Lechler is one of the best: in 9 NFL seasons he has been a 4-time Pro Bowl selection (2001, 2004, 2007, 2008) and 6-time All-Pro selection (2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008).

How would everybody feel about breaking the bank for a punter? We might be able to get away with only giving Lechler about $2 Million, or so. I'm not sure who the current highest paid punter is, but McBriar signed a deal in 2006 for $1.7 Million per season. I wouldn't be completely shocked if the deal would have to be closer to Robbie Gould's deal (5 years, $15.5 Million) if we want to convince Lechler to kick in Green Bay.

I wasn't aware he's a FA, but I'd be willing to overpay a little. He's one of the best in the business.

Signing Lechler would seem to be a good move. However, he has played in relatively balmy conditions for most of his career in the AFL West. Would his punting skills translate well to the colder climes of the NFC North? I'm not saying they wouldn't, but I'd want to study his stats in cold weather games before spending freely.

He is one of the top five punters in the nfl, beyond a doubt.

Could he kick in gb, that is the one condition on him.

Plus he is going to want a lot of money. A lot.

He would probably improve our defense more than any player we could add to our defense... extending the length of the field is a big part to a successful defense.

that being said...ya, I'd "break" the bank for him. A good punter is a sure-fire way to improve your points against per game, and there should be no question that he's going to work in your special teams "system"

I say no, for what he will cost. After frost left the punting was adequate but the coverage units stunk. Replacing Kampinos with Lecler will yield a little gain but the coverage unit needs to improve. There are more reasonable FA and late round draftees availible.

Slocum was his college coach at Texas A&M. so he has a relationship with Lechler. That might be what it takes to get him to GB.

I looked up his stats because i was a little worried about him kicking in a colder climate also. Luckly espn.com has splits in there stats. He actually is very very consistent to matter what, wether it was at the pats in december or at home.

The most useful stats that i saw were from 2007:



BY SEASON GAMES ....PUNTS....... AVG.... LNG... YDS... TB... TB%... IN20... IN20%... RET.. YDS... AVG... NET
Games 1-8 ..................34 .............50.3..... 70 ...1711 ...2 ....5.9 .......11.... 32.4 ......20...... 178 ....8.9 ...45.1
Games 9-16 ................39 .............48.1..... 70 ....1874 ..5.... 12.8...... 14.... 35.9 ......20...... 267... 13.4 ..41.2

by month

September ..................13 ..............49.3 ....69 .....641 ....1 ....7.7 ......6 .....46.2 ........4....... 48........ 12.0... 45.6
October .......................19 .............49.7..... 70..... 944.... 1 ....5.3 ......4..... 21.1....... 14 ......108 ......7.7 ....44.0
November ...................20 ..............48.4 ....69 ......967 ....2 ...10.0..... 8..... 40.0 .......10 .......41 .......4.1... 46.3
December................... 21 ..............49.2 ....70 ......1033... 3.... 14.3... 7 .......33.3...... 12 .....248...... 20.7 ..37.4

in dec will blackmon ran back a 57 yard punt for a td (horrible tackling for the raiders) and T rushings returned one 90 yards for a touchdown. At that point the raiders where trying to get a better draft pick it seemed and they werent tackling on special teams. So the december return avg is scewed. But if you notice his long kick and avg are really really consistent with a pretty good average of them ending up within the 20. Sign him now, a punter is like a O-linemen, you wont notice them untill they suck, and you cant win when they suck.

Lechler is officially out of the running. The Raiders just made him the highest paid punter in NFL history.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d8...mp;confirm=true