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Cowboys Bring In Yet Another Kicker

Multiple reports out of the Metroplex confirm that the Dallas Cowboys have signed free agent kicker Shayne Graham.

Shayne Graham is a career 86.0% field goal kicker, kicked for the Cincinnati Bengals from 2003 through 2009 and recorded an 86.6% field goal percentage there. So much for the good news.

Unfortunately, after a Pro Bowl nod in 2005 and a 91.2% field goal rate in 2007, Graham's percentage dropped to 82.1% in 2009 - his lowest rate with the Bengals - and Cincinnati sent him packing after the 2009 season. Graham started bouncing around from team to team before landing in Dallas today.

Star-divide

Graham spent training camp last year in Baltimore, but wasn't able to win the kicking spot against Billy Cundiff, the Ravens All Pro kicker last year. He briefly spent some time on the Giants roster before signing with the Patriots as an injury replacement for the final eight weeks of the 2010 season. He did go 14-for-14 for the Patriots in the season and one playoff game, but was released anyway to make room for Stephen Gostkowski. This year, Graham started training camp with the Redskins, but was released after going 0-for-2 in two preseason games. In effect, Graham lost out to the Redskins' Graham Gano was has the distinction of being the statistically worst starting kicker in the league last year (68.6%).

Graham is now the fifth kicker the Cowboys have had on their roster in 2011, and the fourth kicker on the current roster, a roster depth (if you can call it that) that I've never heard of before on any NFL team. At some point, you've got to start wondering what the Cowboys are doing at the kicker position.

With the amount of teams Graham has bounced around with over the last year, it's unclear how much of an upgrade he could be at the kicker position.

David Buehler is out with a hip injury and Kai Forbath is still on the non-football injury list with no clarity about when and if he'll ever take his first kick for the Cowboys. Right now, that leaves the Cowboys with only rookie Dan Bailey healthy at kicker and makes Graham's signing look potentially like an attempt to provide an extra leg while Buehler and Forbath recover from their injuries. At this point, anything more is probably just wishful thinking.

Of course, having three kickers going into camp is already a pretty unusual move, so Garrett is probably pretty serious about bringing in competition. Graham is a vet, and perhaps this could go somewhere if he proves reliable. And since you don't need big legs on kickoffs anymore, Graham might just be the ticket.

After all, if you were just looking for a leg to help out for a week or two, why not sign some rookie or some nobody?

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don't mind bringing in another kicker ...

but i’ve heard this one kinda sucks tho… sigh…guess you gotta try and kick the tires. see if he’s got anything less. don’t mind the move.

"They need security in the world, Craig!"

by Tuna Helper on Aug 23, 2011 1:58 PM CDT reply actions  

Competition is good

" At some point, you’ve got to start wondering what the Cowboys are doing at the kicker position."

Trying to find a reliable one, it seems to me.

when you don’t feel good about what you have, why not try out some alternatives? may be unusual to try out 4 or 5 different kickers, but I’m all for Graham getting a chance to compete and win the job. He could easily be more reliable than any of the others from what we’ve seen.

"When you want to win a game, you have to teach. When you lose a game, you have to learn."—Tom Landry

by scottmaui on Aug 23, 2011 2:00 PM CDT reply actions  

Kickers are a dime a dozen except for a select few.

Hope he can get it together for us. We need a solid kicker. I can’t even watch when Beuhler comes in the game.

by Cowboy Curtis on Aug 23, 2011 2:03 PM CDT reply actions  

solid kickers aren't a dime a dozen

Every team has a great gameplan until they get Punched in the Mouth!

by DCNation73 on Aug 24, 2011 11:07 AM CDT up reply actions  

I couldn't quite follow this post

but I don’t see how Graham isn’t the in the lead for the kicker position at this point

by ab03 on Aug 23, 2011 2:11 PM CDT reply actions  

good point

He's good, but he's no Danny White!

by Shaymer on Aug 23, 2011 2:17 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions  

i MISS Folk

(at least in the good years)

If he went for a FG I always was confident he’d make it

by Elks83 on Aug 23, 2011 3:11 PM CDT up reply actions  

Jerry screwed up on Folk

He wasnt over his hip injury and they tried to rush him back. It totally wrecked his confidence. They should have put him IR and let him recover until he was ready

by dcsince77 on Aug 23, 2011 3:46 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions   1 recs

There ya go

"Everything is on the One." -- George Clinton, Parliament/Funkadelic

With an improved defense, everything should be on the One.

by Uncle Angus on Aug 23, 2011 7:01 PM CDT up reply actions  

Cundiff

Remind me why we let him go?

by stubabe on Aug 24, 2011 4:20 PM CDT up reply actions  

At some point, you’ve got to start wondering what the Cowboys are doing at the kicker position.

