Barnard had a tryout with the Eagles two years ago.

Had Green Bay Packers kicker Mason Crosby not had such a terrible season in 2012 we wouldn’t be hearing the name Michael Barnard.

But that’s water under the proverbial bridge … and because Crosby converted just 63.3 percent of his field goals last year (21 of 33 attempts), today the Packers will be holding an audition for the free agent kicker who has been working the past couple of years with former pro kickers.

Whether the Packers consider Barnard a legitimate NFL kicker will determine whether they invite him to camp next summer as competition for Crosby. In the six years Crosby has been the Packers place kicker, he hasn’t had any competition in camp for at least the past five years – he’s been the guy.

In a story that our own Tom Marquardt wrote here on lombardiave.com back in December, the Packers were considering bringing Barnard in for a tryout at that time. If you remember, that was at the time when Crosby was struggling through a rough stretch of the season. The Packers kept the faith in Crosby and he connected on his final four kicks of the season, including a couple of conversions in the playoffs.

However, now that it’s the offseason, this seems like as good a time as any to audition potential competition for Crosby.

Barnard, 6 feet 1½ inches and 216 pounds, is not a prototypical candidate … he hasn’t kicked in competition since 2008 when he was at Division III Fairleigh Dickinson. While kicking there he made 59.3 percent (16 of 27) and missed five of 54 extra points. Not glowing statistics.

But the Packers must see something in him to give him today’s tryout.

Stay tuned and should we hear any news about the tryout, we will post it here as soon as possible.

Michael Barnard, a free agent, will be given a tryout by the Packers on Monday.

News broke today about the Green Bay Packers inviting kicker Michael Barnard in for a tryout, but we here at lombardiave.com, in particular staff writer  T.J.Marquardt, broke the story about the possibility of a Barnard tryout back in December at the height of Mason Crosby major slump.

Here’s what Marquardt wrote in December:

The Packers might find the answer in a kid who many teams have as their top-rated Free Agent kicker. His name is Michael Barnard. Barnard played his college ball at a private university, Fairleigh-Dickinson. He has been on the short list for numerous NFL teams over the past few years. He isn’t some fly-by-night, wannabe either; in fact, he might have made the Eagles squad this year if Alex Henery hadn’t had such an amazing rookie season in 2011.

According to Marquardt, the Packers had considered or were at least approached by Barnard and/or his representative requesting a tryout. It was unclear at that time whether the Packers were considering the tryout, but Marquardt felt the tryout session was going to happen. As far as we know, it didn’t at that time, but now it seems the Packers have reconsidered and are scheduled to bring the New Jersey-based kicker in for a look-see this coming Monday.

In a story about the tryout published at jsonline and written by one of my favorite Packers reporters, Bob McGinn, he said that the Packers have never brought in competition against Crosby, but now may be the time to do so, considering the Packers veteran kicker’s poor performance last year.

Barnard, 6 feet 1½ inches and 216 pounds, is the unlikeliest of candidates.

From 2006-’08, Barnard kicked at Division III Fairleigh Dickinson, where he made a paltry 59.3% (16 of 27) and missed five of 54 extra points for teams that finished 7-23. His long was 47 yards, and he had three blocked.

Barnard had a tryout with the Eagles two years ago.

But that was five years ago and McGinn documents how he has been working to improve his technique and accuracy – and that he’s been working with people who know a little something about kicking …

Barnard spent his winters in Florida, where he kept kicking almost nonstop. He spent time working with former NFL kickers Mike Hollis and Michael Husted, and also learned from David Akers, who lived near him outside Philadelphia.

McGinn interviewed Hollis, who said that he feels Barnard at least has a shot: ”Hopefully, Michael will get an opportunity, whether it’s Green Bay or wherever, to get into camp and show what he can do. He’s definitely got the size and ability to be an NFL kicker. He’s probably one of the most passionate guys we’ve ever coached,” Hollis said. “Very dedicated. He wants this really bad.”

