NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) - The New Orleans Saints have brought back long-time kicker John Carney after his successor, Garrett Hartley, missed a field goal that would have beaten the Atlanta Falcons last weekend.
Carney, 46, was added to the roster of the 2-1 Saints, the team confirmed Wednesday.
He would be the oldest player to compete in an NFL game this season if he kicks Sunday against the Carolina Panthers at the Superdome in New Orleans.
The NFL champions also retained Hartley despite last weekend's crucial 29-yard miss in overtime against the Falcons. Atlanta ultimately won the game, 27-24.
Hartley had replaced Carney for the final five games of the 2009 regular season and the Super Bowl run.
Carney has spent 22 seasons in the NFL with Tampa Bay, the Los Angeles Rams, San Diego, New Orleans, Jacksonville, Kansas City, the New York Giants and New Orleans again last season.
He was released in December but retained as a kicking consultant and worked with Hartley.
Carney ranks third all-time in the NFL with 2,044 career points.
(Reporting by Gene Cherry in Salvo, North Carolina; Editing by Steve Ginsburg)
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