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 |
AFC South Spin cycle: Titans play spoiler on 'MNF'
The Titans dashed the playoff hopes of the Jets, while the Texans clinched the AFC South with their win over the Colts.
Week 16 playoff scenarios
First-round byes and playoff spots are up for grabs in Week 16. See how it can happen in the playoff scenarios.
Week 15 Players of the Week
This week, PFW selects Adrian Peterson, J.J. Watt and Blair Walsh as its Players of the Week.
Peterson, Watt make MVP cases, rally contenders
In what might be one of the few true head-to-head battles for MVP either Adrian Peterson or J.J. Watt might have the chance to earn the award in Week 16.
Texans clinch AFC South with 29-17 win over Colts
The Houston Texans are AFC South champions for the second straight year after beating the Indianapolis Colts 29-17 Sunday.
Injuries have taken toll on Texans O-line
The Texans have missed starting ORT Derek Newton the past two weeks — perhaps even more than initially expected.
Week 15 playoff scenarios
The Texans, Ravens, 49ers and Packers all have opportunities to clinch their respective divisions on Sunday.
Tuesday's 60-second rant: Texans will learn from humbling loss
The Patriots are the class of the AFC, but the Texans are far better than they showed Monday and will respond with a strong effort against the Colts.
Patriots rout Texans in key AFC matchup
Tom Brady threw for four touchdowns, one to Brandon Lloyd, and the Patriots rolled over the Texans, 42-14, on Monday night.
Friday's 60-second rant: How dangerous is Denver?
It's difficult to gauge how far the Broncos' have come since early-season losses, but using each week to improve could carry them a long way.
Key matchup: Texans running game vs. Patriots run defense
In a potential AFC title-game preview between the Patriots and Texans, Arian Foster and Houston's rushing attack will be under the microscope.
Houston could be end of the line for CB Routt
The suddenly injury-riddled Texans signed CB Stanford Routt this week as an emergency option, but we hear he will be on a very short leash.
Battle for AFC supremacy in Foxborough
Two AFC heavyweights battle when the Texans travel to New England for a classic Monday-night game; plus, lots more from the Week 14 action.
Texans to sign CB Routt
The Texans will sign CB Stanford Routt after working him out on Tuesday, PFW correspondent John McClain of the Houston Chronicle first reported.
Week 14 playoff scenarios
The 49ers and Ravens can clinch playoff spots in Week 14, while the Texans and Falcons aim for first-round byes.
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.
