 |
December 26, 2007
Rookie kicker Nick Folk needs just three points to set a new Cowboys scoring record by a place-kicker. Folk has 125 points, establishing a rookie record set by Lin Elliott (119) in 1992. But he can pass Chris Boniol's mark of 127 points set in 1995. Folk could pass Emmitt Smith for second place on the team's all-time single-season scoring list with 132 points (1994). Smith's team record of 150 points set in 1995 seems rather unlikely for Folk is second in the NFL in scoring behind only Green Bay kicker Mason Crosby (131 points).
|
|
December 18, 2007
Rookie kicker Nick Folk was selected to the Pro Bowl on Tuesday, becoming the first Cowboys place-kicker going to Hawaii since Rafeal Septien in 1981. Folk is also the first Cowboys rookie in the Pro Bowl since Emmitt Smith made it in 1990. Folk is second in the NFC in scoring with 117 points, ironically only trailing Green Bay rookie Mason Crosby (130 points).
|
|
November 28, 2007
Cowboys kicker Nick Folk is second in the NFC in scoring with 94 points, trailing only Green Bay rookie Mason Crosby, who leads the NFL with 98 points. Folk said Green Bay was one of the teams that showed the most interest in drafting him and was somewhat surprised when the Cowboys picked him in the sixth round. Folk has made 17-of-20 field-goal attempts this year while Crosby is 22-of-28.
|
|
November 13, 2007
Cowboys rookie kicker Nick Folk currently leads the NFC and ranks second in the entire league in scoring with 80 points this season. He's on pace to finish his first season with more than 142 points, which would not only set a Cowboys rookie record, but would be the most points scored by any Cowboys kicker in club history. In fact, Folk even has a chance to surpass Emmitt Smith's overall scoring record of 150 points set in 1995 when he scored a then-NFL record 25 touchdowns. Folk has made 15-of-17 field goal attempts this season and connected on all 35 extra point attempts.
|
|
November 13, 2007
Cowboys rookie kicker Nick Folk currently leads the NFC and ranks second in the entire league in scoring with 80 points this season. He's on pace to finish his first season with more than 142 points, which would not only set a Cowboys rookie record, but would be the most points scored by any Cowboys kicker in club history. In fact, Folk even has a chance to surpass Emmitt Smith's overall scoring record of 150 points set in 1995 when he scored a then-NFL record 25 touchdowns. Folk has made 15-of-17 field goal attempts this season and connected on all 35 extra point attempts.
|
|
November 4, 2007
Cowboys rookie wide receiver Isaiah Stanback made his NFL debut Sunday night, returning three kickoffs for 78 yards (26.0 yard average). The Cowboys decided to replace running back Tyson Thompson with Stanback, who had only been active for one game this year, but did not play against Buffalo. Thompson has not been consistent in the return game and the Cowboys were looking for a way to get Stanback, a fourth-round pick last April, more involved in the game.
|
|
October 18, 2007
Cowboys running back Tyson Thompson ranks just eighth in the NFC with a 23.9 average on kickoff returns this year, prompting coach Wade Phillips to say Thursday he is looking for more production from that group. Thompson did have a season- and career-long 72 yard runback last week against the Patriots. But Phillips said the Cowboys need to start getting the runbacks back out by the 30-yard line more often. However, Phillips said he doesn't expect any changes to be made in that area, saying Thompson will remain the primary returner.
|
|
October 12, 2007
Cowboys rookie kicker Nick Folk was named Diet Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week for his performance in Monday's 25-24 win over the Bills. Folk's 53-yard field goal as time expired helped the Cowboys improve to 5-0. Folk made all four of his field goal attempts and executed an onside kick with 20 seconds left that set up the game-winner. Folk was among five finalists but received more fans votes on NFL.com and via Sprint wireless service. This is Pepsi's sixth year as the official soft drink sponsor of the NFL and the third year that Diet Pepsi will present the NFL Rookie of the Week and NFL Rookie of the Year awards.
|
|
October 2, 2007
Rookie kicker Nick Folk leads the NFC, and is tied for fourth in the league with 37 points scored this season. Aside from making all 19 extra-point attempts, Folk has hit 6-of-7 on field goals with his only miss getting blocked in Chicago. Folk leads Green Bay's Mason Crosby (33 points) among all NFL rookies.
|
|
September 13, 2007
Not since 1963 has an NFL punter enjoyed a season like Mat McBriar did last year, averaging 48.2 yards a punt. But if one game is any indication, the Pro Bowl punter doesn't seem to have a letdown. With just two punts against the Giants last Sunday, McBriar averaged 54.0 yards, including a 64-yard boot. Both punts were downed inside the 20-yard line. McBriar would lead the entire league in average, but he doesn't qualify yet with only two attempts.
