DC.com - How Much Money On Brett Maher?

[Alexander]

FRISCO, Texas – It’s safe to say we’ll be paying attention to the kickers this summer.

For so many years the position was a foregone conclusion. Yes, the Cowboys would always bring in a kicker to help spell Dan Bailey, but that precious roster spot was always a lock.

Until it wasn’t.

We know how that story played out. Brett Maher had a sensational preseason, prompting the Cowboys’ stunning decision to release Bailey last summer. And Maher justified the decision, nailing 16 consecutive kicks during the first half of the season.

The back stretch saw highs and lows. Maher had some amazing moments, hitting multiple game winners, not to mention long kicks from as far as 62 yards out. He also struggled from close ranger, with multiple misses from inside 40 yards and a missed extra point.


Which begs the question, which Brett Maher are the Cowboys getting in 2019?


https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/13-how-much-money-on-brett-maher
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Phillips, Draper, Broaddus and Helman are slightly concerned but nearly not as much as they should be.

The Cowboys are really unnecessarily comfortable with Maher. A quality FG kicker is always important when your head coach plays for FGs more than for touchdowns half the time.

I certainly hope they are at least planning on what to do if he gets off to a shaky camp and preseason.

They should have brought in a UDFA and it is incredible they would not even consider Matt Bryant.

 

[Stash]

FRISCO, Texas – It’s safe to say we’ll be paying attention to the kickers this summer.

For so many years the position was a foregone conclusion. Yes, the Cowboys would always bring in a kicker to help spell Dan Bailey, but that precious roster spot was always a lock.

Until it wasn’t.

We know how that story played out. Brett Maher had a sensational preseason, prompting the Cowboys’ stunning decision to release Bailey last summer. And Maher justified the decision, nailing 16 consecutive kicks during the first half of the season.

The back stretch saw highs and lows. Maher had some amazing moments, hitting multiple game winners, not to mention long kicks from as far as 62 yards out. He also struggled from close ranger, with multiple misses from inside 40 yards and a missed extra point.


Which begs the question, which Brett Maher are the Cowboys getting in 2019?


https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/13-how-much-money-on-brett-maher
----

Phillips, Draper, Broaddus and Helman are slightly concerned but nearly not as much as they should be.

The Cowboys are really unnecessarily comfortable with Maher. A quality FG kicker is always important when your head coach plays for FGs more than for touchdowns half the time.

I certainly hope they are at least planning on what to do if he gets off to a shaky camp and preseason.

They should have brought in a UDFA and it is incredible they would not even consider Matt Bryant.

I see two positions that can potentially derail this team and I'm surprised that neither seems to be being challenged - kicker and backup quarterback. If things go poorly with the questionable incumbents, the season can go south in a hurry.

 

[glimmerman]

I see two positions that can potentially derail this team and I'm surprised that neither seems to be being challenged - kicker and backup quarterback. If things go poorly with the questionable incumbents, the season can go south in a hurry.

Really want to see our backups this year and there development. If we don’t bring in a hand full of kickers then we are dumb. Maher misses his first attempt and then goes off and I was happy. Then got really shakey and shaken. Looked like it got in his head some. And we saw Folk and Bailey go out like that.

 

[Alexander]

I see two positions that can potentially derail this team and I'm surprised that neither seems to be being challenged - kicker and backup quarterback. If things go poorly with the questionable incumbents, the season can go south in a hurry.

Backup QB is sometimes out of a team's control. There are only so many capable ones to go around and most teams are not equipped to truly develop young QBs.

Now kicker? That is much more manageable, yet some teams get snakebit with the position.

We are not capable of making it with Garrett as our coach without a damn near flawless kicker.

 

[Doomsday101]

I have some concern with Maher. I also know there will be a lot of kickers heading into training camp around the NFL many who will be released not because they did poorly but most teams will only go 1 kicker on their roster. Maher will have camp and pre season to prove himself but at that position you are a missed kick away from having another kicker brought in.

 

[Vinnie2u]

I’m not worried. Jeff Heath got this.

 

[Doomsday101]

Really want to see our backups this year and there development. If we don’t bring in a hand full of kickers then we are dumb. Maher misses his first attempt and then goes off and I was happy. Then got really shakey and shaken. Looked like it got in his head some. And we saw Folk and Bailey go out like that.

I would just as soon give Maher the kicks in camp but as they say every pre season players around the league are not just interviewing for the team they are currently on but interviewing for all other teams. When camps are done there will be some guys out there who will be available.

 

[glimmerman]

I would just as soon give Maher the kicks in camp but as they say every pre season players around the league are not just interviewing for the team they are currently on but interviewing for all other teams. When camps are done there will be some guys out there who will be available.

We usually do a pretty good job scoring a kicker. Maybe he really improves this year. But I want to see it.

 

[Stash]

Backup QB is sometimes out of a team's control. There are only so many capable ones to go around and most teams are not equipped to truly develop young QBs.

I agree that it's not easy, but it's impossible to succeed if you don;t try. And that's what I feel like the Cowboys are doing. They're going with what they have (two guys that have been shaky at best by all reports) with no contingency plan in place if things go badly.

Now kicker? That is much more manageable, yet some teams get snakebit with the position.

We are not capable of making it with Garrett as our coach without a damn near flawless kicker.

Not the conservative way we've played, no.

 

[Doomsday101]

We usually do a pretty good job scoring a kicker. Maybe he really improves this year. But I want to see it.

I do too. I'm just saying Dallas does not need to bring another kicker in, I have no doubts they will be keeping an eye on kickers around the league. At the end of camps many prospect will be released not because they are bad but teams will stick with the vet kicker that they trust. Hope Maher can get the job done but he needs to better with those mid range kicks. He was 5 or 6 from 50 plus but he needs to hit those 35 to 45 yarders consistently.

 

[Doomsday101]

I agree that it's not easy, but it's impossible to succeed if you don;t try. And that's what I feel like the Cowboys are doing. They're going with what they have (two guys that have been shaky at best by all reports) with no contingency plan in place if things go badly.



Not the conservative way we've played, no.

I would feel better if Dallas had a vet behind Dak. We have 2 guys who have never seen much of any live action in reg season and it can be overwhelming for a green QB.

 

[G2]

We have Jeff Heath, we're good.

 

[Alexander]

I have some concern with Maher. I also know there will be a lot of kickers heading into training camp around the NFL many who will be released not because they did poorly but most teams will only go 1 kicker on their roster. Maher will have camp and pre season to prove himself but at that position you are a missed kick away from having another kicker brought in.

He is pretty the only unchallenged player on the entire squad. In general, the Cowboys did a good enough job adding talent to increase the competition level overall.

The DL should have a spirited contest for jobs, so will WR. Even the unchangeable Jeff Heath got somebody to deal with in Iloka.

Maher? Oh, here. This nobody punter who sometimes kicks.

 

[Doomsday101]

He is pretty the only unchallenged player on the entire squad. In general, the Cowboys did a good enough job adding talent to increase the competition level overall.

The DL should have a spirited contest for jobs, so will WR. Even the unchangeable Jeff Heath got somebody to deal with in Iloka.

Maher? Oh, here. This nobody punter who sometimes kicks.

I fully expect Maher to get ample kicks during camp and pre season and as I said there will be kickers on the open market as camps come to a close. Many who are good kickers but are currently on teams that have vet kickers that they will go with. Maher job is not secure he will have to perform because I have no doubts the team will be keeping an eye on kickers.

 

[Alexander]

I fully expect Maher to get ample kicks during camp and pre season and as I said there will be kickers on the open market as camps come to a close. Many who are good kickers but are currently on teams that have vet kickers that they will go with. Maher job is not secure he will have to perform because I have no doubts the team will be keeping an eye on kickers.

Half the teams in the NFL have shaky kicker situations. It is not likely that we will be the only ones looking if Maher struggles. Would have been more prudent to have an option in house just as they did last year when they elected to dump Bailey.

 

[CATCH17]

I like Brett Maher at his current salary.

Once his contract is up I wouldn't resign based on the current info. Just keep going cheap.

 

[Alexander]

I like Brett Maher at his current salary.

Once his contract is up I wouldn't resign based on the current info. Just keep going cheap.

They can't go much cheaper. No returning kicker in the league is paid less than Maher. He is tied with Cleveland's Greg Joseph.

There are current 2nd string kickers that are paid more.

https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/rankings/average/kicker/null/

 

[Doomsday101]

Half the teams in the NFL have shaky kicker situations. It is not likely that we will be the only ones looking if Maher struggles. Would have been more prudent to have an option in house just as they did last year when they elected to dump Bailey.

I think they want Maher to get the kicks and will change if need be. I don't think his spot is overly secure he will still have to earn it.

 

[Stash]

I would feel better if Dallas had a vet behind Dak. We have 2 guys who have never seen much of any live action in reg season and it can be overwhelming for a green QB.

Same here. And I see one guy who doesn't have much in the way of physical skills (Rush) looking worse the longer he's here instead of better, and another in Mike White who seems to have the physical skills but lacks any of the awareness and on-field intelligence required. Neither one being a good option.

 

[Whyjerry]

I see two positions that can potentially derail this team and I'm surprised that neither seems to be being challenged - kicker and backup quarterback. If things go poorly with the questionable incumbents, the season can go south in a hurry.

This^^^

In that order. A bad kicker will lose you a playoff game. Maher is a bad kicker. Backup QB is harder to fill. Dak’s health and toughness has lulled these guys into a false sense of calm. Unpredictable injuries happen. Garrett will absolutely be lost without Dak. It really is a 6-7 win difference.