Dan Bailey cost the Minnesota Vikings 10 points on Sunday afternoon. His kicking, combined with terrible 1st half playcalling and an NFL agenda carried out by their referees, cost the Vikings a huge win vs Tom Brady and the Bucs.

Bailey missed three field goals and an extra point. He kicked the ball four times and not one went through the uprights. Today’s missed kicks made for SEVEN total misses in the last two games. The mind of an NFL kicker continues to astound Vikings coaches and fans.

Bailey has been a top-tier kicker in the NFL for nearly a decade. But now, he’s facing a possible meeting with free agency, which would mean the Vikings could be again looking for a kicker. Unfortunately, Kai Forbath is kicking game-winning field goals in Washington and Daniel Carlson is killing it in Las Vegas.

So who is available for the taking?

Top free agent kickers

Finding a list of NFL free agents is more difficult than I imagined it would be but I was able to find a “top free agent kicker” list from former NFL kicker, Nick Novak’s instagram account.

Blair Walsh…

Anyone up for a Blair Walsh reunion? If so, he’s one of the top-available options. I doubt the Vikings go this route and I think fans would take another chance at Dan Bailey redemption, than they would Walsh. Blair worked out for the Titans in November.

Georgio Tavvechio

Georgio Tavvechio started this year on the Atlanta Falcons roster but never made it out of training camp. He does have some NFL experience but you have to go back to 2018 to find it. Tavvechio worked out for the Giants and the Titans in November.

Ali Mourtada

This is my pick. Ali Mourtada is another Nick Novak guy and he has video on instagram where he’s kicking absolute bombs. He looks like a guy with some confidence too.

Mourtada is 30 years old and hasn’t kicked in a real football game anytime recently but who cares. He’s clearly still training and looking for his shot. Why not give it to him? What do the Vikings have to lose?

You can see all of the kickers Nick Novak has been working out HERE.

Practice Squad Kickers

Kickers are rotating through NFL practice squads this year like shoppers through a turnstile on black friday. Teams can technically sign players off of each other’s practice squad as long as they are willing to have them on the NFL roster for a minimum 3 weeks.

It’s difficult to even find up-to-date practice squad rosters but there are some names you might know… including a kicker on the Minnesota Vikings’ own practice squad.

Tristan Vizcaino (Vikings PS)

The Vikings signed Tristan Vizcaino to the practice squad in November and now he’ll probably have an opportunity to earn a starting spot. He’s only 24 years old. I know nothing about him but here he is drilling a 57-yarder in the 2019 preseason.

Here’s #Vikings practice squad kicker Tristan Vizcaino drilling a 57-yard field goal in the 2019 preseason.

I’d imagine the Vikings will bring in several kickers this week, but Vizcaino is the main name to know. pic.twitter.com/THJfSqAgTA

— Will Ragatz (@WillRagatz) December 13, 2020

Kaare Vedvik (WFT PS)

Yup, the guy the Vikings panic-traded for a couple of years ago still exists. Currently (according to OurLads.com), Vedvik is on the Washington Football Team practice squad.

Sam Sloman (Titans PS)

Sam Sloman was a rookie kicker for the Rams before he started sucking and Kai Forbath was called in. After some time in the free agent pool, Sloman now sits on the Titans practice squad.

Here is the list of practice squad players (according to OurLads.com)

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

The #Vikings have agreed to terms with K Dan Bailey.

?: https://t.co/s4aykfoRJS pic.twitter.com/nFmmyYqRWy

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) March 19, 2020

Dan Bailey's new contract with the #Vikings is for three years. So that's some kicking stability they hope moving forward.

— Chris Tomasson (@christomasson) March 19, 2020

The Vikings have finally eased all of our worries with their latest move in this busy offseason. Is this real life? They signed Dan Bailey to kick field goals for 3 years. So, 3 Vikings seasons not worried about every field goal and extra point???.

No fanbase worries more about special teams than the Vikings’ fanbase…. and for good reasons (we don’t need to get into them right now).

Training Camp last year was absurd. “Sure, Kirk Cousins needs to be better and our O-line needs to start protecting him….. BUT WHO IS GOING TO KICK FIELD GOALS?”

Not this year. In 2020, the Vikings will have the same kicker, holder and punter, as they did last year. Britton Colquitt was brought in to do the two ladder of those three special teams tasks, and the Vikings just re-upped him earlier this week.

Also, Dan Bailey might be the first kicker I’ve ever seen Mike Zimmer say anything nice about… which has to count for something.

