A few Colts enjoy watching ex-mate miss against them
By Mike Chappell
mike.chappell@indystar.com
November 20, 2006
IRVING, Texas -- Mike Vanderjagt got an earful from both sides Sunday at Texas Stadium.
A sellout crowd lustily booed the Dallas Cowboys' place-kicker after he missed 43- and 46-yard field-goal attempts in a 21-14 victory over the Indianapolis Colts, Vanderjagt's former team. After his second miss sailed wide right on the final play of the first half, Vanderjagt lingered, by himself, near the 30-yard line before slowly walking to the locker room.
His first attempt, which ricocheted off the right upright, was followed by one of the day's more interesting exchanges. As Vanderjagt considered the miss, Colts defensive linemen Darrell Reid and Raheem Brock approached. Each had something to say to his former teammate.
Reid declined to elaborate. Brock was more forthcoming.
"I just told him basically how we all feel about him,'' he said.
It wasn't pleasant. Clearly there are hard feelings between several Colts toward Vanderjagt, who signed a free agent contract with the Cowboys in March after the Colts didn't re-sign him.
"Actually what I said was he'd better hope we don't block one of his kicks because we'll come looking for him,'' Brock said. "I told him he'd better keep his head on a swivel.''
Vanderjagt dismissed Brock's comments.
"He's just a trash talker,'' he said. "It's not that big of a deal. Just fun. Nothing major.''
Prior to the game, Vanderjagt made it a point to chat with several of his former teammates, apparently the ones who don't hold a grudge.
After the game, the focus turned to his erratic kicking. He's now converted just 12-of-17 field-goal attempts.
Is coach Bill Parcells concerned?
"Yeah, of course,'' he said.
Is Vanderjagt's job in jeopardy?
"I don't have another kicker,'' Parcells replied.
Vanderjagt, Parcells added, "keeps telling me that I don't have to worry about him. Well, I am worried about him now.''
Vanderjagt said he treated Sunday's game "just like any other game.''
"This locker room is happy to beat a team that was undefeated; it just happened to be my (former) team,'' Vanderjagt said. "I'm not sitting here elated because we beat the Colts. I'm sitting here disappointed because I performed beneath my expectations.''
mike.chappell@indystar.com
November 20, 2006
IRVING, Texas -- Mike Vanderjagt got an earful from both sides Sunday at Texas Stadium.
A sellout crowd lustily booed the Dallas Cowboys' place-kicker after he missed 43- and 46-yard field-goal attempts in a 21-14 victory over the Indianapolis Colts, Vanderjagt's former team. After his second miss sailed wide right on the final play of the first half, Vanderjagt lingered, by himself, near the 30-yard line before slowly walking to the locker room.
His first attempt, which ricocheted off the right upright, was followed by one of the day's more interesting exchanges. As Vanderjagt considered the miss, Colts defensive linemen Darrell Reid and Raheem Brock approached. Each had something to say to his former teammate.
Reid declined to elaborate. Brock was more forthcoming.
"I just told him basically how we all feel about him,'' he said.
It wasn't pleasant. Clearly there are hard feelings between several Colts toward Vanderjagt, who signed a free agent contract with the Cowboys in March after the Colts didn't re-sign him.
"Actually what I said was he'd better hope we don't block one of his kicks because we'll come looking for him,'' Brock said. "I told him he'd better keep his head on a swivel.''
Vanderjagt dismissed Brock's comments.
"He's just a trash talker,'' he said. "It's not that big of a deal. Just fun. Nothing major.''
Prior to the game, Vanderjagt made it a point to chat with several of his former teammates, apparently the ones who don't hold a grudge.
After the game, the focus turned to his erratic kicking. He's now converted just 12-of-17 field-goal attempts.
Is coach Bill Parcells concerned?
"Yeah, of course,'' he said.
Is Vanderjagt's job in jeopardy?
"I don't have another kicker,'' Parcells replied.
Vanderjagt, Parcells added, "keeps telling me that I don't have to worry about him. Well, I am worried about him now.''
Vanderjagt said he treated Sunday's game "just like any other game.''
"This locker room is happy to beat a team that was undefeated; it just happened to be my (former) team,'' Vanderjagt said. "I'm not sitting here elated because we beat the Colts. I'm sitting here disappointed because I performed beneath my expectations.''
posted by The Gryphon at 7:18 PM
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