That’s how Marquardt saw the kicker back in December.

Here is how Marquardt described him:

Barnard’s strong leg and confidence have attracted attention around the NFL … He works hard and has dedicated himself to making the grade in the NFL, working out 6 days a week kicking and conditioning while he waits for his shot in the NFL.

McGinn pulled up an interview conducted with Barnard last summer by FullScaleSports:

“I feel I am most comparable to kickers like Mason Crosby and Sebastian Janikowski. They possess the ability to be deadly accurate and kick field goals over 60 yards regularly and kick off in excess of 75 yards, just as I do.

I do not plan on being an average NFL kicker. I want to be one of the best to ever do it … there isn’t one kicker in the league I feel I could not go up against and come out feeling confident.”

If lombardiave.com’s Marquardt was right in December when exclaiming in his post that “This kid is GOOD,” then it will most likely be borne out on whether the Packers feel the same way after his workout on Monday. If they decide that he’s the guy who could compete against Crosby in camp next summer, we’re sure they will let the world know.

If he is the guy … or even if he isn’t … we can also say that you heard it first right here.

Like Lombardiave.com on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Any Green Bay Packers fan knows that Mason Crosby has struggled mightily this season. Since coming on the scene for the Packers in 2007, he has been a pretty good kicker. He made nearly 80 percent of his kicks and even did pretty well from over 50 yards. He was a key part of the Packers last Super Bowl run as he tacked on points even when Rodgers and company couldn’t manage to find the end zone, he made the team better. In 2012, that hasn’t been the case. He has struggled to find confidence even though he still shows that he has a great leg. That was further evidenced in Sunday’s game vs. the Bears where he missed badly on 2 FGs and the Packers opted to go for it on fourth down rather than bring Crosby on for a chance, even from inside 50 yard. How long can that last in the NFL playoffs?

Mike McCarthy wants to just ignore the fact that Crosby has the ‘yips’ and he hopes they will go away, but time is short as the postseason approaches. The question is: Should the Packers stick with Crosby, who has been fairly solid in years past but currently can’t hit it reliably between the uprights from over 40 yds or dive into the unknown with someone (anyone) else? There are kickers out there just waiting for a shot and I’d like to see the Packers bring someone in for a workout, but whom should it be?

The Packers might find the answer in a kid who many teams have as their top-rated Free Agent kicker. His name is Michael Barnard. Barnard played his college ball at a private university, Fairleigh-Dickinson. He has been on the short list for numerous NFL teams over the past few years. He isn’t some fly-by-night, wannabe either; in fact, he might have made the Eagles squad this year if Alex Henery hadn’t had such an amazing rookie season in 2011.

The Philadelphia Eagles invited Barnard to their Rookie Mini Camp last spring. Barnard showed his poise and leg strength while making 30/32 kicks, including 4/4 from 50+, but the Eagles declined to mount a challenge to Henery and opted not to sign Barnard for a training camp competition. Henery had made 89% of his kicks for the Eagles as a rookie in 2011. The Eagles personnel department even shopped Barnard’s credentials around to other teams because they believed so much in his ability. He showed them that he has the leg and the moxie to be an NFL kicker.

Barnard’s strong leg and confidence have attracted attention around the NFL. The kid is GOOD! He works hard and has dedicated himself to making the grade in the NFL, working out 6 days a week kicking and conditioning while he waits for his shot in the NFL.

Arizona has recently brought him in for a workout and they, along with Philadelphia head a growing list of NFL teams that have targeted Barnard as their next potential kicker, so why shouldn’t the Packers?

If anyone out there can explain to me how the Packers are better off heading to the postseason with Crosby than with an up and coming (potential stud) kicker, I’m listening. It’s hard enough to win close games, but in the playoffs the Packers need a better kicker than the one they have.

Check out Barnard on one of his YouTube videos below by going to MoneyKicker34.