Eden Prairie, MN (My Sportsbook) - The Minnesota Vikings signed free agent placekicker Hayden Epstein, one day after the rookie was waived by the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Vikings made room on the roster by releasing placekicker Doug Brien, but Gary Anderson will continue to kick the field goals and extra points. Epstein, who will tutor under Anderson, will handle the Vikings' kickoffs. Epstein, the Jaguars' seventh-round selection in the 2002 NFL draft, had handled the Jaguar's placekicking for the first six games this season. Epstein was successful on all 13 extra points he attempted but only five of the nine field goals he tried. The Michigan product also had seven touchbacks on kickoffs, but none in the last three games. The 43-year-old Anderson, the NFL's all-time leading scorer, was re-signed by the Vikings two days after the Vikings suffered an overtime loss to Buffalo in which Brien missed a pair of extra points. Brien remained on the team though, because Anderson does not kick off. Jacksonville signed Tim Seder on Wednesday to replace Epstein. |
