It might not be the most exciting or chronicled battle of the offseason.
It’s not the kind of thing that moves the needle in print or over the airwaves.
But the battle between New Orleans Saints kickers Dustin Hopkins and Zach Hocker should be one of the more closely contested fights this offseason, and it carries significant importance.
For the first time in a long time, the Saints have the opportunity to lock up a kicker who can be trusted and, if things go well, hold down the job for the foreseeable future. That’s a luxury that Sean Payton has not enjoyed in recent years.