit Lions are going all in on their kicking game, as they already signed David Akers and now the team has brought in an internet star in kicker Havard Rugland, who got the deal off the strength of his trick shot video on YouTube.
According to ESPN.com, the Lions have given Rugland, who is from Norway, a contract on Thursday, putting another body on the roster to help replace 21-year veteran Jason Hanson, who retired. Rugland was made famous by his 'Kickalicious' YouTube vuideo that featured him kicking in many different areas, including on a football field, the beach as well as outside his home. The video has millions of views and has the kicker making kicks from 60 yards out.
Rugland was originally a soccer player and decided to go to football after watching the 2011 Super Bowl and he previously had tryouts for the Jets and the Lions and at 6-foot-2, 240-pounds, he could be a potential player.
"I grew up idolizing Jan Stenerud (the only pure kicker in Hall of Fame who is also from Norway) as a kid," Husted said last month. "He's excited to see another Norwegian have an opportunity to make it in the NFL."
The NFL has brought in foreigners at the kicking position many times, including Darren Bennett, who was a Pro Bowl punter, and Rugland also worked at a pro kicking camp during the offseason. In the video he also shows off his skills by kicking the ball to a friend in a boat and in a garbage can far away.