When the money on the deal comes in, I’ll update this post.

Here are some stats on Dan Bailey in 2019 (via Vikings.com release):

Having originally signed with the Vikings after Week 2 of the 2018 season, Bailey has since played 30 games (excluding postseason) for Minnesota and has made 48 of 57 (84.2 percent) field goal attempts in that span. He has gone 70-for-75 (93.3 percent) on PATs.

Bailey in 2019 ranked fourth in the NFL with a 93.1 field goal percentage, making 27 of 29 attempts, including all three of his attempts from 50-plus yards. He also was perfect on three field goals and three PATs over the course of Minnesota’s pair of playoff games.

He recorded touchbacks on 66 of his 87 kickoffs for the Vikings last season.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

What Popped Off the Field Friday Night:

The new look offense came out firing. There has been a ton of chatter this off-season around Kubiak and Stefanski looking for Kirk to be a better improviser, when things don’t go exactly to plan. They took a majority of the snaps from under center, mixed in some play-action, bootlegs and Kirk really looked comfortable with the game plan. Kirk finished the opening series (his only series) 4/4 65 yards 1 TD along with a drive extending 10 yard run on a 3rd down. A play where Kirk showed great pocket awareness and took what the defense gave him opposed to sitting back in the pocket and taking sack. Something we saw way too many times last season. Minus a Rashod Hill holding penalty early on, the OL did the job. Alexander Mattison was the 1st team reps at RB as Coach Mike Zimmer stated the new turf in New Orleans was a deciding factor in Dalvin Cook not playing.

#Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said the Superdome turf played a role in deciding not to have Dalvin Cook play.

— Chris Tomasson (@christomasson) August 10, 2019

This pocket movement by Kirk Cousins ?? pic.twitter.com/F0XBEpfAef

— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) August 10, 2019

Kirk Cousins deep to Adam Thielen, giving us the explosive offense they hoped to bring. Great adjustment by Thielen pic.twitter.com/RCfgSpsmIt

— Arif Hasan (@ArifHasanNFL) August 10, 2019

ICYMI – Kirk Cousins connected with Alexander Mattison on a 1-yard TD strike in the first quarter for the #Vikings! Duluth's @cjham28 played a role in the TD! You can watch the game in the Northland on @wdiowirt #Skol pic.twitter.com/OP9ePUvri0

— Dan Williamson (@Dan_Williamson) August 10, 2019

With both Linval Joseph and Shamar Stephen sitting out, it was a great chance for the Vikings DL depth to be on display. Game balls go to both Jayln Holmes and Hercules Mata’afa. Holmes was a wrecking ball in the middle with 4 tackles, 1 sack and 1 TFL. Hercules Mata’afa has been a name that we’ve heard all throughout camp and he certainly didn’t disappoint. Hercules finished the game with 3 tackles, 1 sack, 2 TFLs and 2 QB hits. It appears that he could have a very important role, moving forward. There’s a lot to be excited about on defense. Expect these guys to continue giving fits to OL’s, as the pre/regular season goes on.

Dan Bailey. Now, and throughout camp, there has been a lot of chatter surrounding the veteran kicker. The Vikings are trying a handful of new holders, and switching between long snappers. Bailey didn’t have a FG attempt, as the Vikings cashed in their opportunities on offense, along with a pick 6. Bailey went 4/4 on XP’s. Turf. Indoors. Same environment the Vikings play in. Certainly intriguing. Also, Matt Wile. 2 punts. 42.5 per punt. Long of 55. Both inside the 20. Field position, with a defense like this, is so essential to the overall team success.

Clean up the penalties. Replace Bene Benwikere with Captain Munnerlyn, prosper.

Brian Heintz | Minnesota Sports Fan

The Vikings took Blair Walsh in the 6th-round of the 2012 Draft but he only continued our nightmare in a 2015 (technically 2016) NFC wild card game against Seattle. THAT missed 27-yard chip shot ended one of the coldest games the Vikes have ever played in, pushing fans all over the state into an angered frozen frenzy.

Then there was Kai Forbath, who seemed to make more 40-yard field goals than he did extra points… Oh wait, the Vikings drafted another kicker in 2018, and we can’t forget about him. Daniel Carlson, a fifth round selection this time, WAS THE ANSWER… that is until he missed 3 kicks against Green Bay last season and was let go right after.

After immediately releasing Carlson, the Vikings brought in a proven veteran in Dan Bailey, at least that is what we thought… After going 21/28 last season, Bailey began his 2019 training camp today, going 4/7 in practice, including a miss from 39 yards out.