|
|
September 3, 2007
Despite getting other players involved the last few weeks, the Cowboys will likely put Tyson Thompson back on kickoff returns to start the season. Wade Phillips said he expects Thompson to be the primary return specialist, alongside Miles Austin, who did return one for a touchdown in the playoffs last season. Thompson led the team with six returns for 145 yards (24.2 average) during the preseason games.
|
|
August 11, 2007
The race for the kicking job got even tighter after Thursday's preseason opener against the Colts. Rookie Nick Folk, a sixth-round pick from Arizona, made a 25-yard field goal and was average on his kickoffs. But veteran Martin Gramatica was rather impressive, hitting two field goals, including a 47-yard kick in the third quarter. Gramatica did surprisingly well on his kickoffs, booming one four yards deep into the end zone. However, the Cowboys haven't ruled out keeping both kickers on the 53-man roster. |
|
July 11, 2007
While second-year receiver Miles Austin will be battling for one of the final receiver spots with a host of young wideouts, he might have an advantage thanks to his kickoff return duties. Austin not only became the first player in Cowboys post-season history to return a kickoff for a touchdown, running back a 93-yard score in the playoff loss to Seattle, but he finished third in the NFC with a 26.0 yard average, after taking over for an injured Tyson Thompson in the second half of the season.
|
|
May 2, 2007
That the Cowboys decided to release first-year kicker Carlos Martinez on Wednesday was pretty predictable after they spent a sixth-round pick over the weekend on Arizona kicker Nick Folk - the first kicker the Cowboys have drafted since 1987 when they took Texas' Jeff Ward in the 11th round. Martinez, after several workouts with the Cowboys last season, finally was signed to the practice squad on Nov. 30, and then re-signed once the season was completed as a futures free agent. But the Cowboys were able to re-sign Martin Gramatica in free agency, and the drafting of Folk left them with three kickers - one too many. |
|
March 5, 2007
The Cowboys have signed kicker Martin Gramatica to a two-year contract on Monday, although terms of the deal were not disclosed. Gramatica was one of the most consistent kickers in the league from 1999-2004 before injuries forced him out of action in 2005 and most of last year before he joined the Cowboys in early December. Gramatica quickly left his mark after the Cowboys released an inconsistent Mike Vanderjagt. He hit three field goals in his Cowboys debut, including a game-winning 46-yard kick to beat the Giants at the Meadowlands. He ended the season making 6-of-8 field goal attempts. |
|
January 6, 2007
Rookie wide receiver Miles Austin became the first player in Cowboys history to return a kickoff for a touchdown in the playoffs. His 93-yard runback gave the Cowboys a 17-13 lead after Seattle had gone in front with a touchdown pass. Austin took over returning kickoffs midway through the season after Tyson Thompson (broken fibula) got injured Oct. 8 and Philadelphia. The Cowboys tried a few different returning options before settling on Austin, who ended up tied with Thompson with a 26.0 return average. Austin's 93-yard return is also the longest runback in Cowboys playoff history, surpassing Rod Hill's 89-yard return against Green Bay in 1982. Austin's 136 kickoff return yards for the game is the second-most in club history, trialing only Michael Bates' 172 yards set against Carolina in 2003.
|
|
December 31, 2006
Cowboys punter Mat McBriar had more than just a Pro Bowl season. He finished the year with a NFL-best 48.2 yard gross average, setting a new club record, smashing Sam Baker's 1962 mark of 45.4 yards per kick. . . His net average of 38.6 yards per punt is the best by a Cowboys punter since Baker averaged 40.6 in 1963.
|
|
December 19, 2006
Mat McBriar becomes just the third Cowboys punter and first since Ron Widby in 1971 to make the Pro Bowl. The third-year pro who played his college ball at the University of Hawaii, is headed back there in February. He currently leads the NFL with a 48.3 punting average is tied with Buffalo's Brian Moorman, who was also named to the Pro Bowl for the AFC, in net punting average at 39.5 yards per punt.
|
|
December 3, 2006
Cowboys kicker Martin Gramatica made the team's first game-winning field goal since Jose Cortez, coincidentally made a 46-yard kick against the Giants, in overtime last season. The last time the Cowboys won the game on the final play of regulation occurred in 2002 when Billy Cundiff made a 49-yard field goal to beat the Rams in 2002.
|
|
December 1, 2006
While this is the second time Martin Gramatica will kick at Giants Stadium this season, it's only the second time in his entire career as well. While playing with the Buccaneers for six years, Tampa Bay never played a regular-season or playoff game on the road against the Giants or Jets, who both play home games at Giants Stadium. However, Gramatica did make his only field goal attempt (20 yards) this year while playing for the Colts against the Jets. Gramatica has made 138-of-180 career field goal attempts.
|
|
November 22, 2006
Cowboys punter Mat McBriar became the second player in as many weeks to earn NFC Player of the Week honors.
