Desperate Cowboys to Consider ‘Anybody Else on Earth’ As Kicker

Dallas’s special teams coordinator, John Fassel, very bluntly said the team is considering all of its options.

Cowboys special teams coordinator John Fassel spoke to reporters Saturday as the team wrapped up the its rookie minicamp, and he frankly addressed a grim kicking situation. He didn’t try to hide the team’s desperation at the position. 

Tristan Vizcaino, who has only attempted 12 field goals in his NFL career, is the only kicker on Dallas’s roster, and Fassel made it clear the Cowboys aren’t satisfied with the situation. 

“We have Tristan on the roster. Anybody else on Earth who is not on the team right now, is under consideration,” Fassel said with a laugh. “That’s everyone really. I think we have a lot of different guys that we’re still looking at—XFL, USFL, veterans on the street, younger guys who still haven’t found a way.”

Fassel also didn’t rule out brining back Brett Maher, who infamously missed four extra points during his team’s wild-card win over the Buccaneers in January. He also missed his lone extra-point attempt in Dallas’s loss in the divisional round against the 49ers. During the 2022 regular season, though, Maher went 29-for-32 (90.6%) for field goals and 50-for-53 (94.3%) on extra points. 

“I think everything’s on the table,” he said. “Let’s face it. If you look at Brett, he had a great year. He had a bad game. But he played 22 games. But he had a bad game and a half. I think everybody’s on the table. I’m proud of what Brett did here. If he gets a shot here or somewhere else, I’m sure he’ll perform well.”

Fassel specifically mentioned veteran free agents Robbie Gould and Ryan Succop as potential signees, as well as longtime Packers kicker Mason Crosby, who is expected to be released.