Vikings Release K Dan Bailey

By Adam Roberts – 3/9/2021

Of all positions in football, perhaps none is more suspect to sudden changes in consistency and production than that of the placekicker. It’s probably, in my opinion, the most volatile position on a football team, with coaches and front office staff often not afraid to put public pressure on the kicker to improve or move on.

After a difficult season for Dan Bailey, the Vikings today decided to part ways with the 33-year-old. Down the stretch of a season in which the Vikings were competing for a wild card spot, Bailey missed a number of crucial kicks against the Jaguars and Buccaneers. He also was statistically, according to ESPN Vikings reporter Courtney Cronin, the worst kicker in the NFL last year, finishing last in extra-point percentage and next-to-last in field goal percentage. On top of the that, the Vikings last month signed former Buccaneers practice squad kicker Greg Joseph.

Bailey would have been owed 1.8 million dollars of his 2.7 million dollar 2021 base salary on March 19th. By releasing Bailey the team will save 1.7 million.