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Atlanta Falcons sign kicker Giorgio Tavecchio

By The Sports Xchange
The Atlanta Falcons signed kicker Giorgio Tavecchio (2) to a contract, the team announced Monday. Photo courtesy of Atlanta Falcons/Twitter
The Atlanta Falcons signed kicker Giorgio Tavecchio (2) to a contract, the team announced Monday. Photo courtesy of Atlanta Falcons/Twitter

The Atlanta Falcons signed kicker Giorgio Tavecchio to a contract, the team announced Monday.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed for Tavecchio, who was released by the Oakland Raiders earlier this month.

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Tavecchio will battle Matt Bryant for the kicking responsibilities with the Falcons.

The 28-year-old Italian replaced Sebastian Janikowski in 2017 and made 16 of 21 field-goal attempts -- including three from at least 50 yards -- during 16 games in his lone season with the Raiders. He connected on 33 of his 34 extra-point attempts.

Tavecchio was expected to be the Raiders' kicker this season, but competition for the job will be between Mike Nugent and Eddy Pineiro instead.

The left-footed Tavecchio has also spent time with the San Francisco 49ers (2012), Green Bay Packers (2013) and Detroit Lions (2013-14).

Bryant has been nursing an undisclosed leg injury through training camp and sat out the first three preseason games. The 43-year-old returned to the field on Saturday, making field goals from 47 and 43 yards in the Falcons' 17-6 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

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Bryant, who is the Falcons' all-time leading scorer, converted 34 of his 39 field-goal tries last season and all 35 of his extra-point attempts.

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