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49ers All-Time Punter

First off, congratulations to Super Bowl champion Ray Wersching, the Niners Nation All-Time 49ers Kicker.  I haven't seen any updates, but if he ends up going to jail, hopefully this gives him some small comfort.  Joe Nedney made a small run late, but Wersching is the winner going away with 60% of the vote.  Nedney has a higher percentage, but Wersching is far and away the franchise leader with a respectable FG% as well.

Now onto the punter.  The all-time punter will be a guy who doesn't get all that much media, as is the case with any punter really.  It's just about the least glamorous position on the field, but he can have such a huge impact.  The 49ers haven't had many great punters, although two of their punters rank in the top 100 all time in total yards, both of whom are top 20 all-time in yards per punt.

Tommy Davis (1959-1969): Davis was an option at kicker, but he appears to have been a much better punter.  Davis is the 49ers all-time leader in punt yards with 22,833 and is second in NFL history to the legendary Sammy Baugh in yards per punt.

Andy Lee  (2004-present): Lee has quietly become an excellent punter for the 49ers, landing himself in the Pro Bowl in his first season after signing a six year contract.  Lee currently ranks second in team history in total punting yards at 17,030 and barring injury will pass Davis in 2009 for the all-time lead.  Additionally, Lee sits tied for 12th in NFL history in yards per punt.  If Lee sticks with the 49ers for the entirety of this 6-year deal, he's going to put quite a bit of distance between himself and the rest of the punters in 49ers history.

Frankie Albert (1946-1952) - Albert was drafted by the Bears in 1942 but didn't play until 1946, by then a member of the 49ers (I'm guessing WW II had something to do with that).  Albert actually played a lot of quarterback as well, but finished as the #4 punter in 49ers history with 12,866 yards.  One drawback: he was 1 of 5 on extra points.  Seems odd to be that bad even if such a limited number of opportunities...must have been an injury replacement issue.

Tom Wittum (1973-1977) - Wittum had a limited career with the 49ers but did well in that short time.  He made the Pro Bowl his first two seasons and finished 3rd in 49ers history with 15,494 yards, averaging 40.8 yards per punt.  According to his Wikipedia page, Wittum now teaches drivers' ed classes at a high school in Illinois.
  Not quite an indictment for embezzlement, but interesting nonetheless.

Poll
Who should be the punter on our All-Time Team?
Tommy Davis
45 votes
Andy Lee
189 votes
Frankie Albert
6 votes
Tom Wittum
8 votes

248 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs  |  Comment 8 comments

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I went old school...

with my last vote (for kicker). So now I will go new school. Andy…Andy…Andy…Andy!

"To know clearly what pleases the world is but a brief dream." --Machiavelli

by jfainsf49 on May 1, 2008 1:37 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

With much respect to Tommy Davis, I think Lee is gonna run off with the vote.

by J2daZ on May 1, 2008 4:01 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

He's got a lotta promise!

I had no choice but to vote for the MVP of the 2007 49ers: Andy Lee! Young blood, baby!

"He called the sh** POOP!" -- Adam Sandler

by JRPhillips on May 1, 2008 4:51 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

In the bag

Is it possible Andy Lee might win by a greater margin than anyone else? (not counting Rice at WR1)

by sam23 on May 1, 2008 4:59 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

quite possible...

Speaking of that, I’m actually thinking that when we get to wide receivers, just declaring Jerry Rice the #1 receiver. When Big Blue View got to outside linebacker, they just declared Lawrence Taylor one of the starters since it was pretty clear. I won’t do the same thing for the Montana-Young vote but for Rice, I don’t see how anybody could argue why he is not the #1 receiver.

Niners Nation - The premier 49ers blog on the Internet!

by Fooch on May 1, 2008 5:14 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

rice

Or do we include it just to see if anybody actually votes against him?

Niners Nation - The premier 49ers blog on the Internet!

by Fooch on May 1, 2008 5:14 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

either way

could be interesting to see if anyone votes against him they will have to provide some sort of explanation. Its not like theres going to be much else to discuss for a while now that the draft is over. But to keep from having some pointless discussion we could just skip it.
Also Ronnie Lott may have a shot to be another unanimous decision, Merton Hanks was a damn fine player but not in the same league.

by sam23 on May 1, 2008 10:21 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Definitely include it

And then find out if someone voted against him, and Fooch slaps that person with a BANNED!!!

"He called the sh** POOP!" -- Adam Sandler

by JRPhillips on May 2, 2008 5:18 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

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