Tinstar2 Posted May 21, 2006 Share Posted May 21, 2006 http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2452777 Updated: May 21, 2006, 11:15 AM ET Jets punter Graham signs six-year extension By Len Pasquarelli ESPN.com Second-year punter Ben Graham, who had a standout season for the New York Jets in 2005 as a 32-year-old rookie, has signed a long-term contract extension with the team. Ben GrahamPunter New York Jets Profile2005 SEASON STATISTICSPuntsAvgIn 20In 10BlkLong7443.7187059 The six-year deal runs through the 2011 season. While complete financial details were not yet available, the contract is believed to have a total potential value of more than $5 million. "It was really a hands-down [decision] for us," Graham told the Sydney (Australia) Morning Herald. "They made an offer and we just said, 'We'll take it.' I'm excited that I'm going to be punting for the New York Jets in the best city in America for the next six years." Graham signed with the Jets last year after playing 12 season of Australian Rules Football, where he was one of the biggest stars in the game. The former Geelong standout, who also played for Australia in some international competitions, sent a videotape highlight cassette to several NFL teams two years ago. Jets special teams coach Mike Westhoff, realizing the strength of Graham's leg, suggested the team grant him an audition and he was subsequently signed to a minimum contract. He figures to earn a lot more than a minimum salary over the next six seasons. Ironically, the Jets were one of several NFL teams that had attempted to lure Graham to America as far back as the late 1990s, but he chose to remain in Australia. But inspired by the success of Darren Bennett, a fellow Australian who had a long and productive career with the San Diego Chargers and was awarded with two Pro Bowl berths, Graham finally made the move. "It was a little unnerving, because there were no guarantees," Graham said late last season. "But if I was going to do it, time was running out, and I just decided it was worth the chance." In his first NFL season, Graham punted 74 times for a gross average of 43.7 yards and a net average of 37.9 yards. Both those averages rated sixth-best in the AFC. Graham also registered a 3-to-1 ratio (18-6) of punts inside the 20-yard line to touchbacks. Opponents returned 36 of his punts for an 8.5-yard average, which was slightly higher than the league norm of 8.1 yards. Graham said near the end of his first season that he wanted to work on improving his hang time and his directional punting skills in the offseason. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatsFanTX Posted May 21, 2006 Share Posted May 21, 2006 Congrats folks. The Jets just extended the best player on the team. A friggn' punter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-Mac Posted May 21, 2006 Share Posted May 21, 2006 God, I hope he can take over KO duties. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatsFanTX Posted May 21, 2006 Share Posted May 21, 2006 God, I hope he can take over KO duties. Jumba, why the hell do you say that? The Jets used a 2nd round draft pick for a kicker with a cannon leg. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
faba Posted May 21, 2006 Share Posted May 21, 2006 Its good we locked him up but why 6 years- no player gets a six year extension- A CEO does not get a 6 year extension At least we did not draft a punter this year PatsFantx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NIGHT STALKER Posted May 21, 2006 Share Posted May 21, 2006 Congrats folks. The Jets just extended the best player on the team. A friggn' punter. And your best player signed with the Colts... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatsFanTX Posted May 21, 2006 Share Posted May 21, 2006 And your best player signed with the Colts... You mean that aging, declining kicker who had a FG percentage of 50% in the playoffs since 2003? Yea, when you lose players of that caliber, it really kills your team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NIGHT STALKER Posted May 21, 2006 Share Posted May 21, 2006 You mean that aging, declining kicker who had a FG percentage of 50% in the playoffs since 2003? Yea, when you lose players of that caliber, it really kills your team. TX, you can down play it all you want...as the season progresses, you guys will wish you had him back...close games won by the Pats will no longer be an option. You never realize how much you missed something until it's no longer there...they didn't come up with that saying for the hell of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Straw Posted May 21, 2006 Share Posted May 21, 2006 You mean that aging, declining kicker who had a FG percentage of 50% in the playoffs since 2003? Yea, when you lose players of that caliber, it really kills your team. And what's his FG percentage in the Super Bowl? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatsFanTX Posted May 21, 2006 Share Posted May 21, 2006 TX, you can down play it all you want...as the season progresses, you guys will wish you had him back...close games won by the Pats will no longer be an option. You never realize how much you missed something until it's no longer there...they didn't come up with that saying for the hell of it. Come on FL, you make it sound like AV nailed 55-yard, game winning FG's week in and week out for the Pats. The guy did what he was paid to do, split the friggn' uprights. Outside of the greatest kick in the history of the NFL versus the Raiders in the snow bowl, he did what any other kicker in the NFL would be expected to do. A 47 and 41-yard game winning FG in the Super Bowl (both kicks took place indoors with no weather elements) is what all kickers are expected to do. If AV didn't choke on that 39-yarder against the Broncos last year, that game could have very easily turned out differently. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatsFanTX Posted May 21, 2006 Share Posted May 21, 2006 And what's his FG percentage in the Super Bowl? He is only a 66.7% FG kicker in Super Bowl games. His two misses versus the Panthers were the reason that game was so close to begin with. Would you want a kicker who hits only 66.7% of his kicks in the biggest game in the NFL to be your kicker? You guys vastly over rate the importance of AV to the Pats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tinstar2 Posted May 21, 2006 Author Share Posted May 21, 2006 Hey TX,are you gonna refer to Tom Brady as the Pillow biting son of a *itch that he is once he's no longer a Patriot also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackout Posted May 21, 2006 Share Posted May 21, 2006 At least we did not draft a punter this year PatsFantx owned Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
