My Take - Victor Cruz: Wide Receiver for the 2012 New York Giants

Last year Victor Cruz emerged from nowhere having a breakout season for the New York Giants in 2011. He became a household name with his speed, agility, and salsa touchdown dances. Cruz is easy to root for. He has charisma and a great smile. However, the 2012 season has been a letdown to say the least.

Last year Cruz had 1,536 yards receiving with 9 touchdowns. He hasn't played nearly as well in 2012. Because he is on the last year of his contract, the entire season Cruz has been in contract discussions with the team. He is due to make 490 k this season. This salary is very low for a high end receiver such as Cruz. Some receivers make as much as $16 million a year.

Cruz has had several games with multiple dropped passes in 2012. I contend that his play has declined for two possible reasons:

1) He is worried about getting injured and hurting his future earnings. I have noticed he hasn't been trying to make the tough catches. He seems to be veering away from hits when the ball is thrown into traffic. I worry that he is more concerned about making a few more dollars than helping his team be successful. If that's the case the Giants don't really need a player like that on the team.

2) The Giants main receiver Hakeem Nicks has been injured all season. He has played sparingly this season. Since Nicks has not been 100 %, Cruz has been getting double coverage by the defenders. I don't think the Giants should pay a player big money if he can't find a way to be productive when the defense focuses on him. He seems to shrink when the defense gets in his face and plays him aggressively. His two worst games this season were against the Dallas Cowboys. In both games Cruz had several drops. What made it worse was that the defensive backs grabbed him and intimidated him to the point that he mentally checked out of the games. Morris Claiborne is a Dallas rookie and absolutely abused him in those contests.

I hope neither is correct about Victor. He has become a fan favorite in New York after his 2011 season. However I must say if either is true about Cruz I would not want him on my team. Since it appears that the contract won't get done til after the season, he had better perform if he wants to make the big bucks.

Adrian Peterson: One-Of-A-Kind Talent   The Value of a Good Punter to an NFL Team   

Adrian Peterson: One-Of-A-Kind Talent

We are beyond half way into the NFL season and there have been some surprises. One surprise that needs to be mentioned is the phenomenal season by Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson. Honestly, to me, this is not a surprise. I grew up watching Adrian Peterson and he is a one-of-a-kind player in the NFL that is rare. He is works too hard and is too gifted to let any sort of injury plague him.

Regardless, what Adrian Peterson has done after blowing out his knee is remarkable. Almost every analyst out there thought Peterson would NEVER be the same type of player he was before. Many players have been scarred with devastating knee injuries and never ended up coming back the same. The fact that Adrian Peterson is back and healthy is amazing. What's even more amazing is that he did it in less than a year and is running harder than he ever has. You honestly have to be a super human to recover this quickly from an injury and to also run harder than he did when he was healthy! Remarkable!

I truly believe Adrian Peterson should be the league's most valuable player at the moment. Not only is he looking phenomenal, but the Minnesota Vikings are in playoff contention. This team would be lost without him, and perhaps win-less. Peterson has been running hard every game and every down. He is one of the few players in the league that runs hard EVERY play. He runs with a purpose which is why you always see him dragging guys with him when he is running.

Peterson is looking better than ever and he is doing it off an injury that has ended the careers of other NFL players. Last year, many thought Adrian Peterson was finished and we would never see the same ferocious runner we were used to. Peterson has worked harder than any one else, day in and day out, and he has showed us why he is the best running back in the NFL.

What Adrian Peterson is doing is phenomenal and rare. We probably will not see many runners like Peterson. He has been a true Viking since the team drafted him and has always made the team a threat. You can put 11 guys in the box and this guy will run over all of them. Keep an eye out on Adrian Peterson because this league will not see many AP's in the future.

Adrian Peterson: One-Of-A-Kind Talent   The Value of a Good Punter to an NFL Team   

My Take - Victor Cruz: Wide Receiver for the 2012 New York Giants

Last year Victor Cruz emerged from nowhere having a breakout season for the New York Giants in 2011. He became a household name with his speed, agility, and salsa touchdown dances. Cruz is easy to root for. He has charisma and a great smile. However, the 2012 season has been a letdown to say the least.

