Dallas Cowboys Stock Watch: Seven players plummeting

Mike Nugent, Kicker

Mike Nugent ain’t no Dan Bailey.

I know. You come to this site for that kind of Cowboys insight. But it’s true. Nugent is shaky and inconsistent. That’s why he was available via free agency.

In Dallas, Nugent even has the benefit of having holder/punter Chris Jones and longtime long snapper L.P. Ladouceur. That duo is likely the best special teams players the 13-year veteran has ever worked with. I mean these guys are like clockwork.

Yet, the 35-year old still shanks ’em with the best of them. On Sunday, against the Falcons, Nugent missed on a 38-yard field goal attempt, clanking it off the right upright. Ding! And there went Dallas’ opportunity to make it a one-score game, down 17-7 at the time.

The honest truth is, kickers can lose their magic. They can be ultra-accurate and have the most powerful kicks you’ve ever seen. And then something snaps. Anyone who remembers Mike Vanderjagt‘s time in Dallas knows that to be true.

Until Bailey recovers from his groin injury, the Cowboys should be working out a steady flow of kickers every single week. Nugent is far from reliable and I honestly think Dallas can do better.

Even though the veteran kicker has made four of his six field goal attempts and all eight of his extra points during his time in Big D, Nugent has looked shaky doing so. And that 66.7% field goal percentage is his lowest since 2009.

The fact is Dallas hates investing in older free agents. Why should now be any different? Keep churning the roster boys!