Earlier today, the Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee selected Eagles kicker David Akers to their All-Decade team. Coming off of one of his best years as an Eagle, there's no wonder the committee felt the need to honor our franchise's most highly touted and decorated kicker. In his eleven years with the team, Akers has been selected to four Pro Bowls and has broken the following NFL records:
- Consecutive postseason field goal conversions: 19
- Points in a single decade (2000-2009): 1,114
Akers has also broken several team records, including the record for breaking the most kicking records. Here are a few:
- Single-season field goal conversion success rate: 88.2%
- Field goals made in a single season: 33
- Career field goal conversions: 262
- Single-season extra point conversion success rate (tie): 100%
- Career extra point conversions: 394 (only 6 missed out of 400 attempts)
- Career games started: 172
- 50+ yard field goal conversions (lifetime): 14
- Points scored (lifetime): 1,180
More on Akers' reaction to being selected after the jump.
In an interview with PE.com's Dave Spadaro, Akers expressed his gratitude to all the helpers he's had over the past ten years:
It is obviously a huge honor just to be have that length of time to be able to be looked at in that high regard is surreal to me. I couldn't have done it without the Mike Bartrums, the Koy Detmers, the Jon Dorenboses, the Sav Roccas and great offensive lines and coaches helping me along the way. The Eagles have always believed in me and I am truly grateful for that.
With all the uncertainty surrounding the quarterback and safety positions this offseason, it's nice to know that the Eagles have a rock-solid kicker that they can count on, if only for a few more years. Akers will turn 36 next season, but has shown little signs of slowing down thanks to a rigorous physical regimen that has kept his legs in top shape.
Former Eagle Brian Dawkins was the only other Eagle selected to the squad. The Cowboys' DeMarcus Ware also managed to earn All-Decade Honors despite only playing for the second half of the decade.