An absolute bombshell has been dropped by the Dallas Cowboys. They've reportedly released kicker Dan Bailey -- according to multiple sources -- as they work to shave down their bloated 90-man roster to a mandatory 53-man head count. Following a strong start to camp, Bailey had a rough two days wherein he missed more than one kick, again fueling an undercurrent of doubt from those who are terrified he'll never be the same again -- despite the aforementioned great practice days that preceded the rough patch. Garrett, however, was far from concerned at the time. "We keep going back to the body of work that [Bailey has] had for us," he said. "He's been as good as it gets in the National Football League the last seven, either years kicking the football. We feel great about him." This jives with what Bailey said at the top of the offseason, speaking with The Dallas Morning News at the time, drawing a very definitive line on where and when things started to trend negatively for him in 2017. "I started the year great, probably the best I've been hitting the ball," Bailey said. "And then I had that injury, ever since then I can't get back in my normal groove. If I had an answer for it specifically, I definitely would've addressed it already. A lot to evaluate obviously going into the offseason. "This is all new territory for me, really going back to the injury. Ever since then it's uncharted territory, so, obviously largely disappointing on a lot of levels. I've got to take my medicine on it and learn from it. I'm not going to be happy about it. "You want to be you out there every time you go out there." Bailey remains the second-most accurate kicker in NFL history with a success rate of 88.152%, despite his 2017 struggles. Only seven seasons into his NFL career, the 30-year-old logically still has a ton of tread left on his boot, but swinging an accurate leg that's attached to a hurt groin would be a challenge for anyone who didn't arrive from the future with the goal of murdering Sarah Connor. He was the Cowboys' most prolific weapon, until now. For the team, with August soon in the rearview, it's all about looking ahead -- leading them to go with Brett Maher over Bailey, who had a solid preseason. Another strong NFL Draft haul and some potent free agency signings later and the Cowboys are in much better position at the end of August than they were when spring rolled around, but they haven't dodged every bullet. Their perennial All-Pro center, Travis Frederick, is sidelined indefinitely with the rare Guillain-Barre Syndrome, an autoimmune disease that causes antibodies to attack nerve cells. As he works to get healthy again, depth questions now surface on the offensive line, a corps that was thought rebuilt with the addition of rookie Connor Williams. And speaking of the aforementioned Thomas, there's been on movement in months regarding any chance he'd land in Dallas, and EVP Stephen Jones has committed to watching the waiver wire with a magnifying glass to begin September -- in the hopes of finding additional help at both the OL and safety position. Xavier Woods (hamstring) isn't expected to miss more than the regular season opener against the Carolina Panthers, but that doesn't resolve what happens behind him, Kavon Frazier and Jeff Heath. They brought in additional talent, via Dominick Sanders and Jeron Johnson, but either one making the final roster was a longshot from the moment the pen hit the paper. The good news is, to Jones' point, there are 31 other teams also making cuts so there will be no shortage of talent available for potential waiver claim. It's already raining talent as teams around the league start hacking at their rosters, setting things up to look very interesting come Sept 3, with a mountain of potential movement set to take place this weekend.<doc-sep>The Dallas Cowboys released longtime starting kicker Dan Bailey as the team trimmed its roster to reach the 53-man limit on Saturday. Bailey, who went undrafted out of Oklahoma State in 2011, played seven full seasons with Dallas. The 30-year-old has connected on 88.2% of his career field-goal attempts, marking the second-most accurate figure in NFL history. Last season, Bailey made 15-of-20 field-goal attempts, appearing in 12 games while dealing with back and groin injuries. Bailey was owed a base salary of $3.4 million each of the next three seasons, according to Dallas Morning News' Brandon George. In 2014, Bailey had signed a seven-year, $22.5 million contract. The Cowboys retained the services of kicker Brett Maher. In April, Dallas signed Maher, who had spent most of his professional career in the Canadian Football League after going undrafted out of Nebraska in 2013. Maher had a brief stint with the Cleveland Browns last season, but did not appear in a game. Maher also doubles as a punter. Maher made 4-of-5 field goal attempts this preseason, with a long of 57. Bailey made his only attempt, a 35-yarder during the second week of preseason action.