The third-year punter was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance in last Sunday's 21-14 win over the Colts at Texas Stadium. McBriar punted three times for a 46.7 yard average and placed two punts inside the Colts' 20, posting a net average of 40.0 yards per punt. McBriar had a 63-yard punt in the third quarter, his seventh punt of 60 yards or more this season. Among his 40 punts this year, McBriar has 19 of at least 50 yards, including a 75-yard punt against the Texans last month.
|
|
November 3, 2006
Skyler Green, a fourth-round draft pick selected last April to bolster the return game, should get the opportunity this Sunday in Washington. The rookie who was moved from wide receiver to running back, could also get some playing time in the backfield this week as well. Green was moved up from the practice squad to the active roster before the Oct. 15 game against Houston, but has been inactive for the last two games. The season-ending injury to Tyson Thompson, the NFC's leading kickoff returner (26.0 yard average) will open the door for Green, who could also handle the punt return duties, too.
|
|
October 31, 2006
Rookie wide receiver Sam Hurd was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his efforts in Sunday's win over Carolina. Hurd forced and recovered a key fumble by Panthers fullback Brad Hoover on a fourth-quarter kickoff. Hurd recovered the ball at the Carolina 14, with the Cowboys trailing 14-13. The turnover set up a touchdown run from Julius Jones on the next play. Hurd, an undrafted rookie from Northern Illinois, finished the game with two special teams tackles, along with the forced fumble and fumble recovery.
|
|
October 29, 2006
Cowboys running back Tyson Thompson will be lost for several weeks and possibly the rest of the season after suffering a broken ankle Sunday night while returning a second-quarter kickoff. Trailing 14-0, the Cowboys benefited from Thompsons 37-yard kickoff return, plus a 15-yard personal foul penalty on two Panthers who hit Thompson out of bounds. Unfortunately for Thompson, that is when he suffered the injury. Veteran cornerback Aaron Glenn replaced Thompson on the second-half kickoff, returning the ball 14 yards.
|
|
October 17, 2006
The Cowboys have a pair of statistical leaders this week on special teams, including running back Tyson Thompson, whose 26.4 kickoff return average leads the NFC and ranks fourth in the league . . . Punter Mat McBriar leads the entire NFL in punting average at 51.8 and his 41.8 net average is first in the NFC and ranks second in the league.
|
|
October 15, 2006
In the first game of the season with just one kicker on the roster, Mike Vanderjagt had a busy day, hitting two short field goals and kicking off seven more times. Most of Vanderjagt's kickoffs went inside the 10, and he did have one touchback although it came off a 15-yard penalty on the Texans, letting him kickoff from the Dallas 45. Vanderjagt is now 6-of-7 on field goal attempts this season.
|
|
October 10, 2006
Cowboys punter Mat McBriar had a costly fumble in the first quarter Sunday in Philly, which led to an early Eagles touchdown. But he continues to lead the NFL in punting average at 50.7 yards a kick. McBriar also leads the NFC (third in the NFL) with his 40.9 net average. With another 61-yard punt Sunday, McBriar now has four punts of 60 yards or more this season.
|
|
October 6, 2006
Knowing field position will be important against the Eagles, Bill Parcells said Mike Vanderjagt and Shaun Suisham will make the trip to Philadelphia. Parcells said he will decide by game time if both dress or if Vanderjagt just dresses. |
|
October 1, 2006
Cowboys kicker Mike Vanderjagt handled all of the kicking duties Sunday in Tennessee, hitting 1-of-2 on field goals, including a 26-yard miss in the second quarter. Vanderjagt struggled a bit on his kickoffs, although he did record one touchback. Head coach Bill Parcells said Vanderjagt was "fair" on kickoff and also said he might reconsider taking just one kicker to the game. Shaun Suisham was inactive for Sunday's game after handling the kickoff duties in the first two games.
|
|
September 28, 2006
Parcells said he will decide over the weekend whether he'll dress two kickers for the second consecutive game. "That'll be a game-time (decision) as well," Parcells said. Parcells isn't partial to carrying two kickers on his game-day roster, but veteran Mike Vanderjagt and Shaun Suisham split place kicks and kickoffs in Week 2 against the Redskins because Parcells thought inclement weather could become a factor. It wasn't, but Suisham continued to perform well on kickoffs and Vanderjagt, who was hampered by a sore groin muscle throughout the summer, drilled field-goal attempts from 26 and 50 yards.
|
|
September 25, 2006
Despite just three returns, Cowboys cornerback Terence Newman ranks second in the NFC with a 13.3 punt return average. Newman had 40 return yards, including a 16-yard runback last week against the Redskins in spot-duty. Cowboys head coach Bill Parcells said he expects Newman to return punts along with Patrick Crayton and Jamaica Rector.
