Ex-Cat Nick Folk released by the New York Jets

Nick Folk.

The New York Jets have released former Arizona Wildcats kicker Nick Folk, a 10-year veteran of the NFL.

Folk has spent the past seven seasons with the Jets after beginning his pro career with the Dallas Cowboys, when he was chosen to the Pro Bowl as a rookie.

He has made 239 of 294 field goal attempts (81.3 percent) and he hit an NFL record 312 consecutive PATs before missing one in the 2016 season opener, the first such miss of his career.

Folk has been solid, and his release is more about money than performance, as the Jets like what they have in young kicker Ross Martin out of Duke. It’s business.

Still, it likely wasn’t a pleasant decision to make for Jets special teams coordinator, ex-Arizona Wildcats linebacker Brant Boyer, or the team’s special teams assistant, ex-Cat safety and assistant coach Jeff Hammerschmidt.

The Jets even sent well-wishes after the transaction:

🙌

Thank you, @nickfolk2. pic.twitter.com/J5wNsqhHEf

— New York Jets (@nyjets) February 23, 2017

“It’s a sad day, but that’s the business side of things,” Folk told NewYorkJets.com as he finished cleaning out his locker at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center this afternoon. “I had a great seven years here. I think the only thing that would’ve topped it off would’e been a couple of Super Bowl wins.

“There’s been a great group of guys in this locker room from 2010 till now. I can’t thank Mike Tannenbaum, Rex [Ryan], John Idzik, Todd [Bowles] and Mike Maccagnan enough for keeping me around for seven years. This was our second home. It’s been a lot of fun and my wife and I have enjoyed every minute of it.”

During his Arizona days, Folk was known more for his big leg than his accuracy, hitting 63.8 percent of his career field goal attempts. He earned first-team All-Pac-10 honors as a punter during his senior season in 2006, averaging 44.0 yards.

Folk hit eight game-winning kicks in his NFL career, including three in 2013: