Background on Dan Bailey

[mmohican29]

I appreciate it, Mohican. I haven't a phantom's idea of what kicking conditions are for CFL Ks.

I'm rooting for the Maher. I'm rooting that we made the right decision. I have enjoyed some of the videos that posters have made with clips of Maher booming kicks, and hitting good ones.

Yes, let's hope he's not of the second to last paragraph of your's ilk

There's not a Cowboys fan alive that didn't/doesn't appreciate Bailey. I'm one of those- but sometimes the handwriting on the wall is in Sharpie instead of Crayon.

We don't know if that's the case here. But my eyes and insight told me the Cowboys were playing with fire with Bailey moving forward, so I understand the move.

It's not Maher's fault he kicked well enough to make an NFL roster. Let's hope he kicks like Bailey did for so long. It's all we can do.

This organization doesn't shy away from looking stupid, so I have to understand that as part of the equation too. But I'm a fan and that's that. There isn't crap I can do about it, or any of the other ridiculous FO moves they've made except try to rationalize them from their standpoint. Garrett is still here, we have no backup QB, we have a paper thin OL, we have unproven WRs up and down the roster, we have no safety depth- etc.

To me the above are bigger concerns.

All I'm saying is: this particular decision?

I get it, and am not upset over it. For now.

 

[Trouty]

It's not Maher's fault he kicked well enough to make an NFL roster. Let's hope he kicks like Bailey did for so long. It's all we can do.

I get it, and am not upset over it. For now.

We have to hope, brother.

And yes, there may be bigger issues. May. But then again, if our K is put in the place of winning games for us (highly likely -- did you watch 2017-18 Chargers? They lost several games due to their K - something tells me you get it Aguayo), this could be a major decision on the season.

I do have hope. Eternal optimist, here. Despite our (as you, even, acknowledge) lack of depth and possible (possible?) woes at key FO positions.

 

[exciter]

I have not noticed much discussion of Dan Bailey's herniated disc problem going back to 2016.

It didn't seem to affect his performance too much in 2016. It was his worst season to date based on field goal percentage; however, it was not drastically lower than his previous low. It did drop significantly from 2015 (94%) to 2016 (84%).

In 2017 he missed some games with an injury that was reported as a groin injury. When he returned he was not good including back to back misses in more than 1 game, a 34 yard miss inside ATT stadium and a missed extra point. His percentage for the season was 75%. His career high was 94% and previous low was 84%.

A herniated disc generally does not get better per se. The pain might get better but the condition does not really improve without surgery.

He had some struggles early in the 2018 training camp (see one of the links below).

https://www.___GET_REAL_URL___/amp.star-telegram.com/sports/nfl/dallas-cowboys/article216142590.html

https://www.___GET_REAL_URL___/s/ww...has-herniated-disc-could-require-surgery/amp/

http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/21128342/dallas-cowboys-kicker-dan-bailey-weeks-groin-strain

Eastman did post yesterday saying he was 37 of 42 in Oxnard and was perfect since returning to Frisco. Didn't feel Bailey was even given a chance to compete. The decision was made to keep from paying him and the 57 yarder gave them the cover to do it!

 

[erod]

Apparently Bailey's workout didn't go well with the Jets. They didn't sign him.

Looks like the Cowboys believe he's lost it.

Also heard a rumor that he may have declined a pay cut, which led to his release.

 

[Ranched]

Yawn X's 100

 

[xwalker]

Fact is, none of us know if this was a good move, yet. Not until we see Maher when the games count. Same for Bailey. If Bailey comes back, is signed by a team, and hits 85-90% of his kicks, and Maher hits his CFL avg of mid 70%, we lost. If Bailey is so injured that he goes on unsigned (despite going 44/48 in preseason), or comes back and has yips/permanent damage, we win.

But no one here, based on all the info we have, including some really nice practice and college vids posted, and that one 57 yarder the other day in preseason game 3, know jack-all about Maher, or how he will do. Or if we're a better team, now. He has been a journeyman his whole professional career. His fans from college acknowledge how hot and cold he goes, etc. He isn't some hotshot we've been stashing on the PS or just drafted in the 4th or 5th round.

Also, If the braintrust is pushing this money saved by cutting Dan towards cap rollover to sign a player like EThomas this upcoming offseason, or to secure Tank for the next five years (or both), then that would be something else to consider (as well as try to shore up some depth for this team). Assuming, again, our braintrust trusts Maher to be, at least, similarly productive as Bailey would have been this year. And, also, assuming our braintrust wants to spend some real money in FA. Having space in the CAP is only good when you spend up to, or close to, the CAP-ceiling. Otherwise, "yay, Jerry saved MoNEy!"

We need money -- even with the reported 50M in cap space we'll have when we shed the dead money from Romo/etc -- we need it to upgrade S and to re-sign Tank. I hope we target ET hard in FA if we don't get him before then. Even Belichick, whom many here keep citing (do any of you think Belichick roles into a football season with Maher as his K?), will use money saved to sign premium FA talent. Gilmore is his latest.

With all that said, if Bailey is still good, and Maher hits sub-80%, this is bad. If Bailey is hurt/yips/regression and Maher is all of a sudden a good K during games that matter, we win. We shall see. We cannot afford to have a sub-80-85% K this year.

If Bailey had zero health issues and didn't struggle last season, I don't think they would have cut him just to save cap dollars.

The biggest issue is that his salary would be guaranteed if he was on the roster for game 1. If he struggled and they needed to replace him, he would get the entire salary if cut.

If the salary was NOT guaranteed, then they could cut him with the option to bring him back if he recovered from an injury.

 

[CyberB0b]

I don't mind that they cut him, but Maher was a mediocre kicker in the CFL with no NFL experience. Seems like a huge gamble with a ball control offense, where the kicker is going to play a huge role.

 

[guag]

Right, I as will many other fans will be very nervous on every FG or PAT for awhile. Until he proves himself.

Honestly this was going to be the case for me with Bailey anyway.