The Jets signed former Dallas Cowboys kicker Brett Maher to a reserve/future deal on Tuesday.
The Cowboys released the often erratic Maher earlier in December after he missed 10 field-goal attempts during the season, the most for a kicker in the past four seasons. Maher went 20-30 on field-goal attempts, which was good enough for 66.7 percent. He did not miss an extra point in 36 attempts.
Despite the missed field goals, the Jets’ new kicker does have some impressive leg strength. He is the only kicker in NFL history with three makes of at least 60 yards for his career. One of those kicks came from 63-yards in the Jets’ 24-22 win over the Cowboys in Week 6 of this season.
Last season was much better for Maher, as he connected on 80.6 percent of his field-goal attempts and 97 percent of his extra-point attempts.
Originally Maher signed with the Jets as an undrafted free agent out of the University of Nebraska in 2013. The Jets stuck with veteran kicker Nick Folk instead and subsequently waived Maher. Folk also had come over from the Cowboys before he was a reliable kicker for the Jets. New York is hoping it can fix Maher’s inconsistences, much like it did with Folk.
For 15 games this season, Sam Ficken was the Jets’ kicker, going 19-27 on field goal attempts and 23-26 on extra points. He assumed the starter role after Kaare Vedvik missed an extra point and field goal in the Jets’ 17-16 Week 1 loss to the Bills.
Ficken will be a free agent this offseason.