When you use a sixth-round draft pick on a punter, you better make sure he will be among the best in the NFL.
Well, the Washington Redskins are coming to the conclusion that they screwed up drafting Georgia Tech's Durant Brooks. The team is planning on bringing two or three punters in to tryout for the job.
"I would say his position is in jeopardy because of performance, not because of injury," Zorn said. "He may be the best punter out there, and then we'd have to continue to work with him.
"The thing is, he punted well all week long, but he got to the game and he didn't punt well. So we know he's a good punter, but a good punter also punts well in the game. He did not do that."
The injury is to his kicking leg which could contribute to his poor play. But wouldn't that affect him in practice, too?
Brooks is currently last in the NFL in punt average and net average. His 26-yard punt during the Redskins' loss to the Rams last Sunday led to great field position and an eventual field goal. Washington lost by two points.
It isn't as if the Redskins drafted just some punter. Brooks was a two-time All American who won college's Ray Guy Award last year. Brooks beat out incumbent Derrick Frost during the preseason even though Frost performed better. The fact that Washington used a draft pick on Brooks most likely led to the decision to keep him. They didn't want to admit they made a mistake then.
They are willing to now.
Sports
UPDATE: The Redskins have cut Brooks and signed Ryan Plackemeier.
