"Idiot Kicker" returns to pro football

[oregonpackfan]

Vanderjagt returns to Canada following nine-year NFL career
19 hours ago

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario (AP) — Mike Vanderjagt's kicking career has come full circle.

The former Indianapolis Colts and Dallas Cowboys player who was the most accurate in NFL history and was once called an ``idiot kicker'' by Peyton Manning for comments he made on Canadian TV took part in the first Toronto Argonauts practice of the season Sunday.

The day before, he signed with the team that helped propel him to stardom in 1996. More than a decade after leaving the Argos for the fame and fortune of the NFL, Vanderjagt was thrilled to be back.

``Toronto was the front-runner, regardless of what NFL team called,'' said Vanderjagt, who won back-to-back Grey Cup championships in his only two full CFL seasons. ``I really wanted to come to Toronto, more than anything else.''

Vanderjagt wasn't ready to leave the sport despite an ignominious departure from the NFL in November 2006. He was cut from the Dallas Cowboys after missing a pair of field goals against the Colts.

``When you fish and golf enough and you're only 38 years old and you feel you can still do it,'' Vanderjagt said. ``I miss the area and I miss my family and friends. It became a good opportunity, assuming Toronto wanted me, to be able to kick for a few more years.''

Vanderjagt led the NFL in scoring in 1999 and kicked 42 consecutive field goals in 2003-04, the longest streak in league history. Vanderjagt made 86.5 per cent of his field goals - tops in the NFL among kickers with at least 100 attempts - and made the Pro Bowl in 2004.

Vanderjagt also lashed out at head coach Tony Dungy and quarterback Peyton Manning following a 41-0 playoff loss to the New York Jets in 2002.

Manning fired back at Vanderjagt, calling him ``our idiot kicker who got liquored up and ran his mouth off a lot.''

After spending the 2007 season on the sidelines, Vanderjagt recently worked out with the Denver Broncos and the Kansas City Chiefs.

``Years ago if you were to say `you had nine great years in the NFL and you're the most accurate kicker,' I would take that in a heartbeat,'' said Vanderjagt. ``Certainly I feel like I can kick in the NFL, but I am in no means using Toronto as a stepping stone there.

``From an NFL standpoint, sure, I wish I was there. But from a life standpoint, I feel this is the place I should be.''

The Associated Press

[Guiness]

Is he really all washed up? I figured he'd land somewhere this year...

[packers11]

Is he really all washed up? I figured he'd land somewhere this year...

He is just a cocky SOB that has choked latley...

If he had a better attitude, I think a lot more teams would have looked at him ...

[woodbuck27]

Michael John "Mike" Vanderjagt (born March 24, 1970 in Oakville, Ontario), played in both the Canadian and National Football Leagues.

** He was once the most accurate field goal kicker in NFL history (229 of 265, 86.4% as of November 20, 2006).

On May 31, 2008, Vanderjagt went back to the CFL and signed on with the Toronto Argonauts as their kicker.

woodbuck27: ** mmmmm.

[neil38133]

Anybody would rather play for the CFL and make a third or less of the money they would make in the NFL.

[Tyrone Bigguns]

Michael John "Mike" Vanderjagt (born March 24, 1970 in Oakville, Ontario), played in both the Canadian and National Football Leagues.

** He was once the most accurate field goal kicker in NFL history (229 of 265, 86.4% as of November 20, 2006).

On May 31, 2008, Vanderjagt went back to the CFL and signed on with the Toronto Argonauts as their kicker.

woodbuck27: ** mmmmm.

Like most canucks, doesn't know when to shut his mouth. Heard he also was badmouthing TT.

[Guiness]

Michael John "Mike" Vanderjagt (born March 24, 1970 in Oakville, Ontario), played in both the Canadian and National Football Leagues.

** He was once the most accurate field goal kicker in NFL history (229 of 265, 86.4% as of November 20, 2006).

On May 31, 2008, Vanderjagt went back to the CFL and signed on with the Toronto Argonauts as their kicker.

woodbuck27: ** mmmmm.

Like most canucks, doesn't know when to shut his mouth. Heard he also was badmouthing TT.

Nothing like that reverse racism.

Canadian are violent (cut to scene of hockey fight) /Canadian Bacon

I assume you're being facetious, or have you actually seen something saying he was dissing the turtle?

