The Arizona Cardinals have added a veteran kicker to the roster on first day of free agency
It was always known the Arizona Cardinals were not entirely happy with how things transpired in the kicking game in 2016. Now with a veteran kicker being added to the mix, say goodbye to Chandler Catanzaro.
Welcome in Phil Dawson, who will be playing in his 20th NFL season in 2017. Dawson has come in after spending the last five seasons with the San Francisco 49ers.
Originally it was thought despite the disappointment in Catanzaro, the Cardinals would keep him and bring in competition in camp to challenge him. Now, it seems like the job is going to be given to Dawson to lose.
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Dawson, 42, who spent the first 14-years of his career with the Cleveland Browns, has an 84.5 field goal percentage. As we found out last season, accuracy is important.
Let’s not throw Catanzaro under the bus however. The Cardinals problems ran deeper than kicking last season. Catanzaro’s kicking also only cost the Cardinals two games at the end. Let’s not forget he also won two games at the end in 2016.
For that reason I believe there is still a good chance the Cardinals bring ‘Cat-Man’ in for training camp. You just never know how things might turn out?
Of course this brings up age as an issue. How much longer can Dawson continue to kick at a high level? Many kickers have played into their mid-late 40’s.
Even if the Cardinals do not bring Catanzaro back, I would expect the Cardinals to bring someone else in for training camp to push Dawson. They likely will not leave the kicking game up to chance again in 2017.