Cowboys team owner Jerry Jones said Wednesday that the team will be "starting over" at kicker, implying that Maher is unlikely to be retained heading into the 2023 season, Clarence E. Hill Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.
Maher is already headed for free agency with his contract set to expire at the start of the new league year, and Dallas apparently won't be looking to re-sign the 33-year-old. After bouncing around several organizations for much of his career, Maher appeared to find a home in Dallas in 2022. He was one of the NFL's top kickers during the regular season, converting 29 of his 32 field-goal attempts and totaling 137 points, tied for third in the NFL. However, his regular season performance was overshadowed by missing six of his final seven extra-point attempts over a three-game stretch between Week 18 against Washington and the Cowboys' two playoff games. Maher likely won't struggle to get an opportunity to compete for a kicking job during training camp and the preseason, but a team may be reluctant to hand him the gig outright heading into 2023.
... See More... See Less
Cowboys' Brett Maher: Big year marred by playoff gaffes
Rotowire
Maher connected on 29 of 32 field-goal attempts, including nine of 11 from 50 yards or longer, and 50 of 53 extra-point attempts across 17 regular-season games in 2022.
His impressive performance during the regular season, which saw Maher finish tied for third in the NFL with 137 points, was the good news. The bad? His dreadful postseason numbers, as he missed five of six PATs in two playoff games. The kicker is an unrestricted free agent this offseason, and the rough ending to his campaign could put his future with the Cowboys in doubt. With special-teams coach John Fassel expected to return to Dallas in 2023, however, Maher likely will get a chance to prove his postseason woes were just an aberration.
... See More... See Less
Cowboys' Brett Maher: Retaining role Sunday
Rotowire
The Cowboys didn't elevate Tristan Vizcaino from the practice squad Saturday, meaning Maher will serve as the team's placekicker during Sunday's divisional-round game at San Francisco.
In the wake of Maher missing his first four extra-point attempts this past Monday at Tampa Bay, Dallas seemingly had a problem at kicker as it advanced in the postseason. While coach Mike McCarthy and special teams coordinator John Fassel expressed trust in Maher on Tuesday, owner Jerry Jones was less forthright, saying the team would "take a look" at the situation, per Jon Machota of The Athletic. The Cowboys ended up signing Vizcaino to the practice squad one day later, but ultimately Maher will continue to handle all kicking duties this weekend.
... See More... See Less
Cowboys' Brett Maher: Another kicker in Dallas
Rotowire
Maher, who is expected to be the Cowboys' placekicker for Sunday's divisional-round game in San Francisco, will be joined at the position after the team signed Tristan Vizcaino to the practice squad Wednesday, Todd Archer of ESPN.com reports.
Despite making 50 of 53 point-after tries during the regular season, Maher raised some question marks regarding his job security during Monday's 31-14 wild-card win at Tampa Bay after missing his first four extra points. He proceeded to make his final PAT following Dallas' last touchdown, and head coach Mike McCarthy and special teams coordinator John Fassel both noted Tuesday that Maher should retain his duties in the second round of the playoffs, according to Jon Machota of The Athletic. Team owner Jerry Jones was less committal, though, saying the team would "take a look" at the situation, and now another placekicker is in the building. As a result, Maher's status will be one to monitor as the weekend approaches to get a sense of his odds to keep kicking for the Cowboys on Sunday.
... See More... See Less
Cowboys' Brett Maher: Retains job after four missed PATs
Rotowire
Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy and special teams coordinator John Fassel both noted after Monday's 31-14 win over the Buccaneers in the wild-card round that Maher will retain placekicking duties for Sunday's divisional-round game at San Francisco, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports. "We're going to forge ahead (with Maher)," McCarthy said Tuesday. "As of right now, that's the plan."
