Cowboys Sign Brandon Aubrey; Robbie Gould Waits In Wings?
The value of a reliable kicker in the NFL? The Dallas Cowboys are aware. It is their hope that newly-signed Brandon Aubrey from the USFL - and from Plano and the world of professional soccer - will be that reliable kicker.
But it does sound like the definition of a "reliable kicker,'' Robbie Gould, is waiting in the NFL wings.
"I know training camp is coming up and I'm ready for the next opportunity," Gould told NBCSportsBayArea.com. "And I'm sure these teams will give these young kids a chance and find out who has a chance to compete. I think things will get a lot more serious.''
Aubrey, the former Notre Dame and MLS soccer star who just started playing football two years ago, is capable of knocking down 60 yard kicks, as seen on his Instagram story. And Aubrey knocked down 14 of 15 field goal attempts and all 35 PATs last season in the USFL while coached by Chris Boniol, the Cowboys' former Super Bowl-winning kicker.
"Brandon is an athlete and has the right mental makeup to make the big kick,'' Boniol, who served as the USFL-champion Birmingham Stallions' special-teams coordinator, tells CowboysSI.com's Mike Fisher. "In terms of his mentality, he's a lot like Dan Bailey.''
In Cowboys lore, that might be an ultimate compliment. (Oh, and given the way Boniol guided Aubrey? Boniol surely merits a look as an NFL staff hire.)
Meanwhile, free agent kicker Gould remains unsigned as the 40-year-old veteran waits ... honestly, for failure on the part of Aubrey or Tristan Vizcaino in Dallas, or for failure with any other "young kids getting a chance.''
Gould spent the last six seasons in San Francisco. The Cowboys know what he can do. But he's also a $4 million kicker; Aubrey and Vizcaino are minimum-wage guys.
Gould has been a All-Pro in his 18-year career. Cowboys special-teams coordinator "Bones'' Fassel, CowboysSI.com was first to report, made multiple trips to USFL games to watch Aubrey (and other kickers) in person in an attempt to find that next kicking star.
Following a season where Brett Maher missed all four PAT attempts in a playoff victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, finding a cool, calm and collected kicker would be a blessing for Cowboys fans. Boniol tells us that Aubrey can be that guy. And if not?
"Yeah, I'm ready to go and looking forward to the next season,'' said the lurking Gould.
You can find Riley Sheppard on Twitter @RileyDSheppard
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