Hoping and praying someone works out.

by strobman on Aug 23, 2011 2:12 PM CDT reply actions  

Here's hoping . . .

Forbath is still my pet cat right now. I hope he comes in soon.

by Hatchetman337 on Aug 23, 2011 2:13 PM CDT reply actions  

This.

I think he’s the best of them all. I wish he was ready to go. Somebody is going to pick up a good young kicker if he gets cut.

"The Angels are like the villain in the movie that isn't dead until he's been stabbed 150 times in the bath tub, yet he still might come back up one more time." - Eric Nadel

by TXHC on Aug 23, 2011 4:41 PM CDT up reply actions  

Kicking

is such a position built on confidence that we don’t know how Graham would have performed if he made that first kick in the game with Redskins.

Jason Garrett=2011 NFL Coach of the Year

by aubatron2011 on Aug 23, 2011 2:14 PM CDT reply actions  

I'd rather have Kris Brown back

Its crazy that we have more former Cowboy kickers than anyone in the league. Folk, Cundiff, Suisham…. Why cant they be that good when they are with us??

by dcsince77 on Aug 23, 2011 2:17 PM CDT via mobile reply actions  

Cundiff is awesome now

Bruce Carter+Sean Lee=BRUCE LEE!!!!

Follow me at my blog
http://chiacrackscowboysblog.wordpress.com/

by Archie Barberio on Aug 23, 2011 2:26 PM CDT up reply actions  

He wasn't bad when we let him go

he was just due for a raise, and somebody convinced Jerry you could just reload every time a kicker’s original contract expired. Maybe Steve Hoffman. But then Bill Parcells got rid of Steve Hoffman, and that’s stuff really hit the fan.

"Everything is on the One." -- George Clinton, Parliament/Funkadelic

With an improved defense, everything should be on the One.

by Uncle Angus on Aug 23, 2011 7:03 PM CDT up reply actions  

You'd think we are finally due for someone else's washout to work for us.

Formerly Pineywoods - different name, same cockeyed view of the world.
Jason Garrett - Lord of Order
Rob Ryan - Lord of Chaos

by Tom Ryle on Aug 23, 2011 2:40 PM CDT up reply actions  

word

Bruce Carter+Sean Lee=BRUCE LEE!!!!

Follow me at my blog
http://chiacrackscowboysblog.wordpress.com/

by Archie Barberio on Aug 23, 2011 3:32 PM CDT up reply actions  

Folk was outstanding.

He just got hurt and they jumped the gun on cutting him. Should have just put him on IR and let him continue rehabbing. It’s clear he wasn’t completely healthy when he came back from his surgery.

"The Angels are like the villain in the movie that isn't dead until he's been stabbed 150 times in the bath tub, yet he still might come back up one more time." - Eric Nadel

by TXHC on Aug 23, 2011 4:43 PM CDT up reply actions  

told you to sign Akers

Bruce Carter+Sean Lee=BRUCE LEE!!!!

Follow me at my blog
http://chiacrackscowboysblog.wordpress.com/

by Archie Barberio on Aug 23, 2011 2:26 PM CDT reply actions  

I was on board with Akers coming here

Akers kicking a game winner to beat Philly woulda been sweet…

by dcsince77 on Aug 23, 2011 2:40 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions  

Too much money.

Residing on the BEast Coast.

DEZ Bryant

by DCyanks21 on Aug 23, 2011 3:31 PM CDT up reply actions  

too much money?

find me what he signed for

Bruce Carter+Sean Lee=BRUCE LEE!!!!

Follow me at my blog
http://chiacrackscowboysblog.wordpress.com/

by Archie Barberio on Aug 23, 2011 3:33 PM CDT up reply actions  

Jimmy K said he wanted too much.

So I’ll say it was too much. haha.

Residing on the BEast Coast.

