SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- In the days after kicker Jake Moody made five of his six field goal attempts including a game-winning 59-yarder in the San Francisco 49ers ' second preseason game, optimism abounded at team headquarters.

"It could change his career," special teams coordinator Brant Boyer said. "I think he showed the moxie he has and the confidence he's starting to gain. I think it was critical for him."

As so often happens, though, the NFL wasted little time reminding Moody and the Niners that the distance between a pat on the back and a kick in the butt is far shorter than any field goal Moody has missed in his career.

Seven days after Moody kicked tying and winning kicks from a combined 103 yards away in the same game in which he missed badly from 53 yards out and barely snu

See Full Page