|
|
September 15, 2006
Cowboys kicker Mike Vanderjagt was mum on Friday when asked what his status will be for Sunday's game against the Redskins. The veteran kicker, who was inactive for last week's game in Jacksonville, said he has practiced all week - both field goals and kickoffs - but did not confirm if he would make his Cowboys debut against Washington. Vanderjagt seemed frustrated with the entire situation, but chose not to elaborate. Parcells said Friday he has not decided on his kicking plans for the game. The coach said Thursday he might consider taking both Vanderjagt and Shaun Suisham, who handled all of the kicking duties last week against the Jaguars.
|
|
September 11, 2006
The biggest story regarding the kicking game was obviously Shaun Suisham kicking in the opening over Mike Vanderjagt, who has been bothered by a groin injury. Suisham performed well on kickoffs, but did miss a key 36-yard field goal attempt that hit the right upright . . . Punter Mat McBriar had a solid afternoon, averaging 53.2 yards on his five punts, including a 62-yard and another 61-yarder.
|
|
September 3, 2006
The Cowboys have said all along they didn't want to keep two place-kickers, but with Mike Vanderjagt missing two easy kicks in overtime Thursday night, coupled with the injury concerns with his groin, they have no choice but to keep Shaun Suisham, who has stellar on kickoffs.
|
|
September 1, 2006
Cowboys kicker Mike Vanderjagt was brought in to make clutch field goals. But although it was just a preseason game, the veteran kicker missed two field goals in overtime that would've given the Cowboys a win over the Vikings Thursday night. Instead, the Cowboys settled for a 10-10 tie and will enter the regular season with many question marks regarding their kicking situation.
Vanderjagt did kick off for the first time, sending one kickoff to the 11-yard line to begin the second half.
|
|
August 29, 2006
The Cowboys released kicker Tyler Fredrickson, who also could punt and kick off. But the club decided to stick with Shaun Suisham and Mike Vanderjagt for now as place-kicker, and Mat McBriar as the punter. Fredrickson, who joined the Cowboys in the middle of training camp, made a 47-yard field goal against the Saints in preseason. |
|
August 22, 2006
Kicker Mike Vanderjagt did not play Monday night against the Saints after not feeling 100 percent during warm-ups before the game. Vanderjagt said his groin was sore, but he could have played if the game counted. "I just wasn't comfortable enough," said Vanderjagt, who has been nursing a sore groin now for nearly two weeks. "If it was a regular season game . . . at this point, there's no point in rushing back if you're not 100 percent. Hopefully it's ready by Saturday so I can kick off and kick field goals." |
|
July 31, 2006
Not only does Bill Parcells want Terence Newman to return some punts this year in spot duty, but he wants his starting cornerback to take the task a little more serious this year. And not that Newman was slacking off on the job last year, but Parcells said a little more focus and practice might lead to even better things this season. "I told him I want him to take it a little more seriously," Parcells said. "I don't want it to be something he just practices. I want him to start really paying attention to it. I said, 'I'm not going to wear you out doing this. I'm going to spot you in there. When I do I want you to be able to do it well.' "He's probably the most dedicated player I've got. When you give him stuff to do he takes it very seriously." The Cowboys will likely give fourth-round pick Skyler Green the chance to be the regular punt return specialist. Newman will probably get a few turns when opposing teams are backed up near its end zone when the Cowboys can be more aggressive on their returns. Newman had just 10 returns last year for 55 yards, including a 26-yard runback, the longest for the Cowboys last season. |
|
July 30, 2006
The Cowboys signed punter Tyler Fredrickson following a workout Sunday. Fredrickson, a former University of California standout from Santa Barbara, was released by the Denver Broncos last week. Fredrickson gives the Cowboys another punter to spell Mat McBriar in practice, but while doing so, he will have the opportunity to demonstrate his kick-off ability should the club enter the kickoff specialist market if veteran kicker Mike Vanderjagt can't handle those duties. |
|
March 23, 2006
The Cowboys signed their fifth exclusive-rights free agent on Thursday, adding deep snapper L.P. Ladouceur, who signed his one-year, $425,000 tender offer. Ladouceur joined the Cowboys three games into the regular season, after the club released an erratic Jon Condo. Ladouceur finished the season without any botched snaps and should head into training camp as the expected snapper once again.