Last year Cruz had 1,536 yards receiving with 9 touchdowns. He hasn't played nearly as well in 2012. Because he is on the last year of his contract, the entire season Cruz has been in contract discussions with the team. He is due to make 490 k this season. This salary is very low for a high end receiver such as Cruz. Some receivers make as much as $16 million a year.

Cruz has had several games with multiple dropped passes in 2012. I contend that his play has declined for two possible reasons:

1) He is worried about getting injured and hurting his future earnings. I have noticed he hasn't been trying to make the tough catches. He seems to be veering away from hits when the ball is thrown into traffic. I worry that he is more concerned about making a few more dollars than helping his team be successful. If that's the case the Giants don't really need a player like that on the team.

2) The Giants main receiver Hakeem Nicks has been injured all season. He has played sparingly this season. Since Nicks has not been 100 %, Cruz has been getting double coverage by the defenders. I don't think the Giants should pay a player big money if he can't find a way to be productive when the defense focuses on him. He seems to shrink when the defense gets in his face and plays him aggressively. His two worst games this season were against the Dallas Cowboys. In both games Cruz had several drops. What made it worse was that the defensive backs grabbed him and intimidated him to the point that he mentally checked out of the games. Morris Claiborne is a Dallas rookie and absolutely abused him in those contests.

I hope neither is correct about Victor. He has become a fan favorite in New York after his 2011 season. However I must say if either is true about Cruz I would not want him on my team. Since it appears that the contract won't get done til after the season, he had better perform if he wants to make the big bucks.

Adrian Peterson: One-Of-A-Kind Talent   The Value of a Good Punter to an NFL Team   

My Take - Victor Cruz: Wide Receiver for the 2012 New York Giants

Last year Victor Cruz emerged from nowhere having a breakout season for the New York Giants in 2011. He became a household name with his speed, agility, and salsa touchdown dances. Cruz is easy to root for. He has charisma and a great smile. However, the 2012 season has been a letdown to say the least.

Last year Cruz had 1,536 yards receiving with 9 touchdowns. He hasn't played nearly as well in 2012. Because he is on the last year of his contract, the entire season Cruz has been in contract discussions with the team. He is due to make 490 k this season. This salary is very low for a high end receiver such as Cruz. Some receivers make as much as $16 million a year.

Cruz has had several games with multiple dropped passes in 2012. I contend that his play has declined for two possible reasons:

1) He is worried about getting injured and hurting his future earnings. I have noticed he hasn't been trying to make the tough catches. He seems to be veering away from hits when the ball is thrown into traffic. I worry that he is more concerned about making a few more dollars than helping his team be successful. If that's the case the Giants don't really need a player like that on the team.

2) The Giants main receiver Hakeem Nicks has been injured all season. He has played sparingly this season. Since Nicks has not been 100 %, Cruz has been getting double coverage by the defenders. I don't think the Giants should pay a player big money if he can't find a way to be productive when the defense focuses on him. He seems to shrink when the defense gets in his face and plays him aggressively. His two worst games this season were against the Dallas Cowboys. In both games Cruz had several drops. What made it worse was that the defensive backs grabbed him and intimidated him to the point that he mentally checked out of the games. Morris Claiborne is a Dallas rookie and absolutely abused him in those contests.

I hope neither is correct about Victor. He has become a fan favorite in New York after his 2011 season. However I must say if either is true about Cruz I would not want him on my team. Since it appears that the contract won't get done til after the season, he had better perform if he wants to make the big bucks.

Adrian Peterson: One-Of-A-Kind Talent   The Value of a Good Punter to an NFL Team   

My Take - Victor Cruz: Wide Receiver for the 2012 New York Giants

Last year Victor Cruz emerged from nowhere having a breakout season for the New York Giants in 2011. He became a household name with his speed, agility, and salsa touchdown dances. Cruz is easy to root for. He has charisma and a great smile. However, the 2012 season has been a letdown to say the least.

Last year Cruz had 1,536 yards receiving with 9 touchdowns. He hasn't played nearly as well in 2012. Because he is on the last year of his contract, the entire season Cruz has been in contract discussions with the team. He is due to make 490 k this season. This salary is very low for a high end receiver such as Cruz. Some receivers make as much as $16 million a year.

