Breaking News | Cowboys’ Mike McCarthy ‘very impressed’ with rookie kicker Brandon Aubrey coming into 2023 NFL season

ARLINGTON, Texas — Not many individuals in skilled sports activities are given second jobs or second possibilities. As for Dallas Cowboys rookie kicker Brandon Aubrey, 28, he is grateful for each. The Plano, Texas native spent his faculty years at Notre Dame enjoying soccer as a defender, the place he scored a complete of 15 objectives in 76 video games. His collegiate profession led to a first-round draft choice for Main League Soccer in 2017 after he was chosen by Toronto FC. Nonetheless, his time expired a yr later in 2018.

Quick ahead 4 years to 2022, and Aubrey has rehabbed his leg for soccer, which has instant advantages. He grew to become the USFL’s prime kicker for his finest group, the Birmingham Stallions, making 14 of his 15 subject objectives and all 35 of his additional factors for the 2023 league champions. That efficiency made him notable sufficient that he was introduced again to Texas because the Dallas Cowboys, the place he competed with Tristan Vizcaino all through the offseason for the fitting to succeed the departed Brett Maher because the Silver and Blue’s subsequent kicker. . Vizcaino, who had kicked for 4 NFL groups, was launched on August 7, clearing the best way for Aubrey.

He capped off the kicking job with a high-quality preseason effort, going 2 of three on subject objectives and eight of 9 on additional factors. Two of his three field-goal makes an attempt got here within the Cowboys’ 31–16 house victory over the Las Vegas Raiders of their preseason finale on Saturday night time, each from 59 yards. He missed to the left on the primary try, however had distance. The second time, he did the do-over drill with ease.

“Yeah, it was nice,” Aubrey mentioned after the sport on Saturday. “You do not typically get a second shot at this type of factor. It was good, I used to be simply capable of notice that I shot a bit of increased on the primary one, after which took some off and simply hit my regular ball. The hit it was good and pure, and it went uphill. It was a superb feeling.”

Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy smiled ear-to-ear like a Cheshire cat after watching Aubrey go overboard on his second probability with loads of area.

“The primary one pulled just a bit bit and that is why I used to be so completely satisfied, and that is why we did what we did to provide him one other shot on the market,” McCarthy mentioned after the sport on Saturday. “He is proven he can do it, and also you simply need to get these many reps. You knew the second it left his foot, you knew it was good.”

Following Aubrey’s efficiency in his preseason tune-up, McCarthy’s consolation degree is way increased than it was at first of coaching camp in July.

“Undoubtedly,” McCarthy mentioned when requested about his consolation degree in Aubrey and whether or not he has seen sufficient of him to be named the group’s kicker. “I believe it is comprehensible. If I have been to be crucial, I want he had acquired just a few extra possibilities within the first two video games [preseason] recreation, however that is why it was vital to provide him some break in depth tonight.”

With simply six days away from the Cowboys’ 2023 common season opener towards the New York Giants, the top coach’s confidence has solely grown.

“I belief her [Brandon Aubrey]”Mike McCarthy said on monday, “He is all the time on the rise. I’ve three kickers [Greg Zuerlein, Brett Maher and Aubrey] since i have been right here [since 2020], I did not know from day one the place we stood in yard line and belief issue. that is why they’re taking two photographs [the 59-yard kicks in the preseason finale against the Las Vegas Raiders] was vital. These deep kicks are his power. I’m not frightened about his potential. He has clearly handed that check. He occupies a excessive place in that subject. All he wants is an opportunity. I watch him work daily and I am very impressed with Brandon.”

Aubrey agreed that the alternatives this month when video games do not depend have been key to being in the fitting psychological state coming into his first NFL season.

“Yeah, it is big,” Aubrey mentioned of the dwell recreation delegates. “You are going to make errors. No one’s excellent. So it is nice to exit on day one and get the chance to rectify that and kick the PAT in a bunch of those video games.”

After getting an opportunity to repair his deep miss with a 59-yard make, the often regular kicker allowed himself to scent the roses that include incomes one of many NFL’s 32 kicker jobs.

“Yeah, a bit of bit,” Aubrey mentioned when requested if in that second he thought he was going to make the group after making the 59-yard try. “However, you attempt to put that thought out of your thoughts instantly, take a couple of minutes to benefit from the second, however transfer on and ensure I am prepared for anything that ought to come up, One other probability to kick.”

His psychological strategy to kicking is just like that of the “Males in Black” film, as he tries to attain a totally clean psychological state after experiencing the excessive or low of kicking or lacking.

When Aubrey was requested how he reacts earlier than and after kicks, he mentioned, “Yeah, I attempt to clear my thoughts utterly.” “I’ve a course of the place I keep on the sector. I attempt to be constant. I do not need to put too little stress on myself. I do not need to put an excessive amount of stress on myself.”

Now, Aubrey is enjoying with home cash to enter his first NFL kicking alternative in skilled sports activities for his third shot at a aggressive Dallas Cowboys group that has received 12 video games every of the previous two seasons.

When Aubrey was requested what she had discovered from her tumultuous profession journey, she mentioned, “Simply keep it up.” “Each ending is the start of a brand new starting. So for me, that is my third profession, and so simply begin trying ahead to it and simply begin residing on my own. That is what introduced me right here.”