Cowboys Release Vanderjagt

Wow, I never saw this coming. Maybe when the Cowboys were struggling at the beginning of the season but not right now when everything is rolling for Dem Boys. Vanderjagt had had a terrible season with a career low of 70% field goal completions , but has been untalked about due to the media surrounding T.O. and T.RO (Tony Romo). The Cowboys signed Martin Gramatica, “Mr. Automatica” to replace Mike Vaderjagt.

Ever since the season started, the most accurate kicker in NFL history never found a home in Dallas. He was injured during almost all of training camp and refused to take kickoff duties. All of this never settled well with the big Tuna. Bill Parcells never warmed up to Mike Vanderjagt and has constantly looked fuming mad on the sidelines when Vanderjagt whould miss one of his many failed field goal attempts. This year Vanderjagt went 13-18 and missed some critical kicks that could have won games for the Cowboys. Remember the Redskins game where all he had to do was angle the kick over the defenders from 30 yards out? Come on, it was an easy kick with little pressure, but he ended up costing the Cowboys the game. Actually that was the game when the whole team played terrible, but Vanderjagt could have saved the day. In the Indianapolis game he went 0-2 and could have easily lost the game for the Cowboys because it was such a close contest. I’m actually happy to see Vanderjagt and his $5.4 million contract leave the team.

The Cowboys recant;y haven’t needed a great kicker with the play of Romo and Marion Barber. Both of these players are able to finish out the drive and are able to keep the kicking team on the sidelines. Barber has helped the Cowboys in many 3rd down conversions and is a far better back than Julius Jones in shorts yard gains. Barber has a special ability to wiggle his was through the defenses. Romo’s ability to escape the pocket had too turned into many 3rd down conversions and long touchdown drives.

To replace Vanderjagt, the Cowboys signed the Argentinean kicker, Martin Gramatica. He is a seven year veteren with a career 76.7 % field goal percentage, but has been riding the pine in Indianapolis this season behind Adam Vinatieri. He had a great career in Tampa Bay, but since then he has declined. Hopefully he can add another element to the Cowboys offense, because Vangerjagt sure didn’t.