CHARLOTTE, N.C. _ There are a couple ways you can handle a bad day. You can linger on it, thinking about what you could have done differently or you can learn from it and move on.
After Panthers kicker Joey Slye missed two extra points and a 28-yard field goal in the team's 34-31 loss to the Saints last week, the answer for the 23-year-old was simple: he learned what he could and put it in perspective.
"I'm really, really hard on myself," Syle said. "I take what I do really seriously, so Monday was understanding everything that went wrong, processing everything, looking at it from a different vantage point, just saying, I've gone through worse situations in my life. This is actually in the grand scheme of things, like my brother passed away in front of me.
"So for me, in perspective this really isn't that big of a deal. I still get to play the sport I love, still get to do what I do. I'm still grateful to be here and have an opportunity ... just trying to turn the corner and come into it like a regular week."
Slye's brother, A.J., died of leukemia in 2014.
This week features new competition for Slye. The Panthers signed kicker Greg Joseph to the practice squad Monday. Joseph was with the Browns last year. In 14 games he made 17 of 20 field goal attempts and 25 of 29 extra points.
In his rookie season out of Virginia Tech, after spending a year without an NFL job, Slye has made 19 of 26 field goal attempts and 22 of 26 extra points. He has had issues with kicks going wide right, as all three did against the Saints.
Coach Ron Rivera said bringing Joseph in doesn't necessarily mean there is a kicking competition occurring, but that sometimes players perform better when they are pushed.
"The one thing you want to do is show some patience, and Joey's come out and kicked the ball well, so we'll see how it continues to go," River said. "They'll continue to work. (Joseph's) on the practice squad, so he'll get a chance to practice and develop and we'll see what happens."
Slye has received plenty of support from friends and family, but also from fellow kickers, including 49ers' Robbie Gould and Panthers' Graham Gano, who is on injured reserve with a left leg injury.
Their message was clear: you're not alone.
"A lot of guys in this profession, they've been here before they've been in a situation like this," Slye said. "It just kind of ends up fizzling out for guys who have a long career like that, you don't remember these. You remember the great moments they have, that's why they're still there. I just got to get back on it and respond Sunday."
Part of his preparation for Sunday's game against Washington will come from a notebook he has kept since the second week of the season. He writes down notes from his pregame warm-ups, including what direction the wind is blowing and any changes that need to be made. He does the same at halftime. Slye also notes how he's feeling and what he is thinking during certain moments.
He does this to help remember what was going on when watching game film and because it helps keep a regiment every time he kicks. Following the loss to the Saints, Slye was at his locker in the Superdome writing in his notebook.
While Joseph has been added for competition, Slye is focusing on what he can control and learning everything he can from his experiences.
"If we're being honest with ourselves, what happened on Sunday was not good, if you're a professional in this league, you've got to be able to make kicks like that and obviously I didn't," Slye said. "(The Panthers) have to back themselves and prepare themselves in case they have to make a move. It just is what it is. ... (Joseph's) in here to compete for a position, but for me I'm competing against myself. It's about me, me getting better, me doing what I need to do."
