Saverio Rocca To Join NFL’s Eagles
Saverio Rocca was interviewed on Channel 9 and said that he would be signing a 3-year non-guaranteed deal with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Rocca will be in competition with the Eagles’ current punter Dirk Johnson as well as any other punters the Eagles trial. The Eagles are still playing so there will be plenty of time for Rocca to adjust to the NFL kicking and he might have up till their training camp to win a spot.
Dirk Johnson had played in NFL Europe and with the New Orleans Saints before signing with Philadelphia. In 2003 Dirk Johnson signed a 3-year contract with the Eagles, that has since been extended and his current contract expires in 2011.
Rocca may not have the experience but he has potential to kick a lot further than Johnson. Johnson averaged 42.7 yards per punt in NFL Europe, while his best season in the NFL was 42.6. That puts Johnson in the bottom third of the league’s punters. Ben Graham had an average of 44.2 while the NFL’s leader, Mat McBriar, was at 48.2 yards per punt.
While Ben Graham did make it to NFL level, former Brisbane and Hawthorn AFL player Nathan Chapman didn’t make it when he tried out with the Green Bay Packers. Saverio Rocca might have a 50-50 chance at becoming the Eagles’ punter for next season, but if he doesn’t make it with Philadelphia there might be other teams that have a look.
It would be interesting to see how Rocca goes if he does stay with the Eagles. With his booming kicks he should become a favourite of their fans, although they are the same fans who are notorious for booing Santa Claus.
Rocca will be in competition with the Eagles’ current punter Dirk Johnson as well as any other punters the Eagles trial. The Eagles are still playing so there will be plenty of time for Rocca to adjust to the NFL kicking and he might have up till their training camp to win a spot.
Dirk Johnson had played in NFL Europe and with the New Orleans Saints before signing with Philadelphia. In 2003 Dirk Johnson signed a 3-year contract with the Eagles, that has since been extended and his current contract expires in 2011.
Rocca may not have the experience but he has potential to kick a lot further than Johnson. Johnson averaged 42.7 yards per punt in NFL Europe, while his best season in the NFL was 42.6. That puts Johnson in the bottom third of the league’s punters. Ben Graham had an average of 44.2 while the NFL’s leader, Mat McBriar, was at 48.2 yards per punt.
While Ben Graham did make it to NFL level, former Brisbane and Hawthorn AFL player Nathan Chapman didn’t make it when he tried out with the Green Bay Packers. Saverio Rocca might have a 50-50 chance at becoming the Eagles’ punter for next season, but if he doesn’t make it with Philadelphia there might be other teams that have a look.
It would be interesting to see how Rocca goes if he does stay with the Eagles. With his booming kicks he should become a favourite of their fans, although they are the same fans who are notorious for booing Santa Claus.
