Freightliner
April 13th, 2006, 04:49 PM
Courtsey baltimoreravens.com
http://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/article.jsp?id=8804
The Baltimore Ravens answered another roster question Thursday with the addition of punter Leo Araguz, who signed a one-year contract.
The 5-11, 190-pound punter, who entered the league in 1996 out of Stephen F. Austin, will provide a veteran leg to complement 17-year veteran kicker Matt Stover.
Araguz enters play with his fifth NFL team, having played four years with the Oakland Raiders (1996-1999) and one year each with Detroit (2001), Minnesota (2003) and Seattle (2005).
Over the course of his career, he has put up numbers that hold up to some of top punters in the league. In 60 games, Araguz has a 42.6-yard average per boot, along with a 34.8-yard net average. In 1997, his best statistical season, he totaled a 45.0-yard average with 28 punts landing inside the 20 and only 6 touchbacks. That year, his 39.1-yard net average ranked second in the NFL.
"Leo has been a very solid punter in the league for a number of years, and I like the experience he can bring to this team," said Ravens special teams coordinator Frank Gansz Jr.
"In addition to that, he is a steady and consistent holder."
That statement could be music to Stover's ears, who has grown accustomed to his holder for the past four years, former Ravens punter Dave Zastudil.
Araguz, hailing from Harlingen, Texas, will need all the skills he can muster.
While positioned as the only punter on the Baltimore roster for now, he could be subject to some offseason competition, as the Ravens' mull the possibility of selecting a punter in the upcoming draft, or bringing a rookie free agent into training camp.
http://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/article.jsp?id=8804
The Baltimore Ravens answered another roster question Thursday with the addition of punter Leo Araguz, who signed a one-year contract.
The 5-11, 190-pound punter, who entered the league in 1996 out of Stephen F. Austin, will provide a veteran leg to complement 17-year veteran kicker Matt Stover.
Araguz enters play with his fifth NFL team, having played four years with the Oakland Raiders (1996-1999) and one year each with Detroit (2001), Minnesota (2003) and Seattle (2005).
Over the course of his career, he has put up numbers that hold up to some of top punters in the league. In 60 games, Araguz has a 42.6-yard average per boot, along with a 34.8-yard net average. In 1997, his best statistical season, he totaled a 45.0-yard average with 28 punts landing inside the 20 and only 6 touchbacks. That year, his 39.1-yard net average ranked second in the NFL.
"Leo has been a very solid punter in the league for a number of years, and I like the experience he can bring to this team," said Ravens special teams coordinator Frank Gansz Jr.
"In addition to that, he is a steady and consistent holder."
That statement could be music to Stover's ears, who has grown accustomed to his holder for the past four years, former Ravens punter Dave Zastudil.
Araguz, hailing from Harlingen, Texas, will need all the skills he can muster.
While positioned as the only punter on the Baltimore roster for now, he could be subject to some offseason competition, as the Ravens' mull the possibility of selecting a punter in the upcoming draft, or bringing a rookie free agent into training camp.