Cruz has had several games with multiple dropped passes in 2012. I contend that his play has declined for two possible reasons:

1) He is worried about getting injured and hurting his future earnings. I have noticed he hasn't been trying to make the tough catches. He seems to be veering away from hits when the ball is thrown into traffic. I worry that he is more concerned about making a few more dollars than helping his team be successful. If that's the case the Giants don't really need a player like that on the team.

2) The Giants main receiver Hakeem Nicks has been injured all season. He has played sparingly this season. Since Nicks has not been 100 %, Cruz has been getting double coverage by the defenders. I don't think the Giants should pay a player big money if he can't find a way to be productive when the defense focuses on him. He seems to shrink when the defense gets in his face and plays him aggressively. His two worst games this season were against the Dallas Cowboys. In both games Cruz had several drops. What made it worse was that the defensive backs grabbed him and intimidated him to the point that he mentally checked out of the games. Morris Claiborne is a Dallas rookie and absolutely abused him in those contests.

I hope neither is correct about Victor. He has become a fan favorite in New York after his 2011 season. However I must say if either is true about Cruz I would not want him on my team. Since it appears that the contract won't get done til after the season, he had better perform if he wants to make the big bucks.

Adrian Peterson: One-Of-A-Kind Talent   The Value of a Good Punter to an NFL Team   

The Value of a Good Punter to an NFL Team

When an NFL team is struggling, one of the jokes that fans make is that the punter is the best player on the team. The punter is one of those players that gets absolutely no respect until he makes a great play. But that play is soon forgotten and the punter is allocated to the bench until the offense cannot move the ball and the punter is needed to get the team out of trouble again.

How important is a good punter to an NFL team? When your favorite team is looking at a fourth and long from its own goal line, you can start to appreciate the value of a good punter. In the NFL, a good punter is one that can average anywhere from 45 to 55 net yards per kick. That sounds easy, but net yards are gross yards minus the return yards. You may have a punter that can boot the ball 65 yards, but if he cannot get any hang time, then he may constantly give up 30-yard returns.

A good punter is one that can consistently place the ball inside the 20-yard line without giving the other team a chance at returning the ball. The really good punters can drop the ball inside the opponent's five yard line and make the ball stop or kick backwards so it can be downed by the punt coverage team. Without a good punter, a team's bad offense becomes even more of a liability. A good punter is the player that gets a team out of trouble and prevents the opposition from starting a drive inside his team's side of the field.

When it comes to separating the good punters from the popular punters, that can be a little more difficult. Punters are popular with their teammates when those punters contribute to the punt coverage team. If a punter puts up a bad punt and then does not even try to tackle the returner, then that punter loses a lot of respect from his teammates. A punter who can tackle is one that will earn the respect of his teammates and the fans.

Punting is something that is often taken for granted by football fans. It is incredibly difficult to punt a ball to a specific location on the field and then get that ball to spin a particular way. When a team finds a punter that can consistently control the flight of the ball, then that is a punter that will usually get paid a lot of money and get offered long-term contracts.

Even the best offenses in the NFL get in trouble sometimes. A team with a good punter has an expert that can get that team out of trouble when things go wrong. The job of a punter is often never appreciated until a team realizes that it has an inconsistent punter. The desire for a good punter is never high on a general manager's list until things start to really go wrong.

Adrian Peterson: One-Of-A-Kind Talent   The Value of a Good Punter to an NFL Team   

Adrian Peterson: One-Of-A-Kind Talent

We are beyond half way into the NFL season and there have been some surprises. One surprise that needs to be mentioned is the phenomenal season by Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson. Honestly, to me, this is not a surprise. I grew up watching Adrian Peterson and he is a one-of-a-kind player in the NFL that is rare. He is works too hard and is too gifted to let any sort of injury plague him.

Regardless, what Adrian Peterson has done after blowing out his knee is remarkable. Almost every analyst out there thought Peterson would NEVER be the same type of player he was before. Many players have been scarred with devastating knee injuries and never ended up coming back the same. The fact that Adrian Peterson is back and healthy is amazing. What's even more amazing is that he did it in less than a year and is running harder than he ever has. You honestly have to be a super human to recover this quickly from an injury and to also run harder than he did when he was healthy! Remarkable!

