Vanderjagt not expected to kick in Cowboys' opener
By STEPHEN HAWKINS, AP Sports Writer
September 8, 2006
IRVING, Texas (AP) -- Mike Vanderjagt probably won't kick in the regular season opener for the Dallas Cowboys, though coach Bill Parcells reserves the right to change his mind.
Parcells said Friday that Shaun Suisham would likely kick Sunday against Jacksonville instead of Vanderjagt. The NFL's most accurate field goal kicker has been hampered by a groin injury throughout training camp.
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"I'm not 100 percent sure right now, but I think I'm going to kick Suisham," Parcells said. "I can change my mind, but I think that's what I'm going to do."
Vanderjagt wasn't on the field or in the locker room when they were open to reporters. Parcells said Vanderjagt practiced and has been kicking all week.
"I've just seen (Suisham) do a little bit more right now, and I'm not sure about Mike physically ... based on what he said after the game last week," Parcells said.
Vanderjagt, who has made 87.5 percent of his field goal attempts in eight NFL seasons, said he wasn't 100 percent after missing kicks of 32 and 33 yards in overtime of the preseason finale last week.
Uncertainty about Vanderjagt led Parcells to keep Suisham on the 53-man roster. The second-year kicker, who made 3-of-4 field goals in his three games for Dallas last season, was kept as a kickoff specialist and in case Vanderjagt couldn't kick.
Parcells said he wouldn't dress two kickers Sunday. He said he wasn't even sure both kickers would travel to Jacksonville.
"As far as I know, I'm kicking. Based on what I've been told," Suisham said. "It's a great opportunity. It's also an opportunity that I didn't necessarily think I was going to have."
By STEPHEN HAWKINS, AP Sports Writer
September 8, 2006
IRVING, Texas (AP) -- Mike Vanderjagt probably won't kick in the regular season opener for the Dallas Cowboys, though coach Bill Parcells reserves the right to change his mind.
Parcells said Friday that Shaun Suisham would likely kick Sunday against Jacksonville instead of Vanderjagt. The NFL's most accurate field goal kicker has been hampered by a groin injury throughout training camp.
ADVERTISEMENT
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
"I'm not 100 percent sure right now, but I think I'm going to kick Suisham," Parcells said. "I can change my mind, but I think that's what I'm going to do."
Vanderjagt wasn't on the field or in the locker room when they were open to reporters. Parcells said Vanderjagt practiced and has been kicking all week.
"I've just seen (Suisham) do a little bit more right now, and I'm not sure about Mike physically ... based on what he said after the game last week," Parcells said.
Vanderjagt, who has made 87.5 percent of his field goal attempts in eight NFL seasons, said he wasn't 100 percent after missing kicks of 32 and 33 yards in overtime of the preseason finale last week.
Uncertainty about Vanderjagt led Parcells to keep Suisham on the 53-man roster. The second-year kicker, who made 3-of-4 field goals in his three games for Dallas last season, was kept as a kickoff specialist and in case Vanderjagt couldn't kick.
Parcells said he wouldn't dress two kickers Sunday. He said he wasn't even sure both kickers would travel to Jacksonville.
"As far as I know, I'm kicking. Based on what I've been told," Suisham said. "It's a great opportunity. It's also an opportunity that I didn't necessarily think I was going to have."
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