124 Posted May 21, 2006 Share Posted May 21, 2006 It's about time we locked him up long term...I was wondering when it was going to happen. Graham is our first consistent punter in years. Aussie Aussie Aussie! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maxman Posted May 21, 2006 Share Posted May 21, 2006 You mean that aging, declining kicker who had a FG percentage of 50% in the playoffs since 2003? Yea, when you lose players of that caliber, it really kills your team. At the rate that franchise is falling apart 50% accuracy in the postseason won't matter. Because they won't be there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatsFanTX Posted May 21, 2006 Share Posted May 21, 2006 Hey TX,are you gonna refer to Tom Brady as the Pillow biting son of a *itch that he is once he's no longer a Patriot also. If Brady's performance falls off in the next several years (highly unlikely), I will be the first Pats fan calling for his head. Unlike Jet fans, Pats fans know when a player is history. Right Savage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maxman Posted May 21, 2006 Share Posted May 21, 2006 If Brady's performance falls off in the next several years (highly unlikely), I will be the first Pats fan calling for his head. Unlike Jet fans, Pats fans know when a player is history. Right Savage. Dumbass. The Jets players don't decline. They just suck from the day they were drafted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatsFanTX Posted May 21, 2006 Share Posted May 21, 2006 At the rate that franchise is falling apart 50% accuracy in the postseason won't matter. Because they won't be there. Ah, Max, you are as delusional as the newbies. Pats win the AFCE, easily for the next 3 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatsFanTX Posted May 21, 2006 Share Posted May 21, 2006 Dumbass. The Jets players don't decline. They just suck from the day they were drafted. OK, yor very 1st funny post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SickJetFan Posted May 21, 2006 Share Posted May 21, 2006 I am going to love watching them go down almost as much as I am going to relish the Jets rise buh bye belly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackout Posted May 21, 2006 Share Posted May 21, 2006 I am going to love watching them go down almost as much as I am going to relish the Jets rise buh bye belly amen to that **** the patsies Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savage69 Posted May 21, 2006 Share Posted May 21, 2006 If Brady's performance falls off in the next several years (highly unlikely), I will be the first Pats fan calling for his head. Unlike Jet fans, Pats fans know when a player is history. Right Savage. And a Big Amen to that Brother Tex!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NIGHT STALKER Posted May 21, 2006 Share Posted May 21, 2006 If Brady's performance falls off in the next several years (highly unlikely), I will be the first Pats fan calling for his head. Unlike Jet fans, Pats fans know when a player is history. Right Savage. What's he sayn' there Savage? Are you a Pats fan...damn, you had me fooled. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatsFanTX Posted May 21, 2006 Share Posted May 21, 2006 What's he sayn' there Savage? Are you a Pats fan...damn, you had me fooled. No, Savage gets it. It's all about winning the Super Bowl. Nothing else matters, backing into the playoffs and stroking your pud, doesn't cut it. It's all about winning championships. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NIGHT STALKER Posted May 21, 2006 Share Posted May 21, 2006 No, Savage gets it. It's all about winning the Super Bowl. Nothing else matters, backing into the playoffs and stroking your pud, doesn't cut it. It's all about winning championships. Give me a freaken break will you TX...I was yanking your damn chain...I've known Savage personally for years. Savage, Senior and I are going to the Jets opener verses the Pats...why don't you join us...we don't bite. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savage69 Posted May 21, 2006 Share Posted May 21, 2006 No, Savage gets it. It's all about winning the Super Bowl. Nothing else matters, backing into the playoffs and stroking your pud, doesn't cut it. It's all about winning championships. That's the Ticket Tex..Like Lombardi said;Winning isn't everything..It's the ONLY thing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatsFanTX Posted May 21, 2006 Share Posted May 21, 2006 Give me a freaken break will you TX...I was yanking your damn chain...I've known Savage personally for years. Savage, Senior and I are going to the Jets opener verses the Pats...why don't you join us...we don't bite. I know you were FL. I have the utmost respect for Savage, SR and yourself. I'd love to enjoy a game with the 3 of you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackout Posted May 21, 2006 Share Posted May 21, 2006 I'd love to enjoy a game of strip poker with the 3 of you. wow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joewilly Posted May 22, 2006 Share Posted May 22, 2006 anyone know how much he's getting? I like the long term signing and I think he's gonna get better & better Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.thumb.jpg.02d5a086ca7ed80fc66faf3bb6f878c7.jpg)
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.