Cowboys fans won’t like what Jerry Jones had to say about the possibility of replacing Brett Maher
The Dallas Cowboys easily trounced Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Monday night’s NFC Wild Card game, toppling the Bucs in 31-14 fashion.
Dak Prescott was on his A-game at the perfect time, going 25-for-33 with 305 yards and, most impressively, played turnover-free ball for the first time in what feels like forever.
Monday night’s win over Brady represents the first time Dallas beat him in his entire NFL career and was the Cowboys’ first postseason win on the road in 30 years.
Unfortunately, not everything went perfectly for the Cowboys. Kicker Brett Maher made NFL history, but in all the wrong ways. He became the first player to miss four extra point kicks in a single game, whether it be regular season or postseason, since the stat started being tracked in 1912.
While Maher was able to secure a successful PAT on his fifth attempt, he seemed completely overwhelmed by a case of the yips and had many fans calling for his removal from the club.
Owner Jerry Jones comes to Brett Maher’s defense and provides an update on kicking replacements
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones told reporters after the game that Maher’s job is not in jeopardy and that the Cowboys are not going to pursue any other kickers on the open market.
“No. No. We won’t (look at kickers this week). He’s done enough good ones. I don’t think he’s blown the socket or whatever you do”.
This is certainly an unwelcomed development for Cowboys fans who, understandably so, are perfectly fine with Maher either being benched or released in favor of someone who is capable of being clutch in postseason games.
Mike McCarthy, the Cowboys head coach, echoed Jones’ sentiment and said, “we need Brett. He understands that, so we need to get back on it this week and get him ready to go. We need him to focus in. He’s been super clutch for us all years, but that’s the plan”.
McCarthy is exactly right. Maher, 33, was rock-solid for the team all season long before Monday night’s meltdown.
He was 29-for-32 in field goal attempts during the regular season (90.6%) and had gone 50-for-53 in extra point attempts (94.3%). The guy has what it takes to be a successful kicker in the NFL, he may have just succumbed to the pressure of the big stage. Fortunately, all signs are pointing to him getting another chance in the upcoming game against the Niners.