When Cowboys kicker Nick Folk clanked off the upright a 24-yard field goal attempt that would have given Dallas a 10-point lead with 2:10 to play against the Saints on Saturday night, Folk’s job instantly slid into jeopardy -- especially since the team already was toying with the idea of giving him a Water Pik, and a pink slip, for Christmas.
Ed Werder of ESPN reports that Folk’s miss has renewed concerns that he’s suffering from a mental block, and that it could result in the Cowboys making a change.
But instead of cutting Folk, the team might put him on injured reserve, relying on hip surgery that Folks had in the offseason. Per Werder, the team believes he might be effective again in the future.
Of course, if he’s not actually injured, a decision to place him on injured reserve would constitute the stashing of a player. But if Folk opts to play along in the hopes of getting his job back in 2010, there likely would be no one complaining.
Especially since no other team will be interested in a guy who can’t make a clutch kick from less than 30 yards out.