Cowboys release K Vanderjagt   

November 27, 2006
IRVING, Texas (Ticker) - Mike Vanderjagt may be the most accurate kicker in NFL history, but he was making Bill Parcells plenty nervous.

The Dallas Cowboys on Monday released Vanderjagt, who has converted 13-of-18 field goals this season.

ESPN and the NFL Network is reporting that Dallas will sign Martin Gramatica to replace Vanderjagt.



Along with missing five field goal attempts, including two against the Indianapolis Colts in a 21-14 win on November 19, Vanderjagt has also been weak on kickoffs.

Parcells, the Cowboys coach, admitted last week that he was "concerned" with Vanderjagt.

The 36-year-old Vanderjagt made 217-of-248 field-goal attempts (87.5 percent) in his eight-year career with the Indianapolis Colts before signing with Dallas last March.

Last season, Vanderjagt made 23-of-25 field goals. However, Vanderjagt did not come through when the Colts needed him most, missing a 46-yard attempt with 17 seconds left in a 21-18 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the divisional playoffs in January.

Gramatica played for the Colts this season when Adam Vinatieri was sidelined with a groin injury. Gramatica is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' all-time leader with 591 points.

The Cowboys went through three kickers last season - Billy Cundiff, Jose Cortez and Shaun Suisham - and had three misses from 38 yards or less.