DEZ Bryant

by DCyanks21 on Aug 23, 2011 3:34 PM CDT up reply actions  

how much is too much for a reliable kicker to solve our kicking issues

thats my point

he signed a 3 year deal with the 49ers, and nowhere to be found is what he signed for

Bruce Carter+Sean Lee=BRUCE LEE!!!!

Follow me at my blog
http://chiacrackscowboysblog.wordpress.com/

by Archie Barberio on Aug 23, 2011 3:37 PM CDT up reply actions  

kinda different situation for us

Bruce Carter+Sean Lee=BRUCE LEE!!!!

Follow me at my blog
http://chiacrackscowboysblog.wordpress.com/

by Archie Barberio on Aug 23, 2011 3:51 PM CDT up reply actions  

They got rid of him because they drafted the best kicker in college football.

"The Angels are like the villain in the movie that isn't dead until he's been stabbed 150 times in the bath tub, yet he still might come back up one more time." - Eric Nadel

by TXHC on Aug 23, 2011 4:45 PM CDT up reply actions  

Oh. lol.

Residing on the BEast Coast.

DEZ Bryant

by DCyanks21 on Aug 23, 2011 4:53 PM CDT up reply actions  

they did draft the best kicker in college but only bc Akers didnt want to come back.

the Eagles disrespected Akers during a time when his kid or wife was serious ill & the Eagles organization decided it was easier to take shots at him for a couple misses then explain the man had bigger problems on his mind then kicking.
 honestly Akers had zero reason in that game but the Eagles didn’t have the class to give him time off even if it was the playoffs.

Every team has a great gameplan until they get Punched in the Mouth!

by DCNation73 on Aug 24, 2011 11:06 AM CDT up reply actions  

Keeping the leg loose

just in case. I haven’t kicked a football in years, but it looks like I’ll have a shot this season. If called, I will be ready.

by freightgod on Aug 23, 2011 2:32 PM CDT reply actions  

Stay loose my friend

we may need you

We're here to win football games. The way to do that is to tell him and to get on him at the right times. I do that when you guys (media) don't see and watch.''

What else makes a strong leader?

"You win,'' Romo said. "You're a very good leader once you win.

"That's' what we're going to do.''

by TARHEEL PAUL on Aug 23, 2011 2:37 PM CDT up reply actions  

Everything and everybody coll Staubach?

We're here to win football games. The way to do that is to tell him and to get on him at the right times. I do that when you guys (media) don't see and watch.''

What else makes a strong leader?

"You win,'' Romo said. "You're a very good leader once you win.

"That's' what we're going to do.''

by TARHEEL PAUL on Aug 23, 2011 2:36 PM CDT up reply actions  

not coll... but meant to check and make sure all is well

We're here to win football games. The way to do that is to tell him and to get on him at the right times. I do that when you guys (media) don't see and watch.''

What else makes a strong leader?

"You win,'' Romo said. "You're a very good leader once you win.

"That's' what we're going to do.''

by TARHEEL PAUL on Aug 23, 2011 2:38 PM CDT up reply actions  

Everything seems ok with family.

My sister-in-laws chimney fell doing some damage in and out of their house but they are ok.

I’ve felt about 4 aftershocks so far. Just had one a minute ago.

The cat is completely freaked out.

by staubachfan on Aug 23, 2011 2:41 PM CDT up reply actions  

Glad everyone is safe.

Just a lot of shimmy shake going on here. Only felt it that one time for a few seconds but that was enough.

We're here to win football games. The way to do that is to tell him and to get on him at the right times. I do that when you guys (media) don't see and watch.''

What else makes a strong leader?

"You win,'' Romo said. "You're a very good leader once you win.

"That's' what we're going to do.''

by TARHEEL PAUL on Aug 23, 2011 2:50 PM CDT up reply actions  

Same in Norfolk

I was lifting and I thought “man that was terrible form on that lst squat”. I’m just glad I didn’t get trapped under one of those little pink dumbells. THAT’S embarrassing.

Don't believe everything you think.

by dunkman on Aug 23, 2011 3:03 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions  

goin' for the big weight eh dunk? lol

"Everything is on the One." -- George Clinton, Parliament/Funkadelic

With an improved defense, everything should be on the One.

by Uncle Angus on Aug 23, 2011 7:05 PM CDT up reply actions  

i live about 45 miles from the center of that earthquake yesterday & it was exciting.

it was a shocker at first but after we realized it wasnt major it was a wild experience.