|
|
March 2, 2006
The Cowboys have released kicker Brett Visintainer, who went to training camp last year training camp with the club. Since head coach Bill Parcells and Jerry Jones have expressed interest in pursuing one of several big-name free agent kickers this off-season, Visintainer was expendable. |
|
February 15, 2006
Cowboys punter Mat McBriar is the first free agent to re-sign with the club this off-season. McBriar, one of seven exclusive-rights free agents, signed his one-year minimum deal of $385,000 on Monday. Along with the six other exclusive rights free agents, the Cowboys have three restricted free agents (Keith Davis, Scott Shanle and Torrin Tucker), along with seven unrestricted free agents, including tight end Dan Campbell and offensive lineman Andre Gurode.
|
|
February 13, 2006
The Cowboys re-signed punter Mat McBriar to a one-year contract. McBriar spent his first two seasons in the NFL punting for the Cowboys. His overall average increased slightly last season, and his six punts inside the 20-yard line indicate marked improvement from the Australian. |
|
December 28, 2005
The Cowboys will count on rookie kicker Shaun Suisham to produce in the biggest game of the season. Suisham was re-signed Monday after the team released inconsistent kicker Billy Cundiff. "I'm excited but at the same time I don't feel wide-eyed coming in here or anything," Suisham said. "I just feel very comfortable. I had a good practice today and it feels good to be back."
|
|
December 5, 2005
Evidently rookie Tyson Thompson's kick-off return performance left a lot to be desired, according to the head coach.
"We got one little (return) yesterday that was helpful," Parcells said of Terence Newman's 26-yard punt return, "but we didn't do a great job on kickoff returns yesterday." Thompson averaged 16.5 yards on four returns, and their own 30 was the best field position the Cowboys had after a kickoff. At times, Thompson has run straight up the middle of the field rather than eluding tacklers. He also irritated the head coach by letting at least two short kick offs Sunday bounce before fielding them on one hop. Parcells is adamant about his kick-off returner running up hard to catch the kick in the air, no matter what. Parcells said last week he told Aaron Glenn to stay ready for return duty.
|
|
November 19, 2005
After an impressive workout on Friday here at Valley Ranch, the Cowboys re-signed Billy Cundiff Saturday afternoon and promptly released rookie kicker Shaun Suisham, who has handled the kicking duties for the Cowboys for the last two games. Cundiff now takes over and will be ready for Sunday's game with the Lions (Noon, CST) at Texas Stadium. Cundiff re-signed to a one-year deal worth the fourth-year minimum $455,000, although the kicker will receive less than half of that total since only seven games remain in the regular season.
|
|
November 16, 2005
Shaun Suisham had two kickoffs land at the Eagles' 10- and 13-yard line, but Parcells gave his rookie kicker some encouragement Wednesday. "I think this kid just has to practice his kickoffs because when he hits it real solid, he's capable of putting the ball down there a pretty good ways," Parcells said.
|
|
October 10, 2005
Kicker Jose Cortez helped his job security by hitting all four of his field-goal attempts against the Eagles. Cortez made kicks of 28, 33, 37 and 45 yards and was rather consistent on his kickoffs with two touchbacks. "I told him, 'You're doing a good job. Keep up the good work,'" Parcells said. "He's kicking off pretty well. He made those kicks. Pretty good job. I'm pretty happy about it." . . . The Cowboys seem to be happy enough with Cortez to release rookie kicker Scott Suisham from the practice squad. The Cowboys needed the spot to re-sign running back Keylon Kincade.
|
|
October 3, 2005
Cowboys head coach Bill Parcells said rookie L.P. Ladouceur did "adequately" Sunday at Oakland in his first game as the club's deep snapper. Ladouceur, a native of Montreal who played at the University of California, was signed last Wednesday when the Cowboys decided to release Jon Condo, another rookie free agent who won the job in training camp. Condo struggled in back-to-back games against the Redskins and 49ers.
Ladacuer_150.jpg
|
|
September 14, 2005
Keith Davis, who won the starting free safety job in preseason, said he will be back on kickoff coverage Monday night against the Redskins. The Cowboys allowed 162 yards on five returns (32.4 avg.) against the Chargers, including four returns for 146 yards (36.5) by rookie running back Darren Sproles. Davis finished second on the team with 21 special teams tackles last season and was a key contributor on the Cowboys' kickoff coverage unit, which led the league with a 17.5-yard return average.
|
|
September 8, 2005
Cowboys head coach Bill Parcells said Thursday that Patrick Crayton, who beat out Quincy Morgan for the No. 3 receiver spot in preseason, also will handle most of the punt returns against San Diego. Parcells added that Crayton also will take over the upback position on the punt team, which is responsible for reading the opposing team's formation and setting the Cowboys' blocking assignments.
|
|
September 7, 2005
Cowboys head coach Bill Parcells has struggled finding an "explosive" kick returner during his first two seasons in Dallas. The Cowboys haven't returned anything for a touchdown in the past two season besides an onside kick. Parcells prefers his kick returners to be thicker players built like running backs. He has used veteran Anthony Thomas and rookies Tyson Thompson and Marion Barber, but he also plans to use wide receiver Terrance Copper and possibly veteran cornerback Aaron Glenn.
