The best punter in the history of the Chargers franchise is out of a job.
Mike Scifres, who has punted in San Diego since the Chargers drafted him in 2003, will be released after the team drafted punter Drew Kaser today.
“He’s a true pro,” Chargers coach Mike McCoy said of Scifres today. “When people ask what it means to be a Charger, I’ll point to Mike Scifres. Thank you, Mike. We’re going to miss you.”
But while the Chargers will miss Scifres, who was chosen as the punter on the franchise’s 50th Anniversary Team, the decision to let him go wasn’t difficult. The 35-year-old Scifres did not punt well last year and was set to cost $4.2 million against the Chargers’ salary cap this year.
It was time for the Chargers to move on to someone younger and cheaper, and that’s exactly what they’ve done.