Houston Texans
Shane Lechler - #9 - P
| Status | Active |
| Height/Weight | 6' 2"/ 230 lbs. |
| Birthday | 08/07/1976 |
| Birthplace | Sealy, TX |
| College | Texas A&M |
| Years played | 14 |
| Drafted | 2000, 5th round, 13th pick by Raiders |
Texans edge Bengals for wild-card win
Arian Foster ran for 140 yards and a TD, and the Texans used a stifling defense for a 19-13 win over the Bengals on Saturday.
Friday injury report for wild-card round
Here is the Friday injury report for the wild-card weekend, showing to what degree injured players participated in their teams' practices.
Key matchup: Texans DE J.J. Watt vs. Bengals O-line
The Bengals vs. Texans might be the least attractive matchup of wild-card weekend, but it's another chance to watch star DE J.J. Watt.
Thursday's wild-card injury report
The injury report report for this weekend's wild-card action, as released by the NFL.
Running the 'Card table: Tom Danyluk's wildcard predictions
PFW columnist Tom Danyluk breaks down the wild-card round action and offers his predictions.
Lewis, Pagano highlight emotional weekend
Three of this year's wild-card games are whoppers, with the two Sunday games appearing to be quite fascinating.
Texans place Sharpton on I.R.
The Texans placed ILB Darryl Sharpton on injured reserve because of a hip injury on Tuesday.
AFC South Spin cycle: Loss to Colts drops Texans to No. 3
The Colts sent the reeling Texans back to Houston as Chuck Pagano had a successful return to the sideline after three months away.
Colts top Texans in Pagano's return
Andrew Luck threw two TD passes to lead the Colts to a 28-16 victory over Houston in head coach Chuck Pagano's return.
Schaub pressing amid Houston's offensive funk
The Texans are a ball-control offense, but it still must start with QB Matt Schaub, who is pressing with his team mired in a funk at the worst possible time.
Bears sign S Nolan
The Bears signed S Troy Nolan, the team announced Wednesday. Chicago had an open roster spot after waiving WR Dane Sanzenbacher.
Week 17 playoff scenarios
Seeding is up for grabs in the AFC, while five teams fight for two spots in the NFC playoffs in Week 17.
AFC South Spin cycle: Colts' turnaround complete
The Colts punched their postseason ticket with a 20-13 win at Kansas City and the Texans continue to stumble late this season.
Vikings upset Texans 23-6
Christian Ponder threw a touchdown pass, Toby Gerhart added a score and Blair Walsh kicked three field goals in the Vikings' win over the Texans.
Texans' third-round rookies coming on strong
Third-round rookies DeVier Posey and Brandon Brooks are coming on at the right time for the Texans.
PLAYER NEWS
The Houston Texans have signed Lechler. Terms of the contract were not disclosed by the team Saturday. ESPN reported the deal was for three years and worth a maximum of $5.5 million, with a $1 million signing bonus.|||||||
The 36-year-old Lechler is the NFL's career leader in gross average per punt (47.3 yards) and has led the league in gross average in four seasons. He also ranks seventh in career net punting average (38.8 yards).
Lechler went 1 for 2 in his chase for punting records. Lechler fell just short of breaking Sammy Baugh's single season mark for gross punting average, while topping his own mark for net average in a season.|||||||
Lechler averaged 52.4 yards on five punts in Sunday's season finale for Oakland against Baltimore. That gave him a 51.1-yard average for the season, just shy of Baugh's record of 51.4 yards in 1940. Lechler finished the season with a 43.9-yard net average, breaking the mark of 41.2 he set last season. No punter had topped a 40-yard net average until Lechler and Andy Lee did so in 2007. Lechler has extended his record the past two seasons.
Lechler, who already owns the league record for career average, is having his best season so far and is making his strongest bid yet to beat Sammy Baugh's 69-year-old record of 51.4 yards. It's an achievement Lechler has been chasing since he entered the NFL as a fifth-round draft pick in 2000.|||||||
A four-time Pro Bowl pick, Lechler leads the NFL with a 52.3-yard average heading into Sunday's game against the Kansas City Chiefs. That's more than three yards higher than Lechler's own franchise record of 49.1 set in 2007.
Lechler has agreed to a four-year contract to stay with the Oakland Raiders, the Associated Press has learned.|||||||
Lechler could have become an unrestricted free agent next week after being chosen to the AFC's Pro Bowl team for the fourth time in his nine-year career. The Raiders didn't disclose financial terms of the deal, but it's believed to make Lechler the highest-paid punter in NFL history.
Lechler will test out his strained hamstring over the next couple of days, and if no problems arise, he plans to play in Thursday's preseason finale against the New Orleans Saints. The punter, who has been limited since suffering the injury in the Raiders' first exhibition game, is considered as day-to-day.|||||||
Lechler was selected to the Pro Bowl last season after leading the league with a 46.7-yard average on 73 punts.
