(Editor's Note: Throughout the off-season, DallasCowboys.com staff writers will take a closer look at the roster, analyzing players' impact last season and how each fits into the team's 2016 plans. Today's Roster Rundown entry features kicker Dan Bailey.)
Name: Dan Bailey
Position: Kicker
Height/Weight: 6-0 / 195
Experience: 5 seasons
College: Oklahoma State
Key stat: Bailey accounted for 41.8 percent of the Cowboys' point total in 2015 (115 of 275).
Contract Status:Signed through 2020.
2015 Impact:Highly respected member of the squad. Three-time captain. As steady as they come. The NFL's all-time most accurate kicker. Tied with Josh Brown for the league lead in field goal percentage in 2015. Was named to his first Pro Bowl following the season. Competitive and hard worker. Has "Gym-Rat" qualities to him. Outstanding athlete. Not afraid to mix it up if he has to make a tackle on the kickoff – has 12 for his career. Plays with toughness. One of the best in the league when it comes to mechanics. Consistent on his approach and his foot speed to and through the ball. Rare to see issues with his plant foot – able to repeat the operation without fail. Was initially concerned with his leg strength due to his frame and size but no longer feel that way due to his work in the weight room. Has worked hard to make himself a stronger player. Has shown the ability to successfully execute kicks from distance. Made 5 of 6 from 50-plus yards in 2015 and has converted 21 of 29 for his career. Also had 49 touchbacks out of 71 kickoffs.
Where He Fits: Bailey's not going anywhere – signed through 2020. In a day where kickers are replaced weekly around the league, Bailey has been a model of consistency. Didn't have as many adverse situations in 2015 as he had in 2014 where he had two missed field goals and three blocked kicks. At times it appeared that he might not be as stable and you could tell by body language that non-favorable results really bothered him. It was a much smoother campaign for him and the team benefited from it. [embeddedad0]
Writers' Analysis:
Rob Phillips: Seven-year, $22.5 million deals aren't the norm for kickers. That's what the Cowboys gave Dan Bailey a couple years ago, and it looks worth every penny. In a season where the offense simply couldn't score points with any consistency, Bailey was as about consistent as they could ask for, making 30 of 32 field goal attempts and accounting for over 40 percent of the team's point total. Bailey is currently the league's all-time most accurate kicker at 90.1 percent. He really has the perfect demeanor for long-term success as a field goal kicker in this league, and as Bryan said, he has earned his teammates' respect as a captain.