[Zool]

Michael John "Mike" Vanderjagt (born March 24, 1970 in Oakville, Ontario), played in both the Canadian and National Football Leagues.

** He was once the most accurate field goal kicker in NFL history (229 of 265, 86.4% as of November 20, 2006).

On May 31, 2008, Vanderjagt went back to the CFL and signed on with the Toronto Argonauts as their kicker.

woodbuck27: ** mmmmm.

Like most canucks, doesn't know when to shut his mouth. Heard he also was badmouthing TT.

Nothing like that reverse racism.

Canadian are violent (cut to scene of hockey fight) /Canadian Bacon

I assume you're being facetious, or have you actually seen something saying he was dissing the turtle?

Again WTF is reverse racism?

[hoosier]

Michael John "Mike" Vanderjagt (born March 24, 1970 in Oakville, Ontario), played in both the Canadian and National Football Leagues.

** He was once the most accurate field goal kicker in NFL history (229 of 265, 86.4% as of November 20, 2006).

On May 31, 2008, Vanderjagt went back to the CFL and signed on with the Toronto Argonauts as their kicker.

woodbuck27: ** mmmmm.

Like most canucks, doesn't know when to shut his mouth. Heard he also was badmouthing TT.

Nothing like that reverse racism.

Canadian are violent (cut to scene of hockey fight) /Canadian Bacon

I assume you're being facetious, or have you actually seen something saying he was dissing the turtle?

I think Ty was alluding to another Canuck's history of TT bashing.

[Guiness]

Again WTF is reverse racism?

I've always defined RR as the practice of discriminating against the majority. Generally seen when companies/organizations have 'quota' systems wrt hiring,

[Zool]

Racism is a person or group of people discriminating against another person or group of people based on race. There is no reverse unless you assume racism is white to black specifically.

[Tyrone Bigguns]

Racism is a person or group of people discriminating against another person or group of people based on race. There is no reverse unless you assume racism is white to black specifically.

Zool,

I'm afraid your wrong here. Have you seen canadians? They are definitely a different race. They are geometrically-figured with small beady eyes and Pac Man-like heads which flap up and down whenever they speak.

Certainly not black or white.

It seems that everything's gone wrong
Since Canada came along

[MJZiggy]

Racism is a person or group of people discriminating against another person or group of people based on race. There is no reverse unless you assume racism is white to black specifically.

Reverse racism is racism against the race that holds the most power. Doesn't matter what race holds that power and it varies in different parts of the world.

[Guiness]

Racism is a person or group of people discriminating against another person or group of people based on race. There is no reverse unless you assume racism is white to black specifically.

Reverse racism is racism against the race that holds the most power. Doesn't matter what race holds that power and it varies in different parts of the world.

Exactly. And RR is usually hidden behind the guise of 'affirmative action'.

When I was living in Nepean, a primarily white commuter suburb of Ottawa, they looking for police officers. They got a lot of applicants, pretty much all white males - no surprise, there was a bit of an asian population there, but that was about it.

They had to re-advertise outside of the area, and essentially accept any minority who applied because of the size of the city, the law dictated they had to have so many visible minorities on the force. The paper printed a huge headline titled 'White Males Need Not Apply'.

[Tyrone Bigguns]

Racism is a person or group of people discriminating against another person or group of people based on race. There is no reverse unless you assume racism is white to black specifically.

Reverse racism is racism against the race that holds the most power. Doesn't matter what race holds that power and it varies in different parts of the world.

Exactly. And RR is usually hidden behind the guise of 'affirmative action'.

When I was living in Nepean, a primarily white commuter suburb of Ottawa, they looking for police officers. They got a lot of applicants, pretty much all white males - no surprise, there was a bit of an asian population there, but that was about it.

They had to re-advertise outside of the area, and essentially accept any minority who applied because of the size of the city, the law dictated they had to have so many visible minorities on the force. The paper printed a huge headline titled 'White Males Need Not Apply'.

Sorry, but that ain't reverse..and the word is discrimination..not racism.

In order to prove your point you would have to show that they deliberately hired less qualified minorities than white applicants...to the exclusion of any white candidates, even if the latter had seniority or were better qualified by reason of education, expertise, or temperament.

Not hiring white males because you want a diversified staff isn't reverse discrimination.