I truly believe Adrian Peterson should be the league's most valuable player at the moment. Not only is he looking phenomenal, but the Minnesota Vikings are in playoff contention. This team would be lost without him, and perhaps win-less. Peterson has been running hard every game and every down. He is one of the few players in the league that runs hard EVERY play. He runs with a purpose which is why you always see him dragging guys with him when he is running.

Peterson is looking better than ever and he is doing it off an injury that has ended the careers of other NFL players. Last year, many thought Adrian Peterson was finished and we would never see the same ferocious runner we were used to. Peterson has worked harder than any one else, day in and day out, and he has showed us why he is the best running back in the NFL.

What Adrian Peterson is doing is phenomenal and rare. We probably will not see many runners like Peterson. He has been a true Viking since the team drafted him and has always made the team a threat. You can put 11 guys in the box and this guy will run over all of them. Keep an eye out on Adrian Peterson because this league will not see many AP's in the future.

Adrian Peterson: One-Of-A-Kind Talent   The Value of a Good Punter to an NFL Team   

Adrian Peterson: One-Of-A-Kind Talent

We are beyond half way into the NFL season and there have been some surprises. One surprise that needs to be mentioned is the phenomenal season by Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson. Honestly, to me, this is not a surprise. I grew up watching Adrian Peterson and he is a one-of-a-kind player in the NFL that is rare. He is works too hard and is too gifted to let any sort of injury plague him.

Regardless, what Adrian Peterson has done after blowing out his knee is remarkable. Almost every analyst out there thought Peterson would NEVER be the same type of player he was before. Many players have been scarred with devastating knee injuries and never ended up coming back the same. The fact that Adrian Peterson is back and healthy is amazing. What's even more amazing is that he did it in less than a year and is running harder than he ever has. You honestly have to be a super human to recover this quickly from an injury and to also run harder than he did when he was healthy! Remarkable!

I truly believe Adrian Peterson should be the league's most valuable player at the moment. Not only is he looking phenomenal, but the Minnesota Vikings are in playoff contention. This team would be lost without him, and perhaps win-less. Peterson has been running hard every game and every down. He is one of the few players in the league that runs hard EVERY play. He runs with a purpose which is why you always see him dragging guys with him when he is running.

Peterson is looking better than ever and he is doing it off an injury that has ended the careers of other NFL players. Last year, many thought Adrian Peterson was finished and we would never see the same ferocious runner we were used to. Peterson has worked harder than any one else, day in and day out, and he has showed us why he is the best running back in the NFL.

What Adrian Peterson is doing is phenomenal and rare. We probably will not see many runners like Peterson. He has been a true Viking since the team drafted him and has always made the team a threat. You can put 11 guys in the box and this guy will run over all of them. Keep an eye out on Adrian Peterson because this league will not see many AP's in the future.

Adrian Peterson: One-Of-A-Kind Talent   The Value of a Good Punter to an NFL Team   

The Value of a Good Punter to an NFL Team

When an NFL team is struggling, one of the jokes that fans make is that the punter is the best player on the team. The punter is one of those players that gets absolutely no respect until he makes a great play. But that play is soon forgotten and the punter is allocated to the bench until the offense cannot move the ball and the punter is needed to get the team out of trouble again.

How important is a good punter to an NFL team? When your favorite team is looking at a fourth and long from its own goal line, you can start to appreciate the value of a good punter. In the NFL, a good punter is one that can average anywhere from 45 to 55 net yards per kick. That sounds easy, but net yards are gross yards minus the return yards. You may have a punter that can boot the ball 65 yards, but if he cannot get any hang time, then he may constantly give up 30-yard returns.

A good punter is one that can consistently place the ball inside the 20-yard line without giving the other team a chance at returning the ball. The really good punters can drop the ball inside the opponent's five yard line and make the ball stop or kick backwards so it can be downed by the punt coverage team. Without a good punter, a team's bad offense becomes even more of a liability. A good punter is the player that gets a team out of trouble and prevents the opposition from starting a drive inside his team's side of the field.

When it comes to separating the good punters from the popular punters, that can be a little more difficult. Punters are popular with their teammates when those punters contribute to the punt coverage team. If a punter puts up a bad punt and then does not even try to tackle the returner, then that punter loses a lot of respect from his teammates. A punter who can tackle is one that will earn the respect of his teammates and the fans.