Every team has a great gameplan until they get Punched in the Mouth!

by DCNation73 on Aug 24, 2011 10:58 AM CDT up reply actions  

I felt it in NY

Bruce Carter+Sean Lee=BRUCE LEE!!!!

Follow me at my blog
http://chiacrackscowboysblog.wordpress.com/

by Archie Barberio on Aug 23, 2011 2:38 PM CDT up reply actions  

I'm in Fredericksburg, a few miles north of Louisa.

Shook the house a bit. Our football practice was just canceled. I thought it was pretty funny when the neighbors walked out and started yelling at the constriction workers fixing my street thinking it was there fault. There’s surprisingly little damage despite being so close to the epicenter.

by DEL1SLE on Aug 23, 2011 2:54 PM CDT up reply actions  

Def felt it in DC

I’m not sure if these office buildings are quake proof

Hey Washington... D.C. stands for Dallas Cowboys

Twitter: @silva918

by Antonio S on Aug 24, 2011 9:24 AM CDT up reply actions  

Signing Shayne Graham was so big time that it shook the earth!

Literally. Also felt it here in NC.

We're here to win football games. The way to do that is to tell him and to get on him at the right times. I do that when you guys (media) don't see and watch.''

What else makes a strong leader?

"You win,'' Romo said. "You're a very good leader once you win.

"That's' what we're going to do.''

by TARHEEL PAUL on Aug 23, 2011 2:36 PM CDT reply actions  

LOL

I felt in NY

Bruce Carter+Sean Lee=BRUCE LEE!!!!

Follow me at my blog
http://chiacrackscowboysblog.wordpress.com/

by Archie Barberio on Aug 23, 2011 2:38 PM CDT up reply actions  

End the Nightmare

There. Look. Under your nose. The solution.
Yeah, under the nose’s tough to see, but it can be done.

Cry 'Havoc!'

by tanstaafl on Aug 23, 2011 2:46 PM CDT reply actions  

sad

Bruce Carter+Sean Lee=BRUCE LEE!!!!

Follow me at my blog
http://chiacrackscowboysblog.wordpress.com/

by Archie Barberio on Aug 23, 2011 3:33 PM CDT up reply actions  

It's a proven fact that Dallas can destroy a perfectly good kicker so

could that mean that they can also take a damaged kicker and make I’m whole, sorta like a double negative being a positive?

This would be a great fanpost for DalaiLuke (karma) or BishopWest (church doctrine).

Don't believe everything you think.

by dunkman on Aug 23, 2011 2:56 PM CDT via mobile reply actions  

*him*

Don't believe everything you think.

by dunkman on Aug 23, 2011 2:59 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions  

nope

see vanderjactass

Tony Romo 2011's League's Most Valuable Player

by thebigham on Aug 23, 2011 3:08 PM CDT up reply actions  

Forget Grahm

Go get Joe Nedney out of retirement!

by Mordregard on Aug 23, 2011 3:11 PM CDT reply actions  

David Beckham.

Residing on the BEast Coast.

DEZ Bryant

by DCyanks21 on Aug 23, 2011 3:34 PM CDT up reply actions  

Isn't Steve Hoffman with Atlanta?

That damn Parcells ran him off and we haven’t had a decent kicker since. (Well, Folk was good for a couple seasons, but then got the yips)

by illcowboy on Aug 23, 2011 3:39 PM CDT up reply actions   1 recs

Folk was fantastic for 2 seasons.

Nailing that 53-yarder against Buffalo twice is one of my favorite Cowboys memories of the past decade. Wish his confidence hadn’t been destroyed by the end of 2009 (that miss against NO that could have iced it was the final straw).

by TheBlueBaron on Aug 23, 2011 4:29 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions  

he left for Atlanta, but has been with the Chiefs for a while now.

by One.Cool.Customer on Aug 23, 2011 5:35 PM CDT up reply actions  

The year we got VdJ

Ryan Longwell was available. That would have solved problems.

by I_miss_Switzer on Aug 23, 2011 4:36 PM CDT reply actions  

Kris Brown

He was signed at the end of last season.

I just don’t understand why they didn’t keep Brown on the roster.

Was he gonna cost too much? Or was there another reason?