Meanwhile, Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones was less willing to provide an endorsement of Maher, saying he would "take a look" at their kicking situation after the 33-year-old missed point-after attempts on the Cowboys' first four touchdowns of Monday's game before converting his final extra-point try in the fourth quarter. As of Wednesday, the Cowboys have yet to bring in any other kickers for tryouts, so Maher looks like he'll get the chance to put Monday's nightmarish outing behind him. Though Fassel believes Maher was dealing with the "yips" Monday, the Cowboys apparently have optimism that the kicker will be able to bounce back with a strong week of practice. Maher earned himself the longer leash after turning in an outstanding regular season in which he missed just six kicks (three field goals, three extra points) and went 9-for-11 on attempts of 50-plus yards.
... See More... See Less
Cowboys' Brett Maher: Goose egg in season finale
Rotowire
Maher didn't receive a field-goal attempt and missed his only extra point try in Sunday's loss to the Commanders.
It was a mind-bogglingly bad performance by the entire Dallas offense to close out the regular season, and Maher's first missed PAT since Week 13 on his only kick of the day was the cherry on top. The 33-year-old still set a new career high with 50 made PATs this season and tied his career high with 29 FGs, including a 9-for-11 showing from 50 yards or longer, and Maher may not be able to afford any mistakes in Monday's wild-card clash with the Buccaneers.
... See More... See Less
Cowboys' Brett Maher: Makes all kicks
Rotowire
Maher made both of his field-goal attempts and all three of his extra-point tries in Week 17's 27-13 win over the Titans.
Maher converted field goals from 36 and 45 yards, helping him accumulate nine points. His total of 137 points on the season currently leads all kickers with one week remaining.
... See More... See Less
Cowboys' Brett Maher: Piles up points against Eagles
Rotowire
Maher converted all four of his field-goal attempts and all four of his extra points in Saturday's 40-34 win over the Eagles.
Both offenses had field days despite the fact that the Dallas and Philly defenses ranked among the best units in the league, and Maher once again cashed in every opportunity he was given. The 16 points tied his season high, and while the kicker doesn't always get many FG chances, he's booted at least three PATs in nine straight games.
... See More... See Less
Cowboys' Brett Maher: Ten points in OT loss
Rotowire
Maher connected on both his field-goal attempts and all four of his PATs in Sunday's overtime loss to the Jaguars.
He booted field goals on back-to-back Dallas possessions in the third quarter to give the team a 27-10 lead, but the Jags stormed back late and eventually came away with a 40-34 victory. Maher continues to see plenty of extra points, but his inconsistent FG volume has meant he's only reached double-digit points twice in the last nine games. His impressive leg strength -- he's 9-for-11 on FG attempts from 50 yards or more, including a 53-yarder on Sunday -- does give him extra fantasy value in formats that reward longer field goals, however.
... See More... See Less
Cowboys' Brett Maher: Perfect in Sunday's win
Rotowire
Maher converted both his field-goal attempts and all three of his extra-point attempts in Sunday's win over the Texans.
It's just the second time in the Cowboys' last seven games Maher has seen multiple FG attempts, but the team's offense has provided him with plenty of PAT opportunities -- he hasn't kicked fewer than three extra points in a game during that stretch. He'll remain a high-floor fantasy option heading into a Week 15 trip to Jacksonville.
... See More... See Less
Cowboys' Brett Maher: FG opportunities drying up
Rotowire
Maher connected on six of seven extra point attempts in Sunday's 54-19 win over the Colts.
He had one PAT blacked and missed out on another when the Cowboys went for two while the outcome of the game was still in doubt. The Dallas offense may be too efficient right now for Maher to have much of a fantasy ceiling -- he's seen at least four extra-point attempts in five straight games, but has zero FG attempts in three of them and only one (which he missed) in one of the other two. That distribution of opportunities isn't likely to change much in Week 14 against the lowly Texans.
... See More... See Less
Cowboys' Brett Maher: Rare miss in Thanksgiving win
Rotowire
Maher missed his only field-goal attempt but connected on all four of his extra points in Thursday's win over the Giants.
His 46-yard miss in the fourth quarter didn't affect the final result, but it was his first misfire on a FG attempt of less than 50 yards all season. Maher is 22-for-22 on PATs over the last five games, giving him a steady fantasy floor, but he's seen more than one FG attempt only once during that stretch as the efficiency of the Dallas offense has limited his ceiling.