Punting is something that is often taken for granted by football fans. It is incredibly difficult to punt a ball to a specific location on the field and then get that ball to spin a particular way. When a team finds a punter that can consistently control the flight of the ball, then that is a punter that will usually get paid a lot of money and get offered long-term contracts.

Even the best offenses in the NFL get in trouble sometimes. A team with a good punter has an expert that can get that team out of trouble when things go wrong. The job of a punter is often never appreciated until a team realizes that it has an inconsistent punter. The desire for a good punter is never high on a general manager's list until things start to really go wrong.

Adrian Peterson: One-Of-A-Kind Talent   The Value of a Good Punter to an NFL Team   

My Take - Victor Cruz: Wide Receiver for the 2012 New York Giants

Last year Victor Cruz emerged from nowhere having a breakout season for the New York Giants in 2011. He became a household name with his speed, agility, and salsa touchdown dances. Cruz is easy to root for. He has charisma and a great smile. However, the 2012 season has been a letdown to say the least.

Last year Cruz had 1,536 yards receiving with 9 touchdowns. He hasn't played nearly as well in 2012. Because he is on the last year of his contract, the entire season Cruz has been in contract discussions with the team. He is due to make 490 k this season. This salary is very low for a high end receiver such as Cruz. Some receivers make as much as $16 million a year.

Cruz has had several games with multiple dropped passes in 2012. I contend that his play has declined for two possible reasons:

1) He is worried about getting injured and hurting his future earnings. I have noticed he hasn't been trying to make the tough catches. He seems to be veering away from hits when the ball is thrown into traffic. I worry that he is more concerned about making a few more dollars than helping his team be successful. If that's the case the Giants don't really need a player like that on the team.

2) The Giants main receiver Hakeem Nicks has been injured all season. He has played sparingly this season. Since Nicks has not been 100 %, Cruz has been getting double coverage by the defenders. I don't think the Giants should pay a player big money if he can't find a way to be productive when the defense focuses on him. He seems to shrink when the defense gets in his face and plays him aggressively. His two worst games this season were against the Dallas Cowboys. In both games Cruz had several drops. What made it worse was that the defensive backs grabbed him and intimidated him to the point that he mentally checked out of the games. Morris Claiborne is a Dallas rookie and absolutely abused him in those contests.

I hope neither is correct about Victor. He has become a fan favorite in New York after his 2011 season. However I must say if either is true about Cruz I would not want him on my team. Since it appears that the contract won't get done til after the season, he had better perform if he wants to make the big bucks.

Adrian Peterson: One-Of-A-Kind Talent   The Value of a Good Punter to an NFL Team   

Adrian Peterson: One-Of-A-Kind Talent

We are beyond half way into the NFL season and there have been some surprises. One surprise that needs to be mentioned is the phenomenal season by Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson. Honestly, to me, this is not a surprise. I grew up watching Adrian Peterson and he is a one-of-a-kind player in the NFL that is rare. He is works too hard and is too gifted to let any sort of injury plague him.

Regardless, what Adrian Peterson has done after blowing out his knee is remarkable. Almost every analyst out there thought Peterson would NEVER be the same type of player he was before. Many players have been scarred with devastating knee injuries and never ended up coming back the same. The fact that Adrian Peterson is back and healthy is amazing. What's even more amazing is that he did it in less than a year and is running harder than he ever has. You honestly have to be a super human to recover this quickly from an injury and to also run harder than he did when he was healthy! Remarkable!

I truly believe Adrian Peterson should be the league's most valuable player at the moment. Not only is he looking phenomenal, but the Minnesota Vikings are in playoff contention. This team would be lost without him, and perhaps win-less. Peterson has been running hard every game and every down. He is one of the few players in the league that runs hard EVERY play. He runs with a purpose which is why you always see him dragging guys with him when he is running.

Peterson is looking better than ever and he is doing it off an injury that has ended the careers of other NFL players. Last year, many thought Adrian Peterson was finished and we would never see the same ferocious runner we were used to. Peterson has worked harder than any one else, day in and day out, and he has showed us why he is the best running back in the NFL.