Rough first day of camp for #Vikings kicker Dan Bailey, who made 4 of 7 attempts, missing from 39, 41 and 47 yards during team field goal sessions.

— Andrew Krammer (@Andrew_Krammer) July 26, 2019

I know it is only training camp and players are still getting into the routine of things, but PTSD is real life, and I can’t take anymore of this heartbreak on what seems to be the easiest thing to do in football. 

Hopefully Bailey puts this behind him and can be reliable for all 16 games this year, but if not, the Vikings will find themselves searching for a kicker in-season, for the second year in a row AND the kicker curse may just live on forever around these parts…

Cam Thompson | Minnesota Sports Fan

You’ll have to excuse me if I come off as a little pissed off in the column this week. I’m writing it after arguably the worst defensive performance in Mike Zimmer’s tenure as Vikings head coach (Yes worse than that damn “Dilly Dilly” Disaster in the NFC Championship Game). The defense is a shell of itself and no one knows why. It is offsetting some truly great QB play by Kirk Cousins, and has left no room for error the rest of the season. So today’s column is going to have a very Vikings feel to it….

Buckle up.

Anthony Barr:

Get off the field. Seriously I don’t care that the Rams were exploiting matchups and  picking on Barr directly (which worked brilliantly for them). We should’ve reached a point in that game where Barr was finally benched. Sure, the scheme vs the Rams seemed to leave Barr hanging out to dry, but this isn’t a one week issue. Whether it’s his lack of a contract extension or just reverting back to previous issues, Barr has been a problem for the Vikings defense all year. What happened to using him on the D-line?

Because this sure isn’t working:

Aldrick Robinson:

How refreshing to have another receiver who can actually catch passes! Robinson, who was signed by the Vikings to add some depth to their receiving corps. (or as a wake up call to Laquon Treadwell, whichever you prefer), scored his first two touchdowns of the season against the Rams. Kirk Cousins cited familiarity with Robinson, going back to their days in Washington, and clearly that familiarity is paying off early.

One game — TWO touchdowns — and Robinson already has more TD’s, with the Vikings, than Treadwell does after 2+ seasons…. I’m all for more Aldrick if he keeps doing things like this:

Dan Bailey:

Good kickers are fun aren’t they? Bailey’s first kick was a bit of an adventure, but he made all 3 field goals, including an absolutely drilled 40-yarder that could not have been more down the middle. After the disastrous kicking start to the year, it’s nice to not have to worry about that for at least a week. But hey, even on the first kick sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good:

Here are some other things I took away from the game:

This is extremely NSFW. Jared Goff had an unbelievable game. Yeah we can rip the defense for their performance but, much like the second half against New Orleans in the playoffs, sometimes all you can do is tip your cap.

Kirk Cousins continues to be worth every damn penny. This Rams defense had not allowed much of anything all year and Captain Kirk single-handedly kept the Vikings in the game. No running game? No defense? Don’t care. In Kirk I trust, because he has been historically good so far this year.

I would like to think so too especially after what we saw against the Rams. George Iloka can’t be too pleased about the lack of playing time, considering he had other options other than signing here. Maybe this is the game that will convince Zimmer to change things up with a return to Philly looming on the schedule in Week 5.

That is all for this week. I still believe in this team, but man they are going to need to make some changes. We’ll see if they do…

Seth Toupal @sethtoups
Minnesota Sports Fan

We all know a tie feels like kissing you sister, but there were a lot of positives to take from the game against the Packers, mainly from the offense in the 4th quarter. And, at least we can still call ourselves undefeated right? Let’s continue with the positivity… If the game didn’t end the way it did, we may not have made the moves that followed. After the tie, the Vikings moved on pick ups that brought in Aldrick Robinson, Dan Bailey and Tom Johnson.

Enough of last week! Here are this week’s bold predictions!

Laquon Treadwell will have over 75 yards receiving:

Normally having 75 yards receiving wouldn’t be too much of a bold prediction, heck Diggs got that on the deep throw from Cousins last Sunday!

Per #NextGenStats, Cousins’ 75-yard touchdown pass to Diggs traveled 62.9 yards in the air.

That’s longer than any single pass from the entire 2017 NFL season. pic.twitter.com/Cyl0kHoAUO

— Nick Olson (@NicholasJOlson) September 19, 2018

But, when we’re talking Laquon Treadwell… 75 yards is pretty damn bold. The amount of emotions he must have had vs. the Packers is insane. He got his first NFL touchdown (in his 3rd season…) but dropped a bunch of balls and caused an interception. The drops caused a lot of Vikings-Faithful to call for his release from the roster completely… (however, this would never happen, as it would cost us over $1.15 million to cut him and we are currently sitting at 150K in cap space according to Ben Goessling).

