Lechler Named to Pro Bowl
Oakland Raiders punter Shane Lechler was named to the annual AFC/NFC Pro Bowl today. This is the second career Pro Bowl selection for Lechler, in his fifth year with the Raiders after being selected by the team in the fifth round of the 2000 NFL Draft. He was first selected to the AFC squad following the 2001 season. In his first Pro Bowl action, Lechler set the record for the longest punt with a 73-yarder.
Through 14 games in 2004, Lechler is averaging a league-best 47.6 yards per punt, a full three yards better than the next closest player. Lechler also serves as the holder on all field goal and extra point attempts. He has boomed at least one punt for 50 or more yards in each of his last 19 games dating back to 2003, the longest such streak since Mark Royals accomplished the feat in 27 straight games in 1997 and 98.
Of Lechler's 62 punts this season, 27 traveled at least 50 yards, with 10 punts traveling over 60 yards. He has been equally adept at pinning the opponent deep in their own territory, with 19 punts in 2004 being downed inside the opponents' 20-yard line. For his career, one in every three punts is downed inside the 20.
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