Vikings release K Dan Bailey

When the Minnesota Vikings poached kicker Greg Joseph off of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ practice squad a month ago, yours truly thought that it may have been the signal for a kicking competition.

Competition over.

On Tuesday, the Vikings released veteran kicker Dan Bailey in a move that will save them about $1.7 million in salary cap space.

Bailey signed with the Vikings in the early stages of the 2018 season following rookie Daniel Carlson missing three field goals in a tie against Green Bay, including two potential game-winners. He signed an extension with the team a little over a year ago and was due that $1.7 million if he was on the roster on 19 March, the third day of the 2021 league year.

While the season didn’t necessarily get off to a bad start for Bailey, late in the season he had a full-blown meltdown, starting with the Vikings’ loss to the Buccaneers where Bailey missed three field goals an an extra point. He ended the season having converted on just 68.2% of his field goal attempts, among the lowest in the National Football League.

Whether or not this means that the job belongs to Joseph remains to be seen. The team could bring in another veteran as competition or. . .may the football gods help us. . .draft someone with a late pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.

Once again, the Minnesota Vikings have released veteran kicker Dan Bailey in a move that it appears is equally related to salary cap issues and his performance.