We got a kicker

^^^Can't be any worse than Remmers

The Minnesota Vikings have elected to re-sign
kicker Dan Bailey for the 2019 season, and the deal is one that head
coach Mike Zimmer would even approve.
Bailey
joined the Vikings during the 2018 season after the team decided to move
on from Daniel Carlson. Minnesota elected to bring on one of the most
accurate kickers in the NFL in Bailey to avoid any more missed kicks.
That didn't exactly happen, but it was still overall better. Bailey went
21-28 on field goals and 30-31 in PATs for the Vikings in 2018.
Zimmer has been critical on the kickers of the
Vikings since the day he took the job. During his time in Minnesota, the
Vikings have had Blair Walsh, Kai Forbath, Daniel Carlson, and Dan
Bailey interchanged on the roster. At one point in the 2018 season, Zimmer said that he would start going for it on fourth down instead of sending Bailey out to kick due to him missing two attempts.
Now
Bailey will have to earn his money. The new one-year deal is worth only
$250,000 in guaranteed money with the chance to earn up to $2 million
in incentives according to Tom Pelissero.
This would also make it appear that Bailey would
have a short leash to start the season at a low price of $250,000. The
team could still look into other directions for kickers if they choose
to do so.
Bailey has connected on 86.6% of his
field goals and 99% of PATs through his entire eight-year career that
has spanned between the Dallas Cowboys and Vikings.

I'm more than OK with this, as the sheer number of kickers we've gone through suggested a problem with our ST coaching/staff more than with the kickers themselves.

Well that's good news. I think

A bit surprised Bailey would take that deal, but no complaints.

The $250K in guarantees really shows they aren't committed to Bailey as the kicker in 2019, he'll have to earn the job. He was money inside 40 yards last season but it was a coin toss on anything longer than that. 

With Patterson returning kicks for the Bears, I was hoping for a kicker with a higher touchback percentage. That aside, I think Bailey is a good choice.

@"jargomcfargo" said: With Patterson returning kicks for the Bears, I was hoping for a kicker with a higher touchback percentage. That aside, I think Bailey is a good choice.

of course who knows with Priefer gone how that will affect how our kickers approach kick offs.

At 250K, we can afford a KO specialist...lol

I would prefer Carlson over Bailey . . . but I guess that ship has sailed.

I would like it if ALL kickers were paid with "prove it" contracts.  If they are really good... then make the requirements to reach their incentives higher (and the pay).  If Bailey comes through for us, pay him $500,000 next year... with the possibility of making $3-$4 million (if he's money).  If we KNEW he was going to be consistent, he'd be worth it.

@"pumpf" said: I would like it if ALL kickers were paid with "prove it" contracts.  If they are really good... then make the requirements to reach their incentives higher (and the pay).  If Bailey comes through for us, pay him $500,000 next year... with the possibility of making $3-$4 million (if he's money).  If we KNEW he was going to be consistent, he'd be worth it.

I actually have always thought that there are very few kickers that are worth long-term deal with guaranteed money. There is just so much risk and inconsistencies year over year. My rule of thumb is that if you're going to guarantee money, make sure you're out of it after the first year of the deal. 

WE can always draft some competition.

Kickers are not valued in today's salary cap, guaranteed contract NFL. Almost throwaways yet they impact wins and losses in a way that is much greater than how they are treated. Its a weird thing.