|
|
August 31, 2005
Cowboys head coach Bill Parcells hopes to give rookie kicker Nick Novak plenty of chances against the Jaguars. The Cowboys claimed Nick Novak off waivers from the Chicago Bears on Tuesday and also put in a claim for Tyler Jones, who was one of 13 players released by the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. Parcells said Jose Cortez, who missed a 31-yard field goal attempt last Saturday against Houston, might get one attempt against the Jaguars.
|
|
August 30, 2005
The Cowboys claimed rookie kicker Nick Novak off waivers Tuesday and will likely get a good look at him in Thursday's preseason finale against the Jaguars. Novak, who will battle Jose Cortez for the kicking job, finished his four-year career at Maryland as the ACC's all-time leading scorer and is tied for fifth in NCAA Division I-A history with 393 career points. Novak (6-0, 190) made 80-of-107 field goals at Maryland and all but six of his 159 extra-point attempts. Novak was three-of-three on field goals in preseason with the Bears and also split time on kickoffs during the first two preseason games.
|
|
August 29, 2005
The Cowboys thought they had a trade lined up to bring in another kicker to compete with Jose Cortez, but the trade for Jacksonville's Seth Marler fell through after a physical revealed a slight abdominal injury. Cortez also struggled on field goals in Saturday's preseason game against the Texans, going 0-1 on a 31-yard attempt and having another attempt turn sour on a botched hold by Tony Romo. Parcells said the team is still looking at that position but doesn't have another deal lined up.
|
|
August 26, 2005
The Cowboys cleared kicker Billy Cundiff off their injured reserve on Friday (8-26), coming to a six-week injury settlement, but also added a kicker to the roster by trading a conditional 2006 seventh-round draft choice for Jacksonville's Seth Marler. The Cowboys are anticipating Marler to arrive in time to kick in Saturday night's preseason game against Houston, providing his passes his physical. Head coach Bill Parcells, though, said the kicking job is Jose Cortez' to lose. Cortez heads into the third preseason game a perfect 4-for-4 in the first two preseason games. |
|
August 15, 2005
The Cowboys appear to have four players capable of playing the gunner position on special teams, which head coach Bill Parcells said Monday is a rarity in the NFL. Keith Davis played the role last season, but could be limited on special teams this season if he starts at free safety. Tom Crowder, a special-teams standout in college, also has done well at gunner so far in camp, and even blocked a punt against Arizona on Saturday. Jacques Reeves and Terrance Copper have also proven themselves at gunner, Parcells said.
|
|
August 11, 2005
Mat McBriar is the lone punter out on the roster following the release of Clinton Greathouse last week, meaning the second-year player will get all the practice repetitions unless another punter is brought in to share the load. Head coach Bill Parcells addressed the team's punting situation during Thursday's press conference, saying, "I think (McBriar) has a chance to be a really good punter." Parcells commented on McBriar's exceptional leg strength, but said special teams coach Bruce DeHaven is working with McBriar on becoming more consistent on getting longer hang-times on his punts.
|
|
August 6, 2005
The Cowboys made a switch at kicker Saturday, signing five-year veteran Jose Cortez and releasing rookie Brett Visintainer. Cortez, who worked out for the Cowboys along with seven-year veteran Wade Richey shortly after Saturday morning's walkthrough, will compete against Billy Cundiff to win the Cowboys' kicking job. Cundiff converted 2-of-3 field goal attempts in Saturday's scrimmage, missing from 44 yards and connecting from 40 and 28 yards. Cundiff connected on his lone extra-point attempt. Cortez, a career 71.9-percent kicker, played the final eight games last season as a kickoff specialist with Minnesota. Cortez kicked for Cowboys special teams coach Bruce DeHaven with San Francisco in 2001, making 72 percent of his kicks. He is adequate in the mid-range game but has struggled in his career on field goal attempts over 40 yards. Visintainer had struggled with his accuracy early in camp and was not expected to play in Saturday's scrimmage prior to his release because of a back injury, Parcells said.
|
|
August 2, 2005
The temperatures dipped into the 60's for the late-afternoon practice Monday night, but it didn't seem to affect punter Mat McBriar. The second-year pro was booming punts all over the field, consistently busting out 50 and 60-yard kicks. McBriar kept moving back punt returners Terence Newman, Zuriel Smith and Woody Dantzler, who saw several punts sail over their heads. McBriar's competition, rookie Clinton Greathouse also a had few big punts, but wasn't as consistent, shanking a few kicks to the side as well.
