Jeremy Kapinos said he got "no real reason" why the Packers won't at least let him compete for his job this year, and he expects to be punting somewhere in the NFL this season.
The Packers today declined to offer Kapinos an exclusive-rights tender, making him a free agent.
"I assume somebody needs to be held accountable or sacrificed for the net and i20 (inside-the-20) production," Kapinos said in a series of text messages.
"While I do admit I needed to improve and I was at fault for some of it, I wont agree with anyone I was the lone liability. I think its very irresponsible to place the blame on one person. (Special teams) wont improve if thats the philosophy, I would hope there is a sense of accountability across the board."
Kapinos took over as the Packers' punter for the final four games of the 2008 season, then beat out Durant Brooks in training camp last summer.
Though the Packers' punting numbers in 2009 weren't good -- they ranked 18th in gross average (43.1), tied for 31st in net average (34.1) and were dead last in punts inside the 20 (15) -- that was only part of a terrible all-around year for the Packers' special teams under first-year coordinator Shawn Slocum.
Last week at the NFL scouting combine, however, Packers coach Mike McCarthy singled out Kapinos, saying "as far as too many touchbacks, not enough balls inside the 20, punts that are being returned at a 60 percent clip instead of 40, 45, which youd like to be those are the things that you can say, 'Hey, thats one individual to improve that.' We need to hold that accountable and improve in that area."
Kapinos, 25, has every intention of making those improvements. He just won't be doing it in Green Bay.
"Just think somebody needed to go down," Kapinos said. "I believe I can and will improve, already taken steps, lost 15 (pounds) and have been doing my drills. NFL is a journey and I look forward to the next step, I believe Ill get another chance this year."
The only punter left on the Packers roster is Tim Masthay, who went to camp with the Indianapolis Colts last year, spent the season out of football and was signed off the street Jan. 15.