Tag: Greg Zuerlein

Cowboys sign Pro Bowl kicker Greg Zuerlein

Dallas will have some competition at the kicker position this year, as Greg ‘The Leg’ Zuerlein is reunited with his special teams coach.

After arguably waiting too long to create competition for kicker Brett Maher in 2019, the Cowboys are already causing his replacement Kai Forbath, to look over his shoulder.

Dallas announced the signing of free agent Greg Zuerlein on Friday afternoon, just days after inking Forbath to a one-year contract.

Zuerlein had spent his entire eight-year pro career with the Rams, but his deal expired last week. 2019 was a down year by Zuerlein’s usual standards; he went just 24-for-33 on field goals. The 2017 Pro Bowler has a 82% success rate on field goals in the NFL, though, and has hit on 98% of career PATs.

Greg “The Leg” will be reunited with special team coordinator John Fassel, who has also come to Dallas from the Rams.

Zuerlein was a sixth-round draft pick in 2012 — Fassel’s first year on the job — out of Missouri Western State University. His deal with the Cowboys is reportedly worth roughly $7.5 million over three seasons.

The important thing here will be the guaranteed money. If there isn’t much, Dallas has set up an outstanding kicking competition for training camp. If there is, than the Forbath deal might as well have never happened.

Forbath’s one-year, $1.05 million deal had only a $200,000 signing bonus.

In NFL history, only 22 field goals have been made from at least 60 yards; the 32-year-old Zuerlein has done it twice. Maher, of course, had done it three times before his mid-range struggles forced the team to release him with three games to go in 2019.

Forbath went 10-for-10 in three games as his replacement.

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Cowboys are signing K Greg Zuerlein to 3-year deal

Greg Zuerlein’s tenure with the Rams has come to an end.

The Los Angeles Rams’ search for a kicker will continue with Greg Zuerlein off their list of candidates. According to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, the Cowboys are signing Zuerlein to a three-year deal worth $7.5 million.

Zuerlein was an unrestricted free agent and the Rams’ reluctance to re-sign him was somewhat surprising. He had a shaky 2019 season where he made just 72.7% of his field goal attempts, including a disappointing 5-for-11 showing from 40-49 yards out.

He’s been a key piece of the special teams unit during his time with the Rams, though, including making the game-tying and game—winning kicks in the NFC Championship Game to send his team to the Super Bowl.

Currently, Los Angeles doesn’t have a kicker under contract, so it will need to either draft one or sign someone in free agency.

As Garafolo pointed out, Zuerlein will reunite with special teams coordinator John Fassel, who left the Rams to take the same position with the Cowboys.

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3 kickers Tennessee Titans should target in free agency

Tennessee needs a reliable placekicker, and in a bad way.

The Tennessee Titans have never seemed to be on the right track as much as they are now, considering the team’s recent history — but there was one position that was a consistently glaring need last season that still hasn’t been fully addressed.

Tennessee needs a reliable placekicker, and in a bad way.

The team went through Ryan Succop, Cody Parkey and Cairo Santos before arriving at Greg Joseph, who made his lone field goal attempt last year but is still far from proven.

Here’s a look at three names the Titans could target in free agency to remedy the situation, or at least give Joseph some competition in camp.

Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports

Stephen Gostkowski

Gostkowski should be at the top of any team’s list currently in the market at the position.

Over 14 seasons, he’s made 87.4% of his field goal attempts, recording a success rate of 90% or higher in five instances.

Health could be a concern, considering he had hip surgery last season and was limited to just four appearances. Even so, a healthy Gostkowski is one of the league’s best and he’s every bit worth jumping on right now.

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Report: Cowboys eyeing Greg Zuerlein for reunion with John Fassel

The Cowboys are interested in signing Greg Zuerlein to reunite him with John Fassel.

Finding quality kickers in the NFL is difficult to do, which is why you rarely see the best ones become available in free agency. When teams come across kickers they can trust, they don’t let them get to the open market.

The Los Angeles Rams had one of the best in the league in 2017 and 2018 with Greg Zuerlein, but he was inconsistent last season and is now a free agent. The team hasn’t made it publicly clear that it wants to bring Zuerlein back, and he’s already garnering interest from other teams.

According to Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News, the Cowboys have Zuerlein on their radar. Former Rams special teams coordinator John Fassel is of course with the Cowboys now, so it’d be a reunion of sorts in Dallas.

The Rams don’t have a contingency plan if Zuerlein does leave, having no other kickers on their roster. There aren’t many available in free agency, either, certainly none better than Zuerlein.

Had the veteran put together a good season in 2019, this likely would’ve been an easier decision for the Rams. However, he struggled throughout the year, making just 72.7% of his field goal attempts and only 5 of 11 from 40-49 yards.

If the Rams want to retain their kicker, they might have to make a move soon before Dallas poaches another key member of the special teams unit.

