Mike Vanderjagt, well into the Rick Ankiel portion of his career, has been released by the Dallas Cowboys. The most accurate kicker of all-time (of those who have attempted 100 or more field goals) no longer has a job.Once described by Peyton Manning as a "liquored-up idiot kicker," Vanderjagt made the only field goal he attempted yesterday against Tampa Bay. The week before, though, in a close game against the Colts, Vanderjagt was 0-for-2. He's 13-of-18 on the year, which makes the NFL's most accurate all-time kicker the NFL's 29th most accurate kicker of 2006. He's one of only six kickers this year to miss a kick shorter than 30 yards.
Just like Cougar, right before Maverick and Goose had to go save him... Vanderjagt has lost the edge. I am reminded of this snippet from a New York Times article about Parcells, in which Parcells discusses the problems Vanderjagt is currently facing:
"Ian Baker Finch!" Parcells exclaims, once he has warmed to the subject. "Ian Baker Finch won the British Open. Two years later he couldn't hit a golf ball with a golf club." Fear of failure can infect the mind and turn sport into a kind of walking death. "If you can find a solution to that problem," he tells me, "quit writing. You'd make a fortune. You got all these sports psychologists. None of them can help these guys."Nope. They sure can't.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
11-27-2006 @ 8:47PM
Brian in Sarasota said...
GOOD! I wanted him fired 4 weeks ago! Where is Herera or Septian when you need them.
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11-27-2006 @ 9:01PM
Tim Burns said...
Parcells was right. Vanderjagt has a head problem, not a leg problem. Since he missed that big kick in the playoffs last year he hasn’t been the same guy he was before that. He’ll land on a roster, this week if he wants a gig. I don’t know why he would. He just got paid $2.5 million last spring and he only played in 9 games this year. I’d take a cool million out in cash, take it home & roll around in it. Then I’d get really drunk & drive by Valley Ranch with my bare butt hanging out the window. Jerry Jones gambled & lost. It doesn't happen often. As a Cowboys fan, it worries me going into these last 5 games & hopefully the playoffs, with a Gramatica. But since Romo took over, Dallas isn't looking to play field position & kick field goals anyway.
It was a stunning announcement today, but the right move. Sooner or later Vanderjagt was going to cost the Cowboys a game. Tim in Dallas
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11-28-2006 @ 1:06PM
Michelle Swanhope said...
Why did it take so long to boot this turkey?
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11-28-2006 @ 1:14PM
Michelle Swanhope said...
Why did it take so long to boot this turkey?
Reply
11-29-2006 @ 12:25AM
Daryl Ward said...
I think the team will be better with someone with a person of gramatica style and cool.
Reply
11-30-2006 @ 12:16PM
Mark said...
Want to get rid of "head problems" and relieve all sorts of personal pressure?
Don't play for the Dallas Cowboys.
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