By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor
Accuracy has been Kai Forbath’s forte ever since he entered the National Football League and he was perfect in training camp for the New Orleans Saints last week in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.
Photo courtesy of New Orleans Saints
Through eight practices, the 28-year-old placekicker had made every field goal he attempted, including a 57-yarder with distance to spare Friday. Forbath is competing for the starting spot with veteran Connor Barth, 31, who missed only two field goals over the first eight days.
Forbath, who grew up in the Highlands and won the Lou Groza Award during his stellar career collegiate career at UCLA, made nine of 13 field goals and 33 of 34 extra points in 10 games with New Orleans last season.
Saints head coach Sean Payton said it’s too early to handicap a competition that likely won’t be decided until after the team’s third preseason game.
Forbath was signed by the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2011. He made his NFL debut in 2012 for the Washington Redskins, with whom he played three seasons before signing with New Orleans in October 2015. He has kicked six career game-winning field goals.
Safety Chris Conte has also enjoyed an impressive start to training camp for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, twice intercepting quarterback Jameis Winston on Saturday.
Photo courtesy of Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Conte, 27, re-signed with Tampa Bay in March after recording 80 tackles, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and six pass deflections in 14 games in his first season with the team last season. He grew up in the El Medio Bluffs, attended Corpus Christi School, played under Jeff Kearin at Loyola High and earned first team all-Pac-10 honors as a senior at California.
Conte was selected by the Chicago Bears in the third round of the 2011 NFL Draft and spent his first four seasons in Chicago.
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