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Billy is back, woohoo!
Cowboys Re-Sign Billy Cundiff; Cut Suisham
Nick Eatman - Email
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
November 19, 2005 3:54 PM Change Font Size A A A A
Billy Cundiff made 54-of-73 field-goal attempts in his three seasons with the Cowboys.
IRVING, Texas - When kicker Billy Cundiff originally suffered the quadriceps tear back in training camp, the Cowboys knew there would be an opportunity to re-sign him at some point, but it would be well down the road.
In fact, they were hoping they could get by without him.
And for the most part they have. But when the opportunity finally arrived to re-sign the fourth-year kicker, the Cowboys have jumped at the chance.
After an impressive workout on Friday here at Valley Ranch, the Cowboys signed Cundiff Saturday afternoon and promptly released rookie kicker Shaun Suisham, who has handled the kicking duties for the Cowboys for the last two games.
Cundiff now takes over and will be ready for Sunday's game with the Lions (Noon, CST) at Texas Stadium.
Cundiff re-signed to a one-year deal worth the fourth-year minimum $455,000, although the kicker will receive less than half of that total since only seven games remain in the regular season.
When Cundiff tore his right quad the final practice of training camp, Cowboys head coach Parcells decided the club could not qualify keeping him on the 53-man roster until he healed. The Cowboys released Cundiff injured, having to pay him a six-week injury settlement - the projected time he would need to heal and pass a physical. NFL rules prevent teams from re-signing players paid an injury settlement for a mandatory six weeks, plus the number of weeks of salary paid in the settlement. That amounted to 12.
Because the Cowboys released Cundiff almost immediately during preseason, they were eligible to re-sign Cundiff after 10 weeks of the regular season. The 10th week expired Monday night following the Philadelphia game.
The Cowboys hope Cundiff can bring a little more consistency to a position that has seen some ups and downs already this season.
After Cundiff suffered the injury, the Cowboys were left with veteran Jose Cortez, who had been signed in the middle of August, mostly just to give Cundiff a break from kicking every day in training camp.
But when Cundiff suffered the injury and was waived/injured on Aug. 24, the Cowboys were left with Cortez, who had been erratic during his career with the 49ers.
Cortez made 12-of-16 field goals in his seven games with the Cowboys, but missed an extra point in San Francisco, and later missed a 29-yard field goal in Seattle, in what turned out to be a 13-10 loss.
The Cowboys released Cortez the following Monday after the Seahawks defeat, and signed Suisham, who had spent time earlier in the season on the practice squad.
Suisham, a rookie from Bowling Green, made two short field goals against the Cardinals (Oct. 30) in his NFL debut, and connected on all seven extra-point attempts in the last two games.
But his kickoffs have been rather short, and the Cowboys are hoping a rested and rehabilitated Cundiff can not only provide more distance in that department, but more consistency in field goals as well.
In three years with the Cowboys, Cundiff made 55-of-74 field-goal attempts and all but one of his 87 extra-point tries. Cundiff has also hit a few game-winners and other clutch kicks during his career with the Cowboys. His 52-yard field goal against the Giants in 2003 was not only his sixth field goal of the game, but forced overtime. He then hit a 25-yard kick to give the Cowboys a 35-32 win that included a club-tying record seven field goals.
Cundiff also hit game-winning field goals in St. Louis (48 yards) in 2002 and then to beat the Eagles at home in 2003 with a 28-yard field goal.
http://www.dallascowboys.com/news.cf...063E911A2F0E89
Billy is back, woohoo!
He supposedly had a very impressive workout, and seems to be 100% again - or close enough that it doesn't really factor in. this is excellent news!!!! some wondered whether he would be picked up by another team, but luckily that didn't happen. welcome back, billy!
Last season he was 5th in NFL in opponent starting position and #1 in return yards against (17.5) Not bad at all.
...
yessssss
When he does well, he is Billy.
When he doesn't...he is -whiff.
Damn...how sad is it that the Cowboys are getting excited over a kicker? I mean come on...I know Cortez was a and Suisham got by. But Billy is no Jason Elam.
We take pride in all our players. The kicking game is just as important as any other facet. Cortez cost us 2 games with his atrocious kicking performance. I can think of things sadder like borrowing money from someone for education and not having the common decency to work out a payment plan. Maybe you should re-evaluate YOUR priorities.
Cundiff with a 56 yard FG!!!!!
And to think the Cowboys had Cortez for so long. I know Cundiff was hurt, but think of what could have been the difference. Cundiff could have put the Cowboys at 8-1, Seriously.
Good to see him back. I always liked him, and that 56 yarder was a uva welcolme back. Not only did he make it...he made it straight through the upright. That kick could have been a 60 yarder and it still would have been perfect.
This guy isn't Akers or Elam...but he really is near the top.
Billy sees dead people... NEVER EVER DOUBT A MAN WHO SEES DEAD PEOPLE>
this was the first week that we could have resigned him because of his injury settlement
What a way to come back, he hits a ing franchise record 56 yard field goal right?
yes he did. I was stunned.
In a related note, the Eagles cut Cortez. Saw it as a news blurb on my FF site.
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