Cowboys cut Vanderjagt- your thoughts?
That this was going to be some kind of Brokeback Mountain thread?
I was just wondering what the hell a vanderjagt was.
Maybe he’ll miss a crucial field goal resulting in a win for the Giants.
I’m so desperate for good news for the G-Men, I’ll take anything…anything…even wishful thinking. :rolleyes:
I’m guessing that Parcells is thinking he’d rather have a mediocre talent with confidence than a superstar without.
I think it’s a good move for them. A shaky kicker is a terrible thing to have, and I say this as a fan of a team with a shaky kicker. However, IMO there’s a bunch of guys available better than Martin. I’d’ve signed Owen Pochman.
As a Cowboys fan, it pains me to say this, but I’m sure the Giants will wakeup this week to the fact that the game against the Titans was meaningless. All they have to do is beat the Cowboys this Sunday and they’re back in first place with their season back on track. Playing at home, it would seem to me, gives them a good shot. Should be the game of the season!
It’s definitely an odd state of affairs when the Pats took a rookie kicker over Grammatica who is replacing Vanderjagt. .
That is haveing no confidence in VJ. I suspect that there might have been some kind of personality clash between VJ and Parcells too.
Since no one has mentioned it. . .*Automatica *is one of the best sports nicknames ever. It’s no “He Hate Me”, but it’s a good one.
Parcells didn’t like Vanderjagt’s attitude. It wasn’t just his record on kicks; hell, that’s not any worse than what’s replacing it. It was his unhappiness with kicking off, and, one presumes, his generalized unwillingness to snap into Parcells’ culture for the team.
Someone mentioned that the issue is what support a player has from Jerry Jones. I disagree. The issue is whether or not Parcells has Jerry Jones’ support. Please note that Jones was NOT in favor of the quarterback switch, and said so publicly. IIRC, he said something along the lines that he thought it was a “step backward.” But as long as he is going to support the coach, he will go with the coach’s recommendations on player personnel.
I still say that, if TO ever crosses Parcells badly enough, and Parcells has the Cowboys winning, TO will be out on his ass faster than the news can report it.
Parcells didn’t like Vanderjagt’s attitude. It wasn’t just his record on kicks; hell, that’s not any worse than what’s replacing it. It was his unhappiness with kicking off, and, one presumes, his generalized unwillingness to snap into Parcells’ culture for the team.
Someone mentioned that the issue is what support a player has from Jerry Jones. I disagree. The issue is whether or not Parcells has Jerry Jones’ support. Please note that Jones was NOT in favor of the quarterback switch, and said so publicly. IIRC, he said something along the lines that he thought it was a “step backward.” But as long as he is going to support the coach, he will go with the coach’s recommendations on player personnel.
I still say that, if TO ever crosses Parcells badly enough, and Parcells has the Cowboys winning, TO will be out on his ass faster than the news can report it.
“Your thoughts?”
Ummmm… Yea?
Bill Parcells: "That kick right there gets him on the team for sure.”
Parcells changed kickers mid-season during both his Giants Superbowl title years.
In case anyone missed it, the new Cowboys kicker, Martin Grammatica booted the game winning field goal against the Giants yesterday. Sailed right down the middle of the uprights with plenty of extra distance, too.
The announcers made a big deal of it, but they always turn molehills into mountains.
I sent my Cowboys buddy an email that said “Automatica, BITCH!”
I couldn’t believe he pushed that one wide right in the first half. It was well struck, though, not shanked, so I felt good about him.
Cowboys look like the best team in the NFC right now.
It’s a draw. I dunno, both kickers are suspect. The Cowboys are still paying Vanderjagt some cast, albeit a relatively small amount, to sit at home and do nothing.
It was unnecessary, but very Tuna-like.
Just had to quote that. Sorry, couldn’t help myself. 
Vanderjagt was a head case confidence wise. I think his leg was fine. Kickers just get into ruts where they just can’t make a kick to save their life. Part of that could be influenced by personal interactions with the coach or other players, but most of it I think is a case of the yips. I’m sure that if another team picks him up and he makes a couple of FGs early, he’ll get back in the groove. Kickers can stay around freakin’ forever as long as they don’t psyche themselves out lining up for the try.
Grammatica looked solid on Sunday. 3-4 with two of those coming in the clutch closing seconds of each half. That’s a good start. He’s young–I’m sure his leg will hold out for at least the three years the Cowboys have contracted. We’ll have to see if he can keep focused and confident.