By Todd Archer
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- Even with Dave Rayner missing field goal attempts from 51 and 36 yards and David Buehler missing from 48 yards, Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones knows who will be the team’s kicker for the Sept. 11 season opener.
He just isn’t saying who, but it sounds like the Cowboys will keep two.
If it is two kickers, then Buehler will be a kickoff specialist. Rayner, who signed Tuesday, Shayne Graham and rookie Dan Bailey would be the field goal candidates.
Rayner said he slightly pushed the 51-yarder and his 36-yard attempt came off the infield dirt inside Sun Life Stadium.
“Man, that’s not how I saw that going tonight,” Rayner said. “From start to finish that was not how I had drawn it out in my head. You know what, I’m going to go in tomorrow, watch the film and get it figured out and hopefully I’ll get another shot.”
Buehler pushed his 48-yarder but made a 20-yard try and had a touchback on the opening kickoff.
“The elements were not too friendly for a kicker, but you’ve got to go out and get the job done,” Buehler said. “I hit my first field goal well and kickoff pretty well … but I need to make that 48-yarder. I know I can make every kick in front of me. I have the confidence. I have the ability. I just need to go out and do it.”
Jones admitted disappointment in the 1-of-4 evening from his kickers, but this quote makes it sound as if Buehler has a spot.
“I would like to have seen them made it, but I know this: I want that ball to go into the end zone [on kickoffs],” Jones said. “Seriously, I want it to go there every time on kickoffs. So we want that to happen.”