Kirk Cousins threw his first INT of the season on Sunday, but it wasn’t his fault.

Terrible effort by Laquon Treadwell. 2 catches, 3 drops on six targets.#Vikings #Skol pic.twitter.com/0NzkqRP2N8

— Anthony Broome (@anthonytbroome) September 17, 2018

It was a rough outing to say the least, but the move Treadwell put on his defender to get open for his touchdown, showed improvement. Aldrick Robinson was signed, and Stacey Coley got the axe. With that swap, we should see more competition for the WR3 spot. But, don’t get you hopes up too high just yet Treadwell haters, as Robinson will have to learn a whole new offense in less than a week.

75 yards is doable for Treadwell for multiple reasons. First, the Bills defense is bad. They gave up 47 points to the Ravens in week one and 31 to the Chargers in week 2. Treadwell is still the WR3 in those sets for now and Cousins still believes in Laquon. The Bills offense might be worse than their defense so this could be a blow out early on, pushing Thielen and Diggs to the bench sometime in the 2nd half.

Vikings defense has 5 INTs:

In only his second start, rookie Josh Allen may have a hard time. We all know how good this Vikings defense can be, but they have not been playing up to their potential, yet this season. This is their statement game. Putting constant pressure on Allen should be easy, even with Everson Griffen ruled out, and our secondary should dominate the Bills receivers. Josh Allen threw two interceptions against the Chargers. His day should be even worse this Sunday.

Josh Allen, still the guy you remember from Wyoming. pic.twitter.com/b5KMnC3azK

— Jon Ledyard (@LedyardNFLDraft) September 17, 2018

On a short week, the Vikings will want to put this game away early, to rest some of their starters. Turnovers are the easiest way to finish a game off quickly. Even if the starters are resting in the 2nd half, our defensive back group is deep enough to rack up interceptions off of this quarterback. Players like Mike Hughes, Holton Hill, George Iloka and Jayron Kearse may get extra reps on Sunday, but they are all still starting quality players and should look that way vs the miserable Bills offense.

Dan Bailey will go 4/4 on field goals:

Calm down everyone, we have a new kicker now! After showing rookie Daniel Carlson the door, the Vikings signed the second most accurate kicker in NFL history in Dan Bailey. Vikings fans have a bad history with kickers, even the good ones like Gary Anderson. Could Dan Bailey be the end of our sorrows?

This has to be the hope, as Mike Zimmer has almost gone through as many kickers as he has quarterbacks, during his tenure as the Vikings head coach. He seems to have solved the quarterback position… Could the kicker position now be solidified, not only for this season, but the near future?

Mike Zimmer explains why he released kicker Daniel Carlson and the physical upcoming for Dan Bailey.#Skol pic.twitter.com/Uz7RbIv71l

— Allan Bell (@AllanBell247) September 17, 2018

Going 4/4 in his first game as the kicker for the Minnesota Vikings would be a great start for Dan Bailey.

Final Score Prediction: Vikings: 40 – Bills: 10

Ian Parrague @Superskolfan
Minnesota Sports Fan

Well that didn’t take long. Out with the new and in with the old… or something like that. After his nightmarish Lambeau Field performance on Sunday, Daniel Carlson was waived today and Dan Bailey has been signed in his place:

Not even a full day after his nightmarish performance at Lambeau Field that resulted in a 29-29 tie, the Vikings have moved on at the kicker position. Carlson’s Vikings career saw him go 1-4 on field goals through 2 games, and for a team with Super Bowl aspirations that is not acceptable.

Oh wait there’s more. We have a new kicker already!

Bailey, who most recently kicked for the Dallas Cowboys, was waiting for the best opportunity in picking his newest team. Apparently the Vikings fit that bill. This move makes sense. The Vikings are in win-now mode and can’t afford to lose close games because of bad kicking. Bailey is one of the most accurate kickers in NFL history, despite some struggles last year.

Big leg, veteran kicker. Let’s go. One thing to keep in mind is that this has to go in the “big miss column” for Rick Spielman, who traded up to grab Carlson in the draft. And now he’s gone.

Hopefully we never have to see one of these again:

Well Eric… one down…

Seth Toupal @SethToups
MinnesotaSportsFan.com

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