David Buehler may have to beat out Kris Brown to keep his job anyway. The Cowboys would prefer not to carry two kickers, thus burning a roster spot they could otherwise use for a position player. But a possible rules change could make kickoff specialists a thing of the past.
The NFL is considering moving back kickoffs from the 30 to the 35-yard line. A touchback would result in the receiving team getting the ball at the 25-yard line, instead of the 20. Touchbacks would become far easier, and teams likely would rely on their field-goal kicker to kickoff.
Buehler led the league with 29 touchbacks as a rookie in 2009 when he was a kickoff specialist. He had 22 last season when he had both jobs. Buehler went only 24 of 32 on field goals and missed two PATs last season, which prompted the Cowboys to sign Brown late last season.
In 12 seasons, Brown, a Southlake Carroll product, has made 77.3 percent of his kicks. He attemped only five last season as a temporary fill in with the Chargers after being released by the Texans.
The NFL is considering moving back kickoffs from the 30 to the 35-yard line. A touchback would result in the receiving team getting the ball at the 25-yard line, instead of the 20. Touchbacks would become far easier, and teams likely would rely on their field-goal kicker to kickoff.
Buehler led the league with 29 touchbacks as a rookie in 2009 when he was a kickoff specialist. He had 22 last season when he had both jobs. Buehler went only 24 of 32 on field goals and missed two PATs last season, which prompted the Cowboys to sign Brown late last season.
In 12 seasons, Brown, a Southlake Carroll product, has made 77.3 percent of his kicks. He attemped only five last season as a temporary fill in with the Chargers after being released by the Texans.
