49ers set to cut ties with Akers after a disappointing season.
The San Francisco 49ers are expected to release kicker David Akers ahead of the start of free agency, according to the NFL Network.
The news comes after a disappointing season for the 38-year-old, who struggled to contribute until the eventual defeat to the Baltimore Ravens in the Super Bowl in New Orleans.
Akers struggled to a 69 percent success rate in his field goal attempts, missing 13-of-42 last season. In addition, he was culpable of some poor plays which cost the team last year.
What made his season even more frustrating was the success he had coming off the back of the previous campaign where he kicked an NFL record 44 field goals and a league-high 166 points.
However, after suffering with an injury complaint he underwent a hernia operation which had an impact on his kicking accuracy.
The veteran kicker will now be hoping to rediscover his form from last year as he searches for a new team.
Meanwhile, the 49ers are likely to save around $3m against the cap, and with an abundance of draft picks they will possibly be looking at one of the top kickers in the 2013 NFL Draft.
Having already released quarterback Alex Smith, who is set to join the Kansas City Chiefs, the 49ers are progressively working their way under the cap and also have the option of looking at a replacement kicker from the free agent market.
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