IRVING – For just a minute, forget that starting quarterback Drew Bledsoe watched the second half in shorts and a T-shirt after an apparent head injury. Or that star receiver Terrell Owens was a nonfactor in his preseason debut.
Coach Bill Parcells has to be wondering what's wrong with Mike Vanderjagt, the highest-paid kicker in franchise history.
Vanderjagt missed two potential game-winning field goals in overtime Thursday night as Dallas tied Minnesota, 10-10, in front of an announced crowd of 60,299 at Texas Stadium.
It marked the Cowboys' first preseason tie since 1993. Dallas also finished unbeaten (3-0-1) in the preseason for the first time since 1985.
"We can't do the things we did tonight and win games," Parcells said. "We missed two point-blank field goals. We have to make those."
Vanderjagt, who signed a three-year deal worth $5.4 million that included a $2.5 million signing bonus in the off-season, missed wide right from 33 yards with 11:33 left in overtime. He missed a 32-yard attempt wide right with two seconds left.
"To be honest with you, I have no idea," Vanderjagt said of the missed kicks. " Obviously, it was horrible ... not enough work, I guess. But a 32-yard field goal in the middle of the field? Put it on me."
After the second miss, Parcells glared at Vanderjagt as he walked by. As Vanderjagt stood on the sideline, safety Roy Williams said a few words to him. Then running back Julius Jones spoke to him. Then tight end Jason Witten.
The players know they will need Vanderjagt to win an important game at some point.
Vanderjagt, the most accurate kicker in NFL history, made 23 of 25 field goal attempts last season, although he did miss a 46-yard field goal with 17 seconds left that would've tied the score in the AFC divisional playoff game against Pittsburgh.
He was supposed to provide comfort for Parcells and owner Jerry Jones after the Cowboys lost three games last season, in part, because of poor field goal kicking.
Dallas used three kickers, who went a combined 20-of-28. More important, they made only 3-of-7 field goal attempts between 40-49 yards.
Vanderjagt was unimpressive in training camp and had attempted just one field goal, a 21-yarder against Seattle, in the first three preseason games. He tweaked his groin against Seattle and did not kick in the last two games.
Vanderjagt did not handle kickoffs his last several seasons in Indianapolis, and Parcells has been unable to determine whether he needs to keep a kickoff specialist, because he hadn't seen Vanderjagt do it.
He kicked off once Thursday, and the Vikings fielded it at their 12. Shaun Suisham had one touchback and put two other kickoffs into the end zone.
Vanderjagt made a 24-yard field goal on the final play of the first half, but he twice failed to make pressure kicks in overtime. Now, every amateur psychologist in the Dallas-Fort Worth area will be trying to figure out if his miss against Pittsburgh has created a mental block.
At least for a day, Vanderjagt's woes will take the attention off Bledsoe, who appeared to suffer a head injury early in the second quarter on a quarterback sneak.
"He's fine," Parcells said.
Owens should also get a brief reprieve as the focus on Vanderjagt intensifies.
Owens, whose strained left hamstring forced him to miss 21 practices since the start of training camp, debuted on the Cowboys' third series to a standing ovation and a smattering of boos.
He participated in 19 plays and caught one pass for six yards.
JOHN F. RHODES/DMN
Mike Vanderjagt bows his head after missing his second potential game-winning kick in overtime.
Tony Romo led the Cowboys on a 13-play, 80-yard drive that ended with his two-yard touchdown pass to Tyson Thompson with 17 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.
Twice in overtime, Romo put Dallas in position to win, but Vanderjagt couldn't finish the job.
It would count $830,000 against the 2006 salary cap and $1.6 million against the 2007 cap for Dallas to release him. It's no longer a far-fetched concept.
"I don't know. We're going to have to think it over," Parcells said. "I haven't seen very much."
E-mail jjtaylor@dallasnews.com
With Thursday's tie, the Cowboys finished the preseason undefeated for the fourth time in franchise history. Here's a look at how they fared after previous undefeated preseasons:
| Year | Preseason | Regular season | Postseason | | 1966 | 5-0 | 10-3-1 | Lost NFL championship | | 1971 | 6-0 | 11-3 | Won Super Bowl VI | | 1985 | 4-0 | 10-6 | Lost divisional playoff | |
