Vanderjagt out in Dallas

king0fny · 11-27-2006, 11:34 PM

IRVING, Texas -- This is how serious Bill Parcells is taking the Dallas Cowboys' stretch drive: He cut inconsistent kicker Mike Vanderjagt on Monday.

Hailed as the answer to the Cowboys' kicking woes when signed in March, Vanderjagt wasn't living up to his statistical claim to fame as the most accurate kicker in league history. He was only 13-of-18 on field goals, a 72.2 percent success rate that was the lowest of his nine-year career.

Vanderjagt also didn't like having to kick off, one of many aspects of his quirky personality that didn't always go over well with Parcells.

Dallas gave Vanderjagt a $2.5 million signing bonus as part of a three-year, $5.4 million deal, so this is a costly move. The message could be worth it for Parcells as he tries to guide the Cowboys into the playoffs for the first time since 2003 and to their first division title since 1998.

Dallas (7-4) has a one-game lead over the New York Giants in the NFC East going into their meeting Sunday at the Meadowlands. Parcells often talks of the swirling winds at the stadium where he spent the first eight years of his career, and he apparently wasn't ready to play a big game there with a kicker he didn't trust.

But can he trust Martin Gramatica, who was signed Monday to replace Vanderjagt?

Once so accurate that he was nicknamed "Automatica," Gramatica was out of the NFL last season and was cut by New England in the preseason. He played three games this season for Indianapolis while Adam Vinatieri was injured, making his only attempt, a 20-yarder.

Cowboys players and coaches did not talk to the media Monday. The locker room will be open Tuesday, and Parcells will speak to reporters for the first time since Dallas beat Tampa Bay 38-10 Thursday.

Vanderjagt made his only field goal attempt against the Buccaneers, but the 22-yarder seems to have been too close for comfort for Parcells. The previous week, facing his former team, Indianapolis, Vanderjagt missed two first-half field goals.

"I'm just hoping things take a turn for the better," Parcells said last week. "I think right now, we just have to give him the benefit of the doubt and think things will. Now if they don't, then that could be a different deal."

He added that he wasn't losing patience, but said "it needs to get better," and if it didn't, "you would definitely have to" make a change.

Vanderjagt's five misses are near his career high. He was 28-of-34 in 2001 and 23-of-31 the following season, then went 37-of-37 in 2003. He's missed a total of seven kicks the last two years.

FatherTyme34 · 11-28-2006, 12:19 AM

I think hes tippin back the bottle a lil bit too much.

Flaco · 11-28-2006, 09:58 AM

^^^ ROFLLLLL its about time dude is gone... 7 misses in 11 games

at him

at incoming kicker Martin Gramatica too... hes not much better

11-27-2006, 11:34 PM	#1
king0fny Hottest B M W Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: 718 & 315 Posts: 7,144 Repped: 2,248 Repped 423 Times in 122 Posts Neg Reps: 1 Neg Repped at 4 Times in 4 Posts	Vanderjagt out in Dallas Vanderjagt out in Dallas IRVING, Texas -- This is how serious Bill Parcells is taking the Dallas Cowboys' stretch drive: He cut inconsistent kicker Mike Vanderjagt on Monday. Hailed as the answer to the Cowboys' kicking woes when signed in March, Vanderjagt wasn't living up to his statistical claim to fame as the most accurate kicker in league history. He was only 13-of-18 on field goals, a 72.2 percent success rate that was the lowest of his nine-year career. Vanderjagt also didn't like having to kick off, one of many aspects of his quirky personality that didn't always go over well with Parcells. Dallas gave Vanderjagt a $2.5 million signing bonus as part of a three-year, $5.4 million deal, so this is a costly move. The message could be worth it for Parcells as he tries to guide the Cowboys into the playoffs for the first time since 2003 and to their first division title since 1998. Dallas (7-4) has a one-game lead over the New York Giants in the NFC East going into their meeting Sunday at the Meadowlands. Parcells often talks of the swirling winds at the stadium where he spent the first eight years of his career, and he apparently wasn't ready to play a big game there with a kicker he didn't trust. But can he trust Martin Gramatica, who was signed Monday to replace Vanderjagt? Once so accurate that he was nicknamed "Automatica," Gramatica was out of the NFL last season and was cut by New England in the preseason. He played three games this season for Indianapolis while Adam Vinatieri was injured, making his only attempt, a 20-yarder. Cowboys players and coaches did not talk to the media Monday. The locker room will be open Tuesday, and Parcells will speak to reporters for the first time since Dallas beat Tampa Bay 38-10 Thursday. Vanderjagt made his only field goal attempt against the Buccaneers, but the 22-yarder seems to have been too close for comfort for Parcells. The previous week, facing his former team, Indianapolis, Vanderjagt missed two first-half field goals. "I'm just hoping things take a turn for the better," Parcells said last week. "I think right now, we just have to give him the benefit of the doubt and think things will. Now if they don't, then that could be a different deal." He added that he wasn't losing patience, but said "it needs to get better," and if it didn't, "you would definitely have to" make a change. Vanderjagt's five misses are near his career high. He was 28-of-34 in 2001 and 23-of-31 the following season, then went 37-of-37 in 2003. He's missed a total of seven kicks the last two years.

11-28-2006, 09:58 AM	#3
Flaco Mos Def Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Worcester, MA Posts: 819 Repped: 175 Repped 75 Times in 39 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	^^^ ROFLLLLL its about time dude is gone... 7 misses in 11 games at him at incoming kicker Martin Gramatica too... hes not much better __________________

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11-28-2006, 12:19 AM	#2
FatherTyme34 Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Wisconsin Dells, WI Posts: 74 Repped: 1 Repped 0 Times in 0 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	I think hes tippin back the bottle a lil bit too much.