|
|
April 20, 2005
The Cowboys re-signed kicker Billy Cundiff to another one-year contract on Wednesday, giving him the opportunity to win the job for the fourth straight season. Cundiff made 20-of-26 field goal attempts last year, along with all 31 of his extra-point tries. Cundiff made all 11 field-goal kicks under 39 yards, but was 9-of-15 on kicks of 40 yards or more.
|
|
April 12, 2005
The Dallas Cowboys signed free agent punter Clinton Greathouse on Tuesday. Greathouse is a 5-10, 221-pound punter from Texas Tech. He originally signed with Baltimore as a rookie free agent in 2004 but was released prior to the start of the season. In three seasons as the Red Raiders punter, Greathouse averaged 39.7 yards-per-punt on 131 career kicks. Greathouse joins Mat McBriar as the two punters currently on the Cowboys roster. |
|
March 4, 2005
The Cowboys signed their first Exclusive Rights Free Agent on Friday, inking punter Mat McBriar for another year. In his first full season in the NFL, McBriar was solid in 2004, averaging 42.4 yards per punt, with a long of 68 yards. The Cowboys have four other ERFA to sign and expect to do so in the next two weeks. |
|
January 27, 2005
Cowboys long snapper Jeff Robinson was added to the NFC Pro Bowl roster Thursday as a need player, selected by Falcons head coach Jim Mora Jr. Robinson, a 12-year veteran, finished his third season with the Cowboys as a consistent snapper on field goals, extra points and punts. Robinson even played sparingly as a tight end on goal-line situations, catching two passes - both for touchdowns. Robinson brings the Cowboys' total to five players headed to the Pro Bowl, as he joins guard Larry Allen, tight end Jason Witten, safety Roy Williams and defensive tackle La'Roi Glover. Both Allen and Glover will be starting for the NFC squad. |
|
December 20, 2004
Despite a bad snap from center, Parcells offered no excuses for kicker Billy Cundiff in his post-game press conference after Cundiff missed a 46-yard field goal attempt with 6:09 left in the fourth quarter. Cundiff's miss gave the Eagles possession at their own 36. Nine plays later, running back Dorsey Levens scored the game-winning touchdown with 1:57 remaining.
|
|
October 25, 2004
The Cowboys struggled on defense and the offense was often sporadic against the Packers, but head coach Bill Parcells made sure the special teams units received its share of blame, too. Parcells said the kickoff team had its worst showing of the season, with the Cowboys averaging just 11.3 yards on six returns . . . And Parcells wasn't too happy with both of his kickers, especially Billy Cundiff, who had several kickoffs land at the 20-yard line . . . And punter Mat McBriar
|
|
October 7, 2004
With cornerback Jacques Reeves expected to play more at cornerback, possibly even start against the Giants, the Cowboys are looking for a new kickoff returner, to team up with ReShard Lee. Both Reeves and Lee have handled the kickoffs so far, but Bill Parcells said Thursday the Cowboys could use Nate Jones or Bruce Thornton, or possibly even someone off the practice squad, which could include rookie wide receiver Patrick Crayton. |
|
September 30, 2004
After Mat McBriar botched a field goal snap in Minnesota, the first-year punter has since been removed from those duties and has been able to focus on just punting. But the Austrailian native hasn't been able to find his groove just yet. After three games, McBriar ranks last in the NFC in punting average at 37.9 yards per punt and is 12th in the conference with a net average of 34.4 . . . Kicker Billy Cundiff had struggled with his short kickoffs, but had three long kicks Monday night in Washington, including his first career touchback. |
|
September 14, 2004
Before the season, Parcells decided against his career-long philosophy of using backup quarterbacks as place holders and gave those duties to punter Mat McBriar. One botched snap later, Parcells is through experimenting. "We're not gonna do that anymore. We're gonna go with the quarterback," Parcells said, one day after McBriar's bobbled snap and subsequent intentional grounding penalty cost the Cowboys a second-quarter field goal. Parcells has used his backup quarterback as the place holder his entire coaching career, but settled on McBriar partly because he had more practice opportunities in training camp. Now it appears Tony Romo will take over those responsibilities for McBriar, who averaged 32.7 yards per punt on three attempts in his NFL debut. |
|
September 9, 2004
For the third straight year, the Cowboys will kick off the regular season with Billy Cundiff as the team's place-kicker. But for the first time, he will handle both field goals and extra points, as well as the kickoff duties. Once the Cowboys released Matt Bryant last week after he suffered a hamstring injury, Cundiff has survived that test, but will have the pressure on during the early part of the season to perform. Don't think the Cowboys will lose touch with Bryant, or any other veteran kicker just yet . . . Punter Mat McBriar will not only anticipate his first punt in an NFL game, but he will be the holder for Cundiff on field goal attempts.
|
|
August 24, 2004
Billy Cundiff, who made 22-of-29 field goals last season and won at least two games with last-minute field goals, has made only one of his two attempts in the preseason. Meanwhile, newly-signed kicker Matt Bryant made both of his kicks Saturday in Oakland and seems to be pushing Parcells into a tough decision. One the coach said needs to be made shortly.