... See More... See Less
Cowboys' Brett Maher: Busy in Sunday's rout
Rotowire
Maher connected on all four of his field-goal attempts and all four of his PATs in Sunday's 40-3 win over the Vikings.
With the Cowboys' offense slipping into overdrive, Maher had plenty of chances to rack up points, but his most impressive feat came at the end of the second quarter. He booted a 60-yard field goal just as the clock expired on the half, only for the kick to get undone by a late replay call from upstairs. After CeeDee Lamb's catch was upheld, Maher calmly stepped up and drilled the 60-yarder again. The 33-year-old hasn't missed a kick since Week 6 and hasn't missed a field goal under 50 yards all season, giving him both a solid floor and impressive ceiling heading into Dallas' Thanksgiving clash with the Giants.
... See More... See Less
Cowboys' Brett Maher: Career-high seven PATs
Rotowire
Maher connected on all seven of his extra-point attempts in Sunday's 49-29 win over the Bears.
Despite not getting any field-goal attempts, Maher still wound up with solid production by virtue of sheer volume. The 32-year-old kicker's prior career high for PATs in a single game was five, set in Week 1 of the 2019 season, and with Dak Prescott back under center and the Cowboys' offense regaining its swagger, Maher figures to be plenty busy in the second half of the season.
... See More... See Less
Cowboys' Brett Maher: Perfect against Detroit
Rotowire
Maher connected on his only field-goal attempt and all three of his PATs in Sunday's win over the Lions.
It's the first time since Week 1 that Maher hasn't seen multiple FG attempts, and perhaps not coincidentally, that was also the last time Dak Prescott was under center. The three extra points were a season high though, and if a more efficient Cowboys offense trades some of the former for the latter, Maher should still see enough volume to have a steady fantasy floor.
... See More... See Less
Cowboys' Brett Maher: Misses FG in Sunday's loss
Rotowire
Maher connected on both his extra points and one of two field-goal attempts during Sunday's 26-17 loss to the Eagles.
The fourth-quarter miss from 59 yards out had the distance but drifted wide right, and it would have brought the Cowboys to within one score with a little over a minute left in the game. Maher has missed only three kicks -- two of 16 field goals and one of nine PATs -- through six games, and he could see a spike in opportunities in Week 7 against the Lions if Dak Prescott (thumb) is able to return to action.
... See More... See Less
Cowboys' Brett Maher: Kicker to Sit
Rotowire
Maher has drilled at least three field goals in three consecutive games and has at least 11 Fantasy points in four consecutive games. However, Matt Amendola and the Cardinals produced the first two field goal attempts of the season against this Eagles defense in Week 5. The Eagles have allowed one field goal on two attempts through six weeks, which is crazy. Maher should be replaced in most leagues for this matchup on the road.
... See More... See Less
Cowboys' Brett Maher: Perfect in win over Rams
Rotowire
Maher connected on all three of his field-goal attempts and his only PAT in a Week 5 win over the Rams.
He produced the only points in the second half on two FGs, as the Cowboys' defense dominated after intermission. Maher has connected on multiple field goals in each of Cooper Rush's four starts, and he could be busy again in Week 6 against the undefeated Eagles in an NFC East showdown.
... See More... See Less
Cowboys' Brett Maher: Scores season high
Rotowire
Maher made all four of his field-goal attempts but missed one of two extra-point tries in Sunday's 25-10 win over the Commanders.
Maher converted from 53, 45, 28 and 29 yards on his field goals, which, despite missing a PAT, helped him accumulate a season-high 13 points. Through four games, Maher now sports 35 points, ranking third among kickers league-wide.
... See More... See Less
Cowboys' Brett Maher: Scores double digits
Rotowire
Maher made three of his four field-goal attempts as well as his only extra-point try in Monday night's 23-16 win over the Giants.
Maher converted from 26, 28 and 44 yards on his three field goals, with his lone miss coming from 59 yards as the first half expired. He now sports 22 points through three games.
