Cowboys signing USFL kicker before training camp won't move needle for fans
By Jerry Trotta
It felt inevitable that the Dallas Cowboys would sign a kicker before training camp.
Last season's starter Brett Maher sealed his fate with a historic meltdown in the playoffs, leaving Tristan Vizcaino, who was signed to reserve/futures contract after the season, as the only kicker on the roster for OTAs and minicamp.
Fans have clamored for the Cowboys to sign a veteran. Robbie Gould has been the most popular recommendation, but Mason Crosby and Brandon McManus -- before he was traded to the Jaguars -- have also been mentioned.
In typical Cowboys fashion, they zigged when seemingly their entire fan base wanted them to zag, as they signed USFL standout Brandon Aubrey on Thursday, per ESPN's Todd Archer.
A former soccer player at Notre Dame, Aubrey made 14-of-15 field goals this season for the Birmingham Stallions, including all 35 extra points.
The Cowboys have signed kicker Brandon Aubrey, who has played for the USFL's Birmingham Stallions the last two years, per sources. He made 14 of 15 FG chances and all 35 PATs in 2023. He is a Plano native, played soccer at Notre Dame. He will compete with Tristan Vizcaino in camp
— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) July 6, 2023
Cowboys sign USFL kicker Brandon Aubrey before training camp
At least the saga is over, right? Is that worth celebrating? Perhaps, but fans shouldn't be reaching into the cooler for a celebratory brewski leftover from their Fourth of July festivities.
We hate to be a Debbie Downer, and perhaps the Cowboys have another kicker trick up their sleeve in the event Aubrey crumbles under the training camp spotlight, but this move won't do much to quell fans' concerns about the outlook of the position.
Aubrey might have a strong leg with the accuracy of a marksman, but it's impossible to predict how that will translate to the NFL. The Cowboys making a roll of the dice at such an important position doesn't align with how they've operated this offseason.
It's worth noting, however, that Dallas struck gold in the USFL market last year when they signed KaVontae Turpin.
It's clear they think they'll run into similar luck with Aubrey, and nobody's ruling that out, but we don't fault fans who are left wanting more after the team traded for Stephon Gilmore and Brandin Cooks ... and watched Brett Maher fail to hit the broad side of a barn in the playoffs.
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