4 free agent kickers the Jets should target

Here are four free agent kickers the Jets should target in free agency.

After a revolving door of kickers came through One Jets Drive in 2019, New York is in the market for a legman once again.

The Jets planned on Chandler Catanzaro being their starting place kicker last season, but he decided to retire during training camp. Then came Kaare Vedvik, who lasted all of one game for the Jets. They finished the season with Sam Ficken, who had his ups and downs and is now an impending free agent.

Kicking was a huge problem for the Jets in 2019 and they need to find stability at the position. They can’t lose games because of their kicker missing an extra point or field goal.

So, let’s take a look at what kickers New York can target in free agency.

Ka’imi Fairbairn

Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Ka’imi Fairbain is one of the youngest available kickers and he has been pretty consistent over his three-year career.

Fairbain has made at least 80 percent of his field goals in three seasons with the Texans. His best season came in 2018 when he went 37-42 on field goal attempts. Last season, Fairbain didn’t get as many opportunities, but was 20-25.

The only concern with Fairbain is kicking from 50+ yards out. In 2019, Fairbain made 50 percent of his field goals from 50 or more yards. He was better from that distance the two previous years at 66.7 and 75 percent.

At 26 years old, Fairbain would be a solid get for the Jets. He won’t come cheap, but if the Jets want to have a consistent kicker, then they should pay Fairbain what he’s worth.

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Rams 2020 free agency preview: Can Greg Zuerlein bounce back?

Greg Zuerlein will be a free agent in March, but will the Rams prioritize re-signing him?

There were a lot of reasons the Los Angeles Rams came up short of the playoffs in 2020, and while it’s unfair to blame one single factor, Greg Zuerlein’s struggles played a role in the team’s 9-7 records. He had his worst season since 2015, and arguably the second-worst campaign of his career.

He made only 72.7% of his field goal attempts, making just five of his 11 attempts from the all-important range of 40-49 yards. His miss from 44 yards in Week 5 against the Seahawks in the final seconds cost the Rams a win, also missing a 52-yarder against the 49ers in Week 16, which wound up as a three-point loss.

Zuerlein has been with the Rams for nine years, but will they keep him around for the future after a down season?

  • 2019 stats: 24-for-33 FGs (72.7%), 42-for-42 PATs

Analysis

Zuerlein was one of the best kickers in football in 2017 and 2018. He was even named a first-team All-Pro in 2017, making 38 of 40 field goal attempts and 44 of 46 PATs. His field goal percentage dropped to 87.1% in 2018, but he was still clutch for the Rams and helped land them in the Super Bowl with game-tying and game-winning kicks in the NFC championship game.

For whatever reason, Zuerlein’s accuracy fell off in 2019. He was returning from a foot injury that he suffered in the playoffs and he had a minor quad injury late in the 2019 season, but those are unlikely to have affected his performance.

Positional need: Medium

Kicker isn’t always the most prioritized position on a team, but as we saw with the Rams last season, the performance of Zuerlein played a role in their absence from the playoffs. The problem is, finding a reliable kicker is easier said than done.

The Rams don’t have another option on the roster and there aren’t any good one available in free agency. So if they do move on from Zuerlein and let him leave this March, they’ll likely need to find a rookie in the draft or as a priority free agent.

Prediction: Signs three-year, $12 million deal with Rams

(Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

The Rams know Zuerlein well, and they’re aware of how good he can be. He showed excellent accuracy in 2017 and 2018 and there’s reason to believe he can bounce back with another great year in 2020.

They should attempt to re-sign him for at least one more season, hoping he can regain his past form. Yes, he’s 33 years old, but kickers can play well into their late 30s. A three-year deal with an easy out after two seasons would work for the Rams, loading it with incentives and not a lot guaranteed.

What the departures of Fassel and Phillips mean for Rams’ free agents

The Rams will have new defensive and special teams coordinators in 2020, and it could have an impact on their free agents.

(AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Two of the most recognizable names on the Los Angeles Rams’ coaching staff (besides Sean McVay) won’t be back with the team in 2020. Defensive coordinator Wade Phillips’ contract expired and was not renewed by the Rams. Special teams coordinator John Fassel’s contract also came to an end, and it didn’t take him long to find a new landing spot as he’s expected to be hired by the Cowboys to join Mike McCarthy’s staff.

It’s unclear if the Rams tried to retain Fassel by extending his contract or if they were willing to let him leave like Phillips, but either way, this is bad news for Los Angeles. “Bones” is an outstanding special teams coach and it’s easy to see why McCarthy wanted to bring him to Dallas to hopefully fix the Cowboys’ underperforming special teams unit.

While it’ll be difficult to replace Phillips and Fassel with coaches of the same caliber, these departures will have a ripple effect on the Rams’ free agents. Three key starters on defense will hit free agency in March, as will Greg Zuerlein and JoJo Natson (RFA).