What Adrian Peterson is doing is phenomenal and rare. We probably will not see many runners like Peterson. He has been a true Viking since the team drafted him and has always made the team a threat. You can put 11 guys in the box and this guy will run over all of them. Keep an eye out on Adrian Peterson because this league will not see many AP's in the future.

Adrian Peterson: One-Of-A-Kind Talent   The Value of a Good Punter to an NFL Team   

The Value of a Good Punter to an NFL Team

When an NFL team is struggling, one of the jokes that fans make is that the punter is the best player on the team. The punter is one of those players that gets absolutely no respect until he makes a great play. But that play is soon forgotten and the punter is allocated to the bench until the offense cannot move the ball and the punter is needed to get the team out of trouble again.

How important is a good punter to an NFL team? When your favorite team is looking at a fourth and long from its own goal line, you can start to appreciate the value of a good punter. In the NFL, a good punter is one that can average anywhere from 45 to 55 net yards per kick. That sounds easy, but net yards are gross yards minus the return yards. You may have a punter that can boot the ball 65 yards, but if he cannot get any hang time, then he may constantly give up 30-yard returns.

A good punter is one that can consistently place the ball inside the 20-yard line without giving the other team a chance at returning the ball. The really good punters can drop the ball inside the opponent's five yard line and make the ball stop or kick backwards so it can be downed by the punt coverage team. Without a good punter, a team's bad offense becomes even more of a liability. A good punter is the player that gets a team out of trouble and prevents the opposition from starting a drive inside his team's side of the field.

When it comes to separating the good punters from the popular punters, that can be a little more difficult. Punters are popular with their teammates when those punters contribute to the punt coverage team. If a punter puts up a bad punt and then does not even try to tackle the returner, then that punter loses a lot of respect from his teammates. A punter who can tackle is one that will earn the respect of his teammates and the fans.

Punting is something that is often taken for granted by football fans. It is incredibly difficult to punt a ball to a specific location on the field and then get that ball to spin a particular way. When a team finds a punter that can consistently control the flight of the ball, then that is a punter that will usually get paid a lot of money and get offered long-term contracts.

Even the best offenses in the NFL get in trouble sometimes. A team with a good punter has an expert that can get that team out of trouble when things go wrong. The job of a punter is often never appreciated until a team realizes that it has an inconsistent punter. The desire for a good punter is never high on a general manager's list until things start to really go wrong.

Adrian Peterson: One-Of-A-Kind Talent   The Value of a Good Punter to an NFL Team   

Adrian Peterson: One-Of-A-Kind Talent

We are beyond half way into the NFL season and there have been some surprises. One surprise that needs to be mentioned is the phenomenal season by Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson. Honestly, to me, this is not a surprise. I grew up watching Adrian Peterson and he is a one-of-a-kind player in the NFL that is rare. He is works too hard and is too gifted to let any sort of injury plague him.

Regardless, what Adrian Peterson has done after blowing out his knee is remarkable. Almost every analyst out there thought Peterson would NEVER be the same type of player he was before. Many players have been scarred with devastating knee injuries and never ended up coming back the same. The fact that Adrian Peterson is back and healthy is amazing. What's even more amazing is that he did it in less than a year and is running harder than he ever has. You honestly have to be a super human to recover this quickly from an injury and to also run harder than he did when he was healthy! Remarkable!

I truly believe Adrian Peterson should be the league's most valuable player at the moment. Not only is he looking phenomenal, but the Minnesota Vikings are in playoff contention. This team would be lost without him, and perhaps win-less. Peterson has been running hard every game and every down. He is one of the few players in the league that runs hard EVERY play. He runs with a purpose which is why you always see him dragging guys with him when he is running.

Peterson is looking better than ever and he is doing it off an injury that has ended the careers of other NFL players. Last year, many thought Adrian Peterson was finished and we would never see the same ferocious runner we were used to. Peterson has worked harder than any one else, day in and day out, and he has showed us why he is the best running back in the NFL.

What Adrian Peterson is doing is phenomenal and rare. We probably will not see many runners like Peterson. He has been a true Viking since the team drafted him and has always made the team a threat. You can put 11 guys in the box and this guy will run over all of them. Keep an eye out on Adrian Peterson because this league will not see many AP's in the future.

