3 Players the Dallas Cowboys were right to move on from

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Nov 25, 2021; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys kicker Greg Zuerlein (2) kicks a field goal to send the game to overtime against the Las Vegas Raiders during the second half at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

Dallas Cowboys departure No. 2: Greg Zuerlein, Kicker

John Fassel is considered one of the best special teams coaches in the NFL and when he joined the Cowboys staff with Mike McCarthy in 2020, he looked to put his stamp on the team.

One of the lesser-known moves he made was to sign long-snapper Jake McQuaide who replaced L.P. Ladouceur who held the job since 2005.

As for the well-known moves, that would include Fassel convincing Greg Zuerlein to sign in Dallas. Fassel was the Rams’ special teams coach from 2012 through 2019 and Zuerlein was his kicker in each one of those seasons.

The two moved from St. Louis to Los Angeles with their previous team, then headed to Dallas in 2020. Zuerlein came in and had some success as he knocked in several game-winners as well as converting an insane onside kick in their shocking win over Atlanta in 2020.

However, he also missed a lot of kicks. In two seasons, Greg the Leg missed on a total of 22 kicks (field goals and extra points combined). Dallas ended up releasing him and while they wanted to try and bring him back, Zuerlein headed to New York to play for the Jets and that could be the best thing to happen to the Cowboys.

As of now, Jonathan Garibay is the kicker in Big D and while it might be scary to rely on an undrafted kicker, most teams in the NFL have had a lot of success going with such players. Even the Cowboys have found studs this way, including Dan Bailey who has been their best kicker in recent memory.

Even if Garibay doesn’t prove to be the guy, they can’t afford to keep paying Zuerlein top dollar to miss as often as he has over the past two seasons.

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