Cowboys cut Vanderjagt
The Dallas Cowboys released Mike Vanderjagt on Monday, apparently tired of his inability to live up to his reputation as the most accurate kicker in league history. Martin Gramatica was signed as his replacement.
The Cowboys gave Vanderjagt a $2.5 million bonus as part of a three-year, $5.4 million contract to shore up a position coach Bill Parcells felt cost the team three wins last season.
However, he was injured and inconsistent in training camp, plus reluctant to handle kickoffs. Parcells never seemed to warm to him and he was only 13 of 18 on field goals, the lowest success rate (72 percent) of his career.
Dallas (7-4) plays at the New York Giants (6-5) on Sunday. Winners of three straight, the Cowboys are first in the NFC East, with the Giants one game back.
Vick apologizes
Michael Vick’s frustrations with fading playoff hopes and unexpected insults from home fans caused him to flash an obscene hand gesture on Sunday.
Vick, who apologized in a written statement late Sunday for making the gesture toward fans with both hands following the crushing 31-13 loss to New Orleans, vowed to never make the same mistake.
“I would have never thought that six years into my career I would ever do something like that,” Vick said.
“It will never happen again. Never.”
The Falcons heard loud boos following their fourth straight loss. Vick said that as he walked off the Georgia Dome field he heard an especially disturbing insult from a male fan.
Seau out for season
The New England Patriots placed linebacker Junior Seau on injured reserve after he seriously injured his right arm in Sunday’s 17-13 with over the Chicago Bears.
The 12-time Pro Bowl selection will miss the rest of the season after coming out of a brief retirement to join the Patriots this summer.
Ward undergoes surgery
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee and will miss at least one game.
Ward, a four-time Pro Bowl receiver, hurt the knee on Nov. 19 against Cleveland – an injury initially called a hyperextension.
He took painkilling shots to play in a 27-0 loss Sunday at Baltimore, but the injury flared up again during the third quarter and he left the game.
When an MRI exam revealed a broken bone, Ward immediately underwent arthroscopic surgery.
Charger arrested
San Diego third-string cornerback Cletis Gordon was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving in San Diego, the sixth run-in with the law by a Chargers player since April.
San Diego police took Gordon, a 23-year-old rookie, into custody some 10 hours after the Chargers beat the Oakland Raiders 21-14. His car was impounded, and he was released on his own recognizance later in the morning.
Colts sign Proehl
Ricky Proehl’s agent said the veteran receiver signed with the Indianapolis Colts, who have been without Brandon Stokley for most of the season.
Proehl, 38, agreed to a one-year deal that would be prorated on a $1.2 million base salary.
Game time changed
The NFL moved the Dec. 10 game between the New Orleans Saints and Dallas Cowboys to Sunday night as part of the flexible schedule negotiated in the current television contract. It will begin at 5:15 p.m. PST.
Browns announcer dies
Casey Coleman, who did play-by-play for the Cleveland Browns for nearly 30 years, died Monday in Cleveland of pancreatic cancer. He was 55.