Speaking at the 2024 Reliant Home Run Derby, he said his offseason of self-adjustment was “going well.” ”[I] I rested, I got healthy, I relaxed, I took a mental break, you know? It was my first day off since before the USFL season, so it was a fulfilling year. [until now].
“…You don’t really know where you are until you slow down and stop. Maybe there was a little bit of mental fatigue left there, a little bit of fatigue left in the legs. So it was good to take a break.”
Aubrey started his NFL career by setting a record for 35 consecutive field goals, going 36-of-38 (94.7%) for 60 yards, his longest in a season, and continued his power on kickoffs. Proved — Kicked 99 touchbacks on 109 kickoffs (90.8%) and averaged 64.8 yards per place kick.
Simply put, he's more than just a weapon, but throughout his first year he proved to be more dangerous than his famous predecessor, Dan Bailey, and from now on every kicker in Dallas will follow that Dan Bailey. will be evaluated against.
But as great as Aubrey's first season was, he's not tipping his hat to it.
“It’s a flush and reset,” he said. “I just want to go out there and perform every game. I thought about it this offseason, enjoyed it and then put it on the shelf. And then I moved on to this year. This year is going to be special in its own right. , and I have to go out and make this year a good one too.”
He first had to recover from a bout with appendicitis, similar to the situation head coach Mike McCarthy faced during the 2023 season. However, Aubrey was caught fairly early on and was able to achieve his goal of making his first NFL Pro Bowl appearance.
It's safe to say that Aubrey couldn't afford to let such a moment pass.
“Some people forced me to do some R&R there,” he joked. “I had [removed] The day after the Pro Bowl. … It was four days before the Pro Bowl when the pain started, so I went to the doctor and got it checked out. They ran tests and said, “Well, it's appendicitis.”
“They gave me antibiotics instead of taking medication right then and there to give me a 10-day grace period. And I made the Pro Bowl and then I got an infection.” [removed]. ”
And he can now turn his attention to the league's new kickoff rules, which he is a big fan of.
“I love you,” Aubrey said with a smile. “This will save my leg and give me a chance to go out and hit some unique balls. [Special teams coordinator John “Bones” Fassel] He's aggressive so he gives me every opportunity to go out and make mistakes and live with them. ”
While some may immediately wonder what kind of spices Fassel and Aubrey are concocting in the kitchen after hearing this comment, the world will have to wait and see.
“We're in the workshop right now,” Aubrey added. “We are in the workshop because dwell time is not that important and we can't move until we catch it – we don't want to give too much away… [My soccer background] absolutely [helps]. It works by hitting the ball in different ways, placing your foot on the ball in different ways, and wrapping your foot around the ball in a certain way.
“I think it helps. Being a football player is a skill that I brought to the NFL.”
If Aubrey's second act is even remotely comparable to his first, the Cowboys and the NFL will be in the spotlight again in 2024. What he accomplished last season was accomplished without any offseason rest.
What will he do now that he has been through so much?
