Top > Sport > 2006 > November > 2006-11-30

Cowboys` kicker gets the boot

The Dallas Cowboys released place kicker Mike Vanderjagt on Monday. The Canadian native is considered the NFL`s most accurate kicker. He was signed last March for a lucrative contract, but has never gained Coach Bill Parcells` confidence. The Cowboys signed former Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicker Martin Gramatica as his replacement.

Vanderjagt, 36, has struggled this year, making only 13 of his 18 field goal attempts, far less than his 86.5% career average and far less than his contract justified. His contract pays him $5.4 million over three years. Vanderjagt holds NFL records for consecutive field goals made and the best percentage over a career.

His miss on a game winning kick for the colts last year against the Pittsburgh Steelers has led for his release from the team, and paved his way to Dallas. He will now have to look for a new club to play for. His agent believes that would not be difficult. "He`s a premier kicker in the league who`s been going through a few things that he hadn`t gone through before in his career," he said. He obviously holds the kicker in higher esteem than former team-mate Peyton Manning, who in the past labelled Vanderjagt an "idiot kicker."