The front office and head coach have the ultimate say in who returns and who leaves, but the new coordinators will also have some input on those players – or, at least they should.

Will new DC change scheme from 3-4 to 4-3?

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

If the Rams promote from within by elevating either Aubrey Pleasant or Joe Barry, a switch to a 4-3 defense seems highly unlikely. However, if McVay hires an outside candidate, a change to the defensive front can’t be ruled out.

On paper, it’s hard to see the Rams switching to a 4-3 defense. If Dante Fowler Jr. leaves, that would give the defense very little talent at defensive end; Clay Matthews, Ogbonnia Okoronkwo and Samson Ebukam all fit better as outside linebackers in a 3-4.

The Rams would also have to rely on inside linebackers more often in a 4-3 scheme. Last season, they really only played Cory Littleton there with an extra defensive back taking the other linebacker’s place. Troy Reeder, Micah Kiser and Travin Howard would all be candidates to fit in a 4-3 defense, but their snap counts will increase dramatically if the Rams make the switch. That may not be something Los Angeles feels comfortable with.

A move to a 4-3 would also impact Michael Brockers, who wouldn’t be a great fit in that scheme after shedding weight to fit in the Rams’ current 3-4 defense. He may no longer have the size or bulk to hold up full-time at nose tackle in a 4-3.

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Rams K Greg Zuerlein expected to play vs. 49ers

Greg Zuerlein should be fine for Saturday’s game against San Francisco.

It appears the Los Angeles Rams will have Greg Zuerlein available on Saturday night against the 49ers. Zuerlein is listed as questionable to play with a quad injury that he suffered against the Cowboys in Week 15, but he’s expected to play, according to Ian Rapoport.

The Rams worked out Brett Maher on Thursday but did not sign him, and they would’ve needed to sign a kicker by Friday to have him available for the game. They did not, which indicates Zuerlein is good to go.

Zuerlein didn’t kick in practice until Friday as the Rams tried to give him as much time to rest and heal as possible.

“He’s feeling good. It’s more of a precautionary thing than anything else,” McVay said on Thursday. “We wanted to just wait as long as possible until we actually kicked him. Then, if something doesn’t go according to plan, then we at least have somebody in place that you feel good about if that situation comes up.”

Zuerlein has made 22 of 29 field goal attempts this season and all 34 of his extra-point tries. His 75.9% make rate on field goals is his lowest since 2015, however, so there have been some struggles on his part this year.

Report: Rams worked out former Cowboys kicker Brett Maher

The Rams worked out Brett Maher with Greg Zuerlein battling a quad injury.

Greg Zuerlein suffered a quad strain in Sunday’s game against the Dallas Cowboys and was unable to kick after the Rams’ final two touchdowns of the afternoon. The Rams are optimistic he’ll be able to play, but they’re exercising levels of caution in case he can’t.

According to Field Yates of ESPN, the Rams worked out former Cowboys kicker Brett Maher, who Dallas cut last week.

Maher struggled mightily with the Cowboys this season, making just 20 of 30 field goal attempts, including just 5-for-13 from 40-plus yards. From the all-important range of 40-49 yards, Maher only made 1 of 5 attempts.

He does have a big leg and made field goals from 62 and 63 yards in his career, but it’s when the kicks get closer that he struggles more than most players. Even from 30-39 yards, Maher is only 12-for-16 in the NFL.

Hopefully for the Rams’ chances of staying alive in the NFC playoff race, Zuerlein’s injury doesn’t keep him sidelined on Saturday against the 49ers. Sean McVay said earlier this week that the Rams would work out kickers just in case, and it seems Maher is one of their top choices.

Rams injury report: Greg Zuerlein and Troy Hill DNP, Gerald Everett limited

The Rams released their first injury report of the week on Tuesday and three players were listed.

Following their 44-21 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, the Los Angeles Rams have a short turnaround this week before their next game. They’ll take on the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday night, giving them one fewer day to prepare for their upcoming opponent.

As a result, they were back in action already on Tuesday, though not in typical practice capacity. The Rams held a walk-thru instead of a full practice, releasing an injury report afterwards. It provided more clarity on Greg Zuerlein, Troy Hill and Gerald Everett, all of whom were listed.

Zuerlein and Hill missed practice with thigh and thumb injuries, respectively, while Everett returned in a limited capacity after missing the last few weeks of practice.

Sean McVay said Monday that the injuries to Zuerlein and Hill aren’t overly concerning and both have a chance to play Saturday. Hill underwent surgery to repair his broken thumb but may play in a cast this weekend.

One notable omission from the injury report was Jared Goff, who hurt his thumb early in Sunday’s game. McVay said he’s feeling good and was wearing a sleeve on his thumb during the walk-thru, but the injury isn’t a problem as of now.