The Vikings are facing the awkward situation of having to decide if they should keep the kicker they drafted in the fifth round this year or dump him and sign a veteran who might have the nerves of steel they needed in Sunday’s tie with the Packers.
Daniel Carlson missed all three of his kicks at Green Bay, including two in overtime, the last of them coming as time expired when he blasted a 35-yard attempt wide to the right.
“I don’t know,” Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer said when asked if they’ll consider cutting Carlson. “It’s too early. Rick [Spielman] and I have barely talked yet. Rick and I will sit down and we’ll talk about it.”
While Kai Forbath – the guy Carlson won the job over – is still available, so is Dan Bailey, the second most accurate kicker in NFL history.
Bailey is just 30 years old and has connected on 88.2 percent of his 211 career attempts, and he’s 60-of-63 on kicks of 30-39 yards, something the Vikings could’ve used when Carlson blew the kick that would’ve had them sitting atop the NFC North at 2-0.
Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio reports that Bailey is waiting for the “right team” and has already turned down four “very good offers.”
It’s not clear if the Vikings have offered him a job, but if they have it would be crazy if Bailey doesn’t consider a Super Bowl contender like the Vikings the “right team.”
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