The Cleveland Browns opened their season with a gut-punch 17–16 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals , and the fallout was ugly. Fans zeroed in on rookie kicker Andre Szmyt , who missed an extra point and botched a 36-yard field goal that could have flipped the result.

Special teams coach Raymond “Bubba” Ventrone admitted in a press Conference on September 25th, 2025, the team had already reached out to other kickers before Week 2 against the Green Bay Packers . Szmyt’s leash was thin. When asked if the team contacted other kickers, Bubba replied with a vague, “Um, we might have.” Keeping Sunday in mind, this doesn’t come as a shocker.

With the game tied late, the rookie lined up for a 55-yard attempt — the kind of kick most coaches wouldn’t trust a shaky first-year player

See Full Page