"Well, Billy has been a little inconsistent here at camp," Parcells said. "But he kicked pretty well for me last year, and I've got that in my mind. And Bryant, he reminds me a lot of guys I used to have. But I think both guys will land on their feet."
Cundiff could have the advantage, not just because of his experience last year, but he might be a more consistent kick off specialist than Bryant. |
|
August 22, 2004
The kicking battle might be heating up, especially after Matt Bryant made both of his field goal attempts, while Billy Cundiff also connected on his only kick of the game . . . Punter Mat McBriar averaged 42.5 yards on two punts, but did have a 53-yarder, his second punt of more than 50 yards during the preseason . . . Second-year wide receiver Zuriel Smith didn't play much against Houston, but made the most of his first opportunity Saturday night, returning a kickoff 55 yards, setting up an early Bryant field goal.
|
|
August 15, 2004
Heading into Saturday night's game, Mat McBriar had the slight advantage on Ryan Flinn for the punting job, and McBriar didn't do anything to change that after the game. The first-year punter, and native Australian, averaged 46.7 yards per punt, including a booming 58-yarder in the first quarter . . . Flinn had just two punts for 62 yards (31.0 average), including one punt that was deflected at the line of scrimmage . . . Kicker Billy Cundiff missed a 46-yard field goal attempt in the third quarter . . . In the return game, rookie Patrick Crayton had four punt returns for 52 yards.
|
|
August 11, 2004
Wednesday, the Cowboys released kicker Jonathon Ruffin, who spent the spring in NFL Europe. The moved allowed the Cowboys to signed former Giants kicker Matt Bryant, who made a name for himself around the Cowboys last season. It was Bryant in last season's Monday Night game in New York who kicked off out-of-bounds at the one-yard line with 11 seconds on the clock with the Giants having just taken a 32-29 lead. That gave the Cowboys the ball on their 40-yard line, where quarterback Quincy Carter threw a 26-yard pass to wide receiver Antonio Bryant to put the team in field-goal position. Kicker Billy Cundiff hit a 52-yard field goal to tie the game, and then won the game in overtime on another Cundiff field goal.
|
|
August 7, 2004
The Cowboys were able to work on field goal and extra point attempts during Saturday's afternoon scrimmage. Both kickers Billy Cundiff and Jonathan Ruffin each made one of two field-goal attempts. Both punters - Mat McBriar and Ryan Flinn - have been holding . . . Bill Parcells said it's still wide open on the return game, with several players still viable candidates to return punts and kickoffs. Running back Julius Jones may get an expanded role now with Eddie George in the picture. But the club drafted a pair of seventh-round players with return ability in wide receiver Patrick Crayton and cornerback Nate Jones. |
|
June 16, 2004
The Cowboys thought they had fixed their problems at punter last year by re-signing the usually-reliable Toby Gowin. But the seven-year never could work his way out of a season-long slump, forcing his release this March.
Now the Cowboys will go to training camp with two players who have never punted in an NFL game. Mat McBriar and Ryan Flinn have looked impressive in the summer mini-camps, but kicking coach Steve Hoffman won't be convinced until he can see consistency in game-situations. If not, don't be surprised if the Cowboys find another veteran punter just before the season begins.
Cowboys fans are still talking about Billy Cundiff's seven field goals in that overtime win against the Giants. But his overall season was solid, making 23-of-29 field goal attempts. He will compete with Jonathan Ruffin, whom the Cowboys signed and sent to NFL Europe this summer.
The two returners at the end of the season are both gone. Galloway handled the punt returns, while the Cowboys signed veteran Michael Bates to return kickoffs. Bates is still a free agent, and could return to the team before the season begins if the Cowboys fail to find a consistent return specialist.
Zuriel Smith will get the opportunity, along with a host of rookie draft picks. Seventh-round picks Patrick Crayton (NW Oklahoma St.) and Nate Jones (Rutgers) were drafted mainly for their return ability. And don't count out Julius Jones for kickoff returns, especially if he's splitting carries in the offense. |
|
|
|
|
| Recent Reports |
 |
Offensive Line: June 25, 2008 |
|
Offensive Line: June 19, 2008 |
|
Defensive Line: June 17, 2008 |
|
Defensive Line: June 11, 2008 |
|
Quarterbacks: June 5, 2008 |
|
Linebackers: June 4, 2008 |
|
Defensive Backs: May 27, 2008 |
|
Linebackers: May 23, 2008 |
|
Offensive Line: May 14, 2008 |
|
Defensive Backs: May 4, 2008 |
|
|
