Cowboys looking for kicker battle
By CALVIN WATKINS / The Dallas Morning News
IRVING – Kicker Martin Gramatica understands the business of the NFL.
Last year, he replaced Mike Vanderjagt, and in his first game with the Cowboys made a game-winning field goal against the New York Giants.
Gramatica made six of eight field goals for the season. In the off-season, he signed a two-year contract with Dallas at a base salary of $800,000 for 2007.
But the Cowboys surprised some when they selected Arizona's Nick Folk in the sixth round. It was the first time Dallas drafted a kicker since 1987, when it picked Jeff Ward from Texas in the 11th round.
"Part of the business," the 32-year old Gramatica said. "It's happened to me and I've been drafted myself. It happens to all of us."
In March 2005, Dallas made a statement when it signed Vanderjagt as a free agent to a three-year, $5.5 million deal with a $2.5 million signing bonus, the richest contract paid to a kicker in team history.
Now, Dallas is making another statement, this one to Gramatica.
The Cowboys want competition, not only on offense and defense, but at the kicker position.
"I think that's what we're doing," special teams coach Bruce Read said. "We got a pretty good situation. We got a veteran guy that's solid as can be and you have a young buck with a lot of leg strength who can really pound the ball on kickoffs and help you on field position."
Folk, 22, is less-expensive and is projected to have a stronger leg than Gramatica.
But he doesn't have NFL experience.
"You always like competition," Folk said. "It should bring out the best in everybody. I was happy just to be given the chance."
Gramatica knows the stakes.
"We're competing for the one job, probably," he said. "So that's all we need to know."
Davis misses practice: Right guard Leonard Davis missed practice Sunday because his wife Amanda was having surgery. Davis' status for today's final round of practices hasn't been determined.
He had been practicing at right guard with last year's starter, Marco Rivera, on the sidelines with a back injury. With Davis out, Cory Procter moved in at right guard.
Rivera waits: Rivera willmiss today's final round of practices as he recovers from back surgery.
The next Cowboys minicamp is in June, but the team will have some organized workouts before that and hasn't determined if Rivera will participate.
"I don't know," Rivera said. "We'll find out."
Mentor is not right word: Brad Johnson, the No. 2 quarterback, has 16 years of NFL experience. He doesn't like the word mentor when describing his role with the other quarterbacks.
"There's no such thing as a mentor. That's the wrong question to ask me," Johnson said. "I've been with a lot of guys and that just doesn't happen in the league. Trust and respect are pivotal, and having open communication."
Briefly: Greg Ellis (left Achilles), Isaiah Stanback (right foot) and Rivera (back) missed practice because of injuries. ... Three players changed jersey numbers: inside linebacker Akin Ayodele, from 50 to 51; defensive tackle Montavious Stanley, from 60 to 92; and receiver Miles Austin, from 14 to 19. ... Folk has a diamond stud in his left ear. "It's [worth] $5," he said. "I don't have that type of money yet."
IRVING – Kicker Martin Gramatica understands the business of the NFL.
Last year, he replaced Mike Vanderjagt, and in his first game with the Cowboys made a game-winning field goal against the New York Giants.
Gramatica made six of eight field goals for the season. In the off-season, he signed a two-year contract with Dallas at a base salary of $800,000 for 2007.
But the Cowboys surprised some when they selected Arizona's Nick Folk in the sixth round. It was the first time Dallas drafted a kicker since 1987, when it picked Jeff Ward from Texas in the 11th round.
"Part of the business," the 32-year old Gramatica said. "It's happened to me and I've been drafted myself. It happens to all of us."
In March 2005, Dallas made a statement when it signed Vanderjagt as a free agent to a three-year, $5.5 million deal with a $2.5 million signing bonus, the richest contract paid to a kicker in team history.
Now, Dallas is making another statement, this one to Gramatica.
The Cowboys want competition, not only on offense and defense, but at the kicker position.
"I think that's what we're doing," special teams coach Bruce Read said. "We got a pretty good situation. We got a veteran guy that's solid as can be and you have a young buck with a lot of leg strength who can really pound the ball on kickoffs and help you on field position."
Folk, 22, is less-expensive and is projected to have a stronger leg than Gramatica.
But he doesn't have NFL experience.
"You always like competition," Folk said. "It should bring out the best in everybody. I was happy just to be given the chance."
Gramatica knows the stakes.
"We're competing for the one job, probably," he said. "So that's all we need to know."
Davis misses practice: Right guard Leonard Davis missed practice Sunday because his wife Amanda was having surgery. Davis' status for today's final round of practices hasn't been determined.
He had been practicing at right guard with last year's starter, Marco Rivera, on the sidelines with a back injury. With Davis out, Cory Procter moved in at right guard.
Rivera waits: Rivera willmiss today's final round of practices as he recovers from back surgery.
The next Cowboys minicamp is in June, but the team will have some organized workouts before that and hasn't determined if Rivera will participate.
"I don't know," Rivera said. "We'll find out."
Mentor is not right word: Brad Johnson, the No. 2 quarterback, has 16 years of NFL experience. He doesn't like the word mentor when describing his role with the other quarterbacks.
"There's no such thing as a mentor. That's the wrong question to ask me," Johnson said. "I've been with a lot of guys and that just doesn't happen in the league. Trust and respect are pivotal, and having open communication."
Briefly: Greg Ellis (left Achilles), Isaiah Stanback (right foot) and Rivera (back) missed practice because of injuries. ... Three players changed jersey numbers: inside linebacker Akin Ayodele, from 50 to 51; defensive tackle Montavious Stanley, from 60 to 92; and receiver Miles Austin, from 14 to 19. ... Folk has a diamond stud in his left ear. "It's [worth] $5," he said. "I don't have that type of money yet."
posted by The Gryphon at 6:31 PM
<< Home