Saints rookie kicker Blake Grupe either doesn’t look the part or preseason game-winning kicks don’t carry much weight.
The former Notre Dame and Arkansas State product detailed on Twitter how his game-winning kick against the Chiefs in the Saints’ preseason opener Sunday was sandwiched by him being mistaken for anything but an NFL player.
“Step 1: get questioned walking onto the field pregame for not having credentials,” Grupe tweeted.
“Step 2: hit a game winner.
“Step 3: get stopped by security thinking I was a fan when trying to walk out the player exit.
“Stay humble. Thankful. Great team win! @Saints #WHODAT”
Perhaps you can forgive the Caesars Superdome security for not immediately recognizing the 5-foot-7, 156-pound Grupe as an NFL player.
There certainly have been plenty of examples of fans trying to sneak their way onto the field before games, and it’s fair to say one wouldn’t mistake Grupe for a defensive or offensive lineman.
Grupe signed with the Saints in April as an undrafted free agent.
The 24-year-old had just one opportunity Sunday and he made it count, nailing a walk-off 31-yard field goal in the Saints’ 26-24 win over the defending Super Bowl champions.
One would think that moment would buy you some notoriety for a hot second, but apparently that’s not the case at the Superdome.
The double case of mistaken identity provided a memorable preseason opener for Grupe, who is attempting to steal the starting kicker job from incumbent Wil Lutz.
Grupe connected on 14 of 19 field goal attempts in his lone season with Notre Dame but did convert all 49 of his extra point attempts last season.
Lutz has been with the Saints since 2016 but is coming off his worst season, having converted just 23 of 31 field goals for a career-low 74.2 percent.
If Grupe keeps making pressure-filled kicks, perhaps he can give Lutz a run for his money.
Or, at the least, be recognized by security as an actual member of the team.