Kicking and Screaming

Cowboys fans have been kicking and screaming recently.

A poor output of the former leading to a more vicious helping of the latter.

The Cowboys are moving forward with a new kicker as they have signed Shaun Suisham, the former Redskins who missed two kicks in the Cowboys win over Washington, in place of Nick Folk, who has missed an NFL-leading 10 field goals this season. Suisham will get his first chance at his second go-around with Dallas when he takes on the same Redskins in Washington on Sunday.

But as frustrating as it was seeing Folk miss for six consecutive games -- left, right, short, off the upright -- after looking at all the kickers that have been in Dallas since Jerry Jones took over, he's arguably the most consistent kicker the Cowboys have had.

His first two years built up a long line of credit that he exercised to the limit this season. Folk's time in Dallas is done. He will no doubt catch on with another organization and go on to have a perfectly acceptable if not exceptional NFL career as a kicker. Heck, he might even have a chance this offseason to get his head right, tweak his game, and perhaps compete for the Cowboys kicking job next season.

Folk was supposed to be the answer for the Cowboys kicking woes of the 2000s. Heck, he was an actual draft pick. Now he has been cut. Folk has a 64% on his kicks this year, which was second-worst in the NFL only to Jason Elam, who was 12-of-19 for 63% and was let go by the Falcons a few weeks ago. Not good.

Moving forward however, the Cowboys absolutely must have a kicker that can convert as the team makes a run toward the playoffs. And thus, despite Folk's two strong seasons to start his career, this change had to be made.

Here's a look at how Folk and other kickers have performed with the Cowboys in the Jerry Jones era:

Year	Kicker	FG Made	FG Att	Pct	Blocked
2009	Nick Folk	18	28	64%	0
2008	Nick Folk	20	22	91%	0
2007	Nick Folk*	26	31	84%	1
2006	Martin Gramatica	6	8	75%	0
2006	Mike Vanderjagt	13	18	72%	1
2005	Jose Cortez	12	16	75%	0
2005	Shaun Suisham	3	4	75%	0
2005	Billy Cundiff	5	8	62%	1
2004	Billy Cundiff	20	26	77%	0
2003	Billy Cundiff	23	29	79%	0
2002	Billy Cundiff	12	19	63%	0
2001	Jon Hilbert	11	16	69%	1
2001	Tim Seder	11	17	65%	2
2000	Tim Seder	25	33	76%	1
1999	Eddie Murray	7	9	78%	0
1999	Richie Cunningham	12	22	55%	0
1998	Richie Cunningham	29	35	83%	0
1997	Richie Cunningham	34	37	92%	1
1996	Chris Boniol	32	36	89%	1
1995	Chris Boniol	27	28	96%	0
1994	Chris Boniol	22	29	76%	2
1993	Eddie Murray	28	33	85%	0
1993	Lin Elliot	2	4	50%	0
1992	Lin Elliot	24	35	69%	1
1991	Ken Willis	27	39	69%	3
1990	Ken Willis	18	25	72%	0
1989	Luis Zendejas	5	9	56%	0
1989	Roger Ruzek	5	11	46%	0
	TOTAL	477	627	76%	15

*Pro Bowl

more kicking numbers to come...