Adrian Peterson: One-Of-A-Kind Talent   The Value of a Good Punter to an NFL Team   

The Value of a Good Punter to an NFL Team

When an NFL team is struggling, one of the jokes that fans make is that the punter is the best player on the team. The punter is one of those players that gets absolutely no respect until he makes a great play. But that play is soon forgotten and the punter is allocated to the bench until the offense cannot move the ball and the punter is needed to get the team out of trouble again.

How important is a good punter to an NFL team? When your favorite team is looking at a fourth and long from its own goal line, you can start to appreciate the value of a good punter. In the NFL, a good punter is one that can average anywhere from 45 to 55 net yards per kick. That sounds easy, but net yards are gross yards minus the return yards. You may have a punter that can boot the ball 65 yards, but if he cannot get any hang time, then he may constantly give up 30-yard returns.

A good punter is one that can consistently place the ball inside the 20-yard line without giving the other team a chance at returning the ball. The really good punters can drop the ball inside the opponent's five yard line and make the ball stop or kick backwards so it can be downed by the punt coverage team. Without a good punter, a team's bad offense becomes even more of a liability. A good punter is the player that gets a team out of trouble and prevents the opposition from starting a drive inside his team's side of the field.

When it comes to separating the good punters from the popular punters, that can be a little more difficult. Punters are popular with their teammates when those punters contribute to the punt coverage team. If a punter puts up a bad punt and then does not even try to tackle the returner, then that punter loses a lot of respect from his teammates. A punter who can tackle is one that will earn the respect of his teammates and the fans.

Punting is something that is often taken for granted by football fans. It is incredibly difficult to punt a ball to a specific location on the field and then get that ball to spin a particular way. When a team finds a punter that can consistently control the flight of the ball, then that is a punter that will usually get paid a lot of money and get offered long-term contracts.

Even the best offenses in the NFL get in trouble sometimes. A team with a good punter has an expert that can get that team out of trouble when things go wrong. The job of a punter is often never appreciated until a team realizes that it has an inconsistent punter. The desire for a good punter is never high on a general manager's list until things start to really go wrong.

Adrian Peterson: One-Of-A-Kind Talent   The Value of a Good Punter to an NFL Team   

The Value of a Good Punter to an NFL Team

When an NFL team is struggling, one of the jokes that fans make is that the punter is the best player on the team. The punter is one of those players that gets absolutely no respect until he makes a great play. But that play is soon forgotten and the punter is allocated to the bench until the offense cannot move the ball and the punter is needed to get the team out of trouble again.

How important is a good punter to an NFL team? When your favorite team is looking at a fourth and long from its own goal line, you can start to appreciate the value of a good punter. In the NFL, a good punter is one that can average anywhere from 45 to 55 net yards per kick. That sounds easy, but net yards are gross yards minus the return yards. You may have a punter that can boot the ball 65 yards, but if he cannot get any hang time, then he may constantly give up 30-yard returns.

A good punter is one that can consistently place the ball inside the 20-yard line without giving the other team a chance at returning the ball. The really good punters can drop the ball inside the opponent's five yard line and make the ball stop or kick backwards so it can be downed by the punt coverage team. Without a good punter, a team's bad offense becomes even more of a liability. A good punter is the player that gets a team out of trouble and prevents the opposition from starting a drive inside his team's side of the field.

When it comes to separating the good punters from the popular punters, that can be a little more difficult. Punters are popular with their teammates when those punters contribute to the punt coverage team. If a punter puts up a bad punt and then does not even try to tackle the returner, then that punter loses a lot of respect from his teammates. A punter who can tackle is one that will earn the respect of his teammates and the fans.

Punting is something that is often taken for granted by football fans. It is incredibly difficult to punt a ball to a specific location on the field and then get that ball to spin a particular way. When a team finds a punter that can consistently control the flight of the ball, then that is a punter that will usually get paid a lot of money and get offered long-term contracts.

Even the best offenses in the NFL get in trouble sometimes. A team with a good punter has an expert that can get that team out of trouble when things go wrong. The job of a punter is often never appreciated until a team realizes that it has an inconsistent punter. The desire for a good punter is never high on a general manager's list until things start to really go wrong.

Adrian Peterson: One-Of-A-Kind Talent   The Value of a Good Punter to an NFL Team