N  I  A  G  A  R  A      G  A  Z  E  T  T  E        niagara-gazette.com

November 15, 2009

By Tim Schmitt
Niagara Gazette

Is Grand Island’s Kern a charm?

Since the Bills obviously need a boost in the luck department, maybe they should consider signing hometown product Brett Kern in the off-season. They’ll get a look at him today. The Grand Island punter started the season with Denver, helping the Broncos to a perfect 6-0 start. He was released, though, in favor of Mitch Berger, largely because his low, deep kicks were allowing teams to get long returns. At the time, Kern ranked 10th in the league in gross average, but was 27th in net punting. He also led the league in touchbacks with 10 at the time he was cut. Since the Broncos cut him, though, they’ve dropped two straight. And the team that immediately picked him up, Tennessee, was winless in six starts when it signed him on. They’ve won two straight. Kern has been splendid with the Titans, getting five of his nine punts inside the 20, including three in his debut against Jacksonville. The hardest part of switching teams wasn’t getting used to a new snapper or dealing with new coaches, but rather getting his whole clan packed up to move cross-country.

“It happened so quickly and such a short notice that we were trying to fly my mom out to help my wife out in Denver. We had a snow storm so it was pretty tough. I was here practicing and stuff like that, and my wife was left back in Denver to try and pack everything up and come here as quickly as possible,” Kern said when he was introduced to the Tennessee media. “I definitely love the city. It’s a beautiful city.” ...