Eagles Sign Punter Durant Brooks
by Bob_Q on Feb 2, 2010 4:39 PM EST
in Philadelphia Eagles News
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Watch your back, Sav Rocca. A new punter just landed in Philadelphia. Earlier today, the Eagles announced that they had signed former Redskins punter Durant Brooks. Here is a bit of background on the newest member of the Eagles, courtesy of PE.com's Chris McPherson:
Brooks was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the sixth round of the 2008 NFL Draft after winning the Ray Guy Award for best collegiate punter in his senior year at Georgia Tech.
In addition to winning the award, Brooks has also been tutored by Guy.
The 6-foot, 204-pound Brooks played in six games with the Redskins his rookie season and had a gross average of 39.6 yards per punt and a net average of 32.1 yards per punt. The Redskins replaced him midseason with Ryan Plackemeier.
Brooks finished his rookie season on the practice squad of the Green Bay Packers and signed a future contract with the Packers at the end of the season, but was released at the end of training camp. It was reported that Brooks had a tryout with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in December, but he did not play with a team during the 2009 season.
While Brooks doesn't exactly sound like the superstar punter that the Eagles need, his signing should at least encourage Rocca to bust his butt this offseason. At 36, Rocca certainly isn't getting any younger. He would do well to learn everything he can from new special teams coach Bobby April and develop a better consistency with his punts if he intends to stay for a fourth season. In the end though, Brooks will likely act as just another training camp/preseason leg for the Eagles (something the team has done almost every year now), but you never know. Stranger things have happened.
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nice but irrelevant
only one other punter with a ray guy award is currently employed by an NFL team (sepulveda) and his stats aren’t any better than sav’s
http://phibossports.blogspot.com - a (recently started) Philly and Boston sports blog
All I ask is for a little consistency
Thats all.. I don’t need the giant leg… just consistently get. the. job. done.
"A picture may be worth a thousand words, but a word from Harry Kalas painted a thousand pictures."
-Doug Glanville
As a Redskins fan...
This guy sucks. Hard.
He shanked almost all his kicks and our FG % went way down, which Suisham attributed to the inconsistent holding of Brooks and his successor (Plackemeier). Not that Suisham has a lot of credibility as of late, but he kicked horrible in 2008 and then perfectly up to those dreadful short misses vs the Saints and Cowboys late. I would not be excited for this guy. I might hold an extra bit of animosity b/c Cerrato burned a 6th round pick on him only to cut him half way through the season, but he really did suck.
This signing really baffles me…especially for being a 2-year.
"I am excited about starting 2009. We are looking forward to an outstanding year. We're on our way. We have a lot of healthy players this year." - Vinny Cerrato
it still haunts us...
"I am excited about starting 2009. We are looking forward to an outstanding year. We're on our way. We have a lot of healthy players this year." - Vinny Cerrato
Figured as much
It’s probably a training camp body and if he somehow imp roves his game 10 fold he has a shot, but most likely not
E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!!!
Sounds like he'll be lucky to make it past the OTA's
Sav probably had to make a pilgrimage back to the homeland and wouldn’t be available for OTA’s.
Sometimes it's just fun to take the family for a spin around the lake in the old boat. Even if it's not your family or your boat, and they're screaming for you to stop.
by Baron Dainer Von Tresvant on Feb 2, 2010 11:31 PM EST up reply actions
Wonder
How much input Bobby April had in this decision? My bet is not much. This strikes as a Banner-type decision to try to get by in an area on the cheap. Generally hasn’t worked out that well the last few years for the Eagles when they have taken this approach.
P isn’t a huge deal but it was one of several minor areas was hoping the Eagles might improve this offseason. I would be surprised now if they bring in another P via FA or the draft.
Weird, I thought the opposite
I thought April might have liked the Brooks guy’s potential, and seeing as Rocca is 36, it might be too late to teach an old dog new tricks, in April’s mind. So he got the best available young guy he can mold. Apparently he’s got the leg and all that.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Brooks takes Rocca’s job.
I also wouldn’t be surprised if this is the most thought I give to the punter competition between now and Week 1.
Still waiting for the Eagles to Bring It Home For Jerome
You're crazy
He got cut mid season because he was so bad and was cut from various other teams. Unless he improves his game by a LOT he’s not making it very far with us
E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!!!
Rocca has nothing to worry about.
And that sucks. Big time.
...But if he pulls the rug on his quarterback, Reid must do it knowing that he let McNabb down more than McNabb ever let him down.
Phil Sheridan--Philadelphia Inquirer
durant isn't bad.
good to see the eagles at least sign another punter to have sav watch how he punts now
eff you we winning anyway
A.I. IS BACKKKKKKK
He was signed to a 2 year deal
More than a camp body perhaps?
Rocca isn't that bad
Every team, save for the Raiders (future Hall of Famer Shane Lechler) and the 49ers (Andy Lee) loves to bitch and moan about there punter.
When Rocca is on, he BOOMs the ball. I know that sometimes he lets “shankopatamus” out of the cage, but for every 50+ yarder he gives us, we should expect a dingy every now and then.
And this guy is a Ray Guy award winner, so he is probably pretty good. So, the Epic Punter Battle to the Death is on.
The weigh in:
Saverio “The Big Ausie” Rocco, Austraila, Age 36, 6’5, 265
Durant “Duran-Durant” Brooks, Georgia, Age 24, 6’0, 205
Place your bets, cuz its gonna be a bloodbath.
There are other very, very good punters
Mike Scifres and Brian Moorman off the top of my head
About 10 minutes ago, I was pondering my own existence. Then I decided that it didn't matter.
Good
Bring someone in to compete with that bum Rocca.
This could have read … Eagles sign punter Jeremy Kapinos and I would have been happy. I don’t care who takes Sav’s spot just replace him.
Jim Johnson 1941-2009
"The 0-2 pitch, swing and a miss! STRUCK HIM OUT! The Philadelphia Phillies are 2008 World Champions of baseball! And let the city celebrate! " - Harry Kalas 1936-2009
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