Graham is too erratic.

How many times did he cost the Bengals games because he missed chip shots.

In the Skins’ first preseason game he missed two makeable FGs as well.

And this is who Dallas brings in?

Smh.
I

"Treat a person as he is, and he will remain as he is. Treat a person as if he were where he could be and should be, and he will become what he could be and should be." - Jimmy Johnson

by silverblue5 on Aug 23, 2011 4:53 PM CDT reply actions  

I think it was cost.

He was due to make about 900K, I think.

"Everything is on the One." -- George Clinton, Parliament/Funkadelic

With an improved defense, everything should be on the One.

by Uncle Angus on Aug 23, 2011 7:07 PM CDT up reply actions  

Brown is way better then Graham IMO.

but if Graham returns to his old form he would be more then servicable & probably a safer bet then Buehler. unless Buehler can get healthy & show a lot of improvement real soon then it looks like the end of his time in Dallas.

Every team has a great gameplan until they get Punched in the Mouth!

by DCNation73 on Aug 24, 2011 10:56 AM CDT up reply actions  

Is Mike Vanderjagt available?

Ha, just kidding. But it does seem like the kicker position has been neglected by the Cowboys for too long now. You gotta have confidence in your kicker going into a game or else it will effect your entire game plan.

by thetheRedundant on Aug 23, 2011 9:47 PM CDT reply actions  

its sad were back in the position looking for another reliable place kicker.

with Akers on the market that would’ve been solid signing but i really wanted Dallas to draft Henry. Henry is rare breed of kicker with accuracy & distance that doesn’t come around very often. the ShEagles landed themselves a stud for many years to come & hopefully Jerry reaslises just how important a consistent FG kicker is.
 hopefully either Bailey, Forbath or some other young kicker off waivers prove worthy of the job bc i really don’t want any of the scrub vets lurking around for a job. if not then they have no choice expect to put a band aid on this season & draft the top place kicer early in the draft next season.

Every team has a great gameplan until they get Punched in the Mouth!

by DCNation73 on Aug 24, 2011 10:53 AM CDT reply actions  

one man's trash and all that

But this sure looks like a waysted roster spot.

by The Boatman on Aug 24, 2011 1:20 PM CDT reply actions  

Kickers

I’m of the opinion that a reliable kicker (90% inside 40yds, 80% inside 50 yds) is argueably the 2nd or 3rd most important position on the field. Looking at the Dallas losses in the Garrett era (point differential) it is easy to see every kick is CRITICAL. The difference between a W or a L. Only a QB has more opprotunity to be a game changer. If Jerry has problems paying kickers the coaching staff is not doing their job in convincing him that it is money well spent. What’s the price to feel confident that Dallas is going to get points after starting on their 20, move the ball after 3 first downs and send in Mr. Money? That player is INVALUABLE. Bring back Hoffman, intensely evaluate all candidates in EVERY way possible (psychologically), and pay for the best. And if we are fortunate enough to find that “reliable” kicker make it a long term deal. With bonus $.

by stubabe on Aug 24, 2011 4:47 PM CDT reply actions  

Watching the kicking competition at practice earlier I think Shayne Graham has the clear edge.

I still really want to see what Forbath can do, because I still think he’s the best kicker out of the young guys but based on what I saw with my own eyes from Bailey and Graham several hours ago Graham is probably the front runner for the job at this point. He was booming it out of the endzone, nailing it right down the middle of the uprights from every distance up to about 45 yards or so (with plenty of room to spare), he just looked like a better kicker. From what I saw the only missed FG of the entire practice was on a killer play by Sean Lee in which he jumped over the line and blocked Graham’s kick (not really the kicker’s fault in that scenario), but unless I missed something everything was going through the uprights. Graham definitely had significantly more leg though and seemed to be more accurate.

They might as well go ahead and cut Beuhler, there’s really no use for him unless they convert him to some kind of non kicking special teams player or something. Maybe try to squeeze a 7th rounder 5 years from now out of somebody for him but yeah, from what I’ve seen he should probably go ahead and be eliminated from the kicking competition.

"The Angels are like the villain in the movie that isn't dead until he's been stabbed 150 times in the bath tub, yet he still might come back up one more time." - Eric Nadel

by TXHC on Aug 25, 2011 4:08 AM CDT reply actions  

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