Ain't that a kick?
Despite some late misfires, Dallas Cowboys special teams sensation Brandon Aubrey was bestowed NFL's Special Teams Player of the Month Award to cap off a sterling rookie season. It's Aubrey's second such honor after previously earning it in October.
And today, as he's warming up at AT&T Stadium to join the Cowboys in their playoff meeting with the Green Bay Packers? He's exuding confidence.
"Absolutely!'' he answered when NFL Network's Jane Slater asked him about his confidence level today.
Was that about continuing to make big kicks. Kinda. Slater reports that he was "doing dry reps visualizing the kicks,'' and the question was actually about being able to make a field goal from an absurd 70 yards out.
"Absolutely,'' the rookie said as he approaches his first playoff game.
Viewers need little, if any, reminder of Aubrey's unique origin story, one that saw him rise from the ranks of both Major League Soccer and the United States Football League to become the Cowboys' reliable leg. Aubrey successfully converted each of his 35 field goal attempts to open his career setting a new NFL record.
That streak ended during the Cowboys' Week 18 finale on Sunday in Washington, as a first half attempt was blocked before he clanked a 36-yard try off the upright in the final period. Aubrey found redemption before the game let out, booting a 50-yard try for the final touch of a 38-10 victory.
Over five games in December and January, Aubrey successfully converted 10-of-12 three-point tries and all 13 of his extra points. He ended the year as the NFL's leading scorer at 157 points and his field goal success rate of 94.7 percent was second-best in the league among kickers who appeared in all 17 games, behind only former Cowboy Nick Folk, currently of Tennessee.
Though he fell short of the overall percentage honor, Aubrey successfully split the uprights on all 10 of his tries from at least 50 yards away, leading the NFL in the long-distance department.
Elsewhere on the NFC award ledgers, Christian McCaffrey (San Francisco) and Antoine Winfield Jr. (Tampa Bay) were the respective winners on offense and defense.
Time will tell if Dallas calls upon Aubrey for any clutch kicks - or 70-yard kicks - in their upcoming postseason run, which kicks off on Sunday against the Green Bay Packers in the Wild Card round (3:30 p.m. CT, Fox).
But "absolutely'' the rookie believes he is ready.
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