Posted on 03/23/2006 7:22:33 AM PST by mainepatsfan
Vanderjagt to sign with Cowboys
Posted: Thursday March 23, 2006 9:40AM; Updated: Thursday March 23, 2006 9:53AM
By Don Banks, SI.com
Mike Vanderjagt, who was not welcomed back to Indianapolis this offseason despite being the most accurate kicker in NFL history, has agreed to terms with the Dallas Cowboys, an NFL source confirmed to SI.com.
Terms of his deal with Dallas were not known, but Vanderjagt visited the Cowboys on Wednesday and agreed in principle to a contract that is expected to be completed and announced at some point Thursday.
Vanderjagt, who will be 36 on Friday, spent the past eight seasons in Indianapolis, and was 23- of-25 in field goal attempts in 2005, with a long of 48 yards. But that accuracy did not count for much in an AFC divisional playoff game against the Steelers when he badly missed a 46-yard attempt on the final drive. The Steelers went on to win the Super Bowl as the conference's No. 6 seed, while the top-seeded Colts, who were started 13-0, dealt with another bitter playoff disappointment.
Vanderjagt is the second headline-name kicker to switch teams this week, following Adam Vinatieri's signing with the Colts. The former Patriots star became the league's highest paid kicker when he received a five-year deal to replace Vanderjagt. The contract calls for a $3.5 million signing bonus, and is worth $7.5 million in the first three years.
The acquisition of Vanderjagt ends the Cowboys' revolving door at kicker. Dallas had three different kickers in 2005, and the 9-7 Cowboys lost three games by three points or less, narrowly missing the playoffs. Dallas kickers were just 20-of-28 overall last season, missing three from 38 yards or less.
(Excerpt) Read more at sportsillustrated.cnn.com ...
A lot of QUICK slant routes to TO.
I don't know what they they are going to do for o-line but they better figure it out.
The Cowboys have signed Kyle Kozier and Jason Fabiani. Neither of those guys are going to bring back memories of Larry pancaking guys in front of Emmitt, but they're a serviceable duo at G and T. Flozell Adams will be back, Andre Gurode re-signed and Marco Rivera has a couple of good years left in his tank.
So there are your starters; what the Cowboys need is depth. That's what killed them last year at tackle. Larry has slowed down to much to move back out to tackle, and he was over $7M against the cap this year. I think he's got another year in him, so hopefully he clears waivers and re-signs for a more cap-friendly salary.
yea, hopefully they can get it worked out. o-line is crucial to ANY team but maybe more so in Dallas.
• If T.O. signing with Dallas surprised you, Mr. Idealistic Sports Fan Who Didn't Think Money Could Make Everyone Forget That Whole Thing With The Dance On The Star, bettors saw it coming. In January, the Cowboys opened at 25-1 to win next year's Super Bowl; as of last Monday, they were 8-1 at Caesars. Only New England, Indianapolis and Seattle have shorter odds.
Wow, 8 to 1?! That's is going way overboard.
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