<doc-sep>FILE - In this Dec. 24, 2017, file photo, Dallas Cowboys kicker Dan Bailey (5) kicks a field goal from the hold of Chris Jones during the first half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks in Arlington, Texas. The Cowboys, on Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018, waived Bailey, the second-most accurate kicker in NFL history, in a surprise move to get their roster to 53 players for the regular season. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth, File) ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -- The Dallas Cowboys waived Dan Bailey, the second-most accurate kicker in NFL history, in a surprise move Saturday to get their roster to 53 players for the regular season. Bailey was the Dallas kicker for seven seasons and made at least 93 percent of his kicks in three of his first five years. The former Oklahoma State player tailed off badly last season after injuring his groin against San Francisco in the sixth game of the season. By waiving Bailey, the Cowboys are going with Brett Maher. The sixth-year player from Nebraska hasn't kicked in a regular-season game. He made a 57-yarder in the Cowboys' 14-6 loss to Houston in the preseason finale. Before the injury, Bailey was the most accurate in NFL history among kickers with at least 100 attempts. He was 8 of 13 after the injury to finish 2017 at a career-low 75 percent. The 30-year-old Bailey's accuracy dropped nearly 20 percentage points over his final two seasons. Bailey is at 88.2 percent for his career (186 of 211), second to Justin Tucker's 90.2 percent. Bailey is Dallas' career leader in field goals. The move on Bailey could have been a financial one since it saves $3.4 million against the salary cap. Maher, who is signed through 2019, will make $480,000 this season. Tight end Rico Gathers made the 53-man roster a day after he was arrested on a charge of possession of marijuana. The former Baylor basketball player hasn't played in the regular season going into his third year. Dallas made the unusual move of keeping four tight ends in its first season without Jason Witten, who retired after 15 years to take the role as lead analyst for ''Monday Night Football.'' Geoff Swaim is the only tight end on the roster with a catch in the regular season. Blake Jarwin is listed as the backup, and the Cowboys drafted Dalton Schultz in the fourth round this year. The Cowboys made room for Gathers by keeping just two running backs in Ezekiel Elliott and Rod Smith. Former Alabama running back Bo Scarbrough was among the cuts, with Dallas likely hoping to add the seventh-round pick to the practice squad. Story continues Dallas waived two of its free agent signings in defensive end Kony Ealy and receiver Deonte Thompson, who was slowed by an Achilles tendon injury in training camp. Defensive tackle Jihad Ward, acquired in a trade that sent 2017 fourth-round pick Ryan Switzer to Oakland, was waived. Switzer, a receiver and kick returner, has since been traded to Pittsburgh. The Cowboys waived a pair of recent third-round picks in offensive lineman Chaz Green (2015) and defensive end Charles Tapper (2016). Both were slowed by injuries early in their careers. Green was benched during a poor showing while starting in place of left tackle Tyron Smith against Atlanta last season. Dak Prescott was sacked a career-high eight times in that game. --- More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/tag/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP-NFL<doc-sep>
It's not often kicker transactions qualify as important news on the same day players like Khalil Mack get moved, but it's not often a kicker like Dan Bailey gets released. On Saturday, as the league trimmed their rosters to 53 players, the Cowboys made a surprising move to cut Bailey, who joined the Cowboys in 2011 and went on to become the best kicker in franchise history. They'll replace him with Brett Maher, who has also been with the Jets and Browns during his career, but has never kicked in a regular-season NFL game. He did drill a 57-yard field goal in the team's preseason finale, which could've conceivably factored into the Cowboys' decision to hand him their starting job. Bailey, on the other hand, has converted 88.2 percent of his field goals in his career for a grand total of 186 field goals. In Cowboys' franchise history, he ranks first in made field goals, first in field goal percentage, second in made extra points, and third in total points scored. He is, however, coming off his worst season as a pro (15 of 20 on field goals), which might be why the Cowboys decided to move on from him. It's probably also as much about Bailey's contract, which ran through the 2020 season, as it was about his recent struggles. According to Over The Cap, Bailey was set to earn $4.2 million in 2018. By cutting him, the Cowboys saved $3.4 million. Still, trying to save money by cutting a reliable kicker can be costly. Just ask the Chicago Bears, who once cut franchise legend Robbie Gould and then went on to get tormented by his replacements (and by Gould himself). Nobody truly appreciates kickers until they have one who can't be counted on to make field goals. On a much broader level, it's bizarre to look at a Cowboys roster that doesn't include Tony Romo, Jason Witten, Dez Bryant, and Bailey. The times they are a changin' in Dallas, it's just not clear if they're changing for the better.