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 |
Chasing Colts, Texans take CB Jackson
Alabama CB Kareem Jackson could start immediately as the Texans try to catch the Colts and Peyton Manning in the AFC South.
Texans' D-line young, promising
The best could be ahead for a Texans defensive line that doesn't have a lineman who will be older than 28 years of age as of Week One currently on the roster.
Competition between Rackers, Brown one to watch in Houston
The Texans' addition of ex-Cardinal Neil Rackers sets up an intriguing PK competition between Rackers and Kris Brown, who has held the position since the franchise began play in 2002.
Texans' Ryans gets his payday
MLB DeMeco Ryans is the latest member of the Texans' vaunted draft class of 2006 to get a big payday, and TE Owen Daniels and DE Mario Williams are also in line to receive lucrative multi-year deals at some point.
Texans sign MLB Ryans to six-year deal
The Texans signed MLB DeMeco Ryans to a six-year contract on Tuesday, multiple media outlets reported.
Smith's versatility could be asset for Texans
In newly signed Wade Smith, the Texans have an offensive lineman who can play all three positions, which gives them an array of options as they figure out who will start along the interior of the line.
Texans TE Daniels not ruling out holdout
TE Owen Daniels told PFW negotiations on a long-term contract appear to be moving in the right direction with the Texans and he's hoping to avoid skipping practices this year.
Report: Texans sign OL Smith
The Texans agreed with Chiefs UFA OL Wade Smith on a four-year, $12 million contract on Wednesday, The Houston Chronicle reported.
Texans no longer Super long shots
How well the Texans can cope with the loss of CB Dunta Robinson will go a long way in determining whether they will be contenders in 2010, writes PFW's Mike Wilkening.
Early winners and losers in free agency
Here's a look at the teams that have spent the most wisely to this point and which ones overextended themselves after the first weekend of free agency.
Report: Texans re-sign WR Walter
The Texans on Friday agreed to terms with WR Kevin Walter on a five-year, $21.5 million contract with $8 million in guaranteed money, The Houston Chronicle reported.
Report: Texans re-sign P Turk to one-year deal
The Texans re-signed P Matt Turk to a one-year contract, The Houston Chronicle reported Friday morning.
Report: Texans tender RFAs Daniels, Ryans at highest level
The Texans have tendered RFA TE Owen Daniels and MLB DeMeco Ryans at the highest level, The Houston Chronicle reported Wednesday.
Texans acknowledge re-signing Walter will be challenging
Speaking at the NFL Scouting Combine, Texans general manager Rick Smith indicated that re-signing UFA WR Kevin Walter would be challenging.
AFC South team needs
Steve Slaton's shoulder injury and fumbling problems may have convinced the Texans that they need to acquire an every-down back who can reduce Slaton's load. PFW continues its series evaluating the needs of every team — this time, the ...
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.
