Where Are They Now: Jay Feely

Jay Feely wasn’t assured of anything.

In 2008, after seven years in the NFL with the Falcons, Giants and Dolphins, he was waived by Miami during training camp. And then was waived again by the Chiefs two weeks later.

“It was a weird part in my career, and the weirdest part was I had led the league in field goal percentage the year before,” Feely said. “I had been a captain for the Dolphins. I was Man of the Year for them. I was a player rep. So everything had gone, for me, really well during that season even though we had a terrible year. We went 1-15.

“And then (Bill) Parcells came in (as Executive VP of Football Operations) and pretty much just got rid of all the veteran guys on the team. So I kind of knew I was probably going to get cut. And it had nothing to do with me or my performance, which is kind of tough.

“So I get cut and go to Kansas City. Mike Priefer, who had been the special teams coach with the Giants was there, so I knew him and thought it’d be a great fit for us because we really liked each other. I went 15 for 16 in the practice, the only one I missed was like 55 (yards), and then got cut after practice.

“Mike apologized profusely. So did (Head Coach) Herm (Edwards). Said it had nothing to do with me. And you’re like, ‘How is this happening right now? Is my career going to be over after I just had the best year of my career?'”

The simple answer is no. In the Jets’ 2008 season opener in Miami, fourth-year kicker Mike Nugent injured his thigh in the first quarter, and Feely, who was still living in South Florida, received a phone call.

“I get a call from (General Manager) Mike Tannenbaum at halftime,” Feely said. “He’s like, ‘We need you to come up to New York.’ And I joke with him, ‘Hey, I’m 10 minutes from the stadium. I can be there before halftime’s over.’ And so I was on a flight before that game even ended.”

“They brought in three or four guys, but Mike Westhoff, who was the special teams coach at the time, pulled me aside before the workout even…