Should Chris Hanson be retained?

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

The UFA of the team that is flying under the radar.

Is he worth keeping?

Personally I would look elsewhere,its not the hardest position to fill and the Pats have a lot of other signing needs to take care of first.

 

[BradyMossWelker]

Is he the worst punter in the league? Probably.
Do we want to sign him? No.

 

[JackBauer]

He kinda sucks. Color me agnostic.

 

[DefenseRules]

NO! 10 characters :bricks:

 

[NickOGS20]

If he's retained it surely has to be for absolute peanuts and with some serious competition brought in for him for training camp. Got to think it wouldn't be hard to upgrade the position with a late draft pick.

 

[BillBelichickFan79]

I'd like to see someone different brought in. There has got to be someone better than Hanson out there.

 

[mcmurtry86]

For some reason Belichick can't find a competent punter. In 10 years he's had maybe 2-3 good years of punting? For a guy who values special teams so much, you'd think he'd invest in it a bit more (although Miller abruptly crapping the bed was unexpected I)

 

[Jangles]

Don't care

If they can find someone better then cool but I won't lose any sleep about Hanson staying on the roster

 

[Big-T]

Unless there is nobody else at all available, then he shouldn't be retained because well he really isn't that good is he? how about a rookie in the draft? how good are the punters this year?

I'll have a go at punting if all else fails though, used to play rugby so I can kick a bit

 

[crowell33]

Worst ( statistically ) punter in the league. Move on.

 

[Deus Irae]

Belichick has kept him year after year.

 

[TheGodInAGreyHoodie]

There is a reason why BB keeps keeps Hanson.

On third down, Tom Brady says in the huddle to rest of the offense, "look if we don't convert Chris is gonna come out here and punt the ball 3 yards" this keeps the offense motivated.

 

[PatsChamp88]

There is a reason why BB keeps keeps Hanson.

On third down, Tom Brady says in the huddle to rest of the offense, "look if we don't convert Chris is gonna come out here and punt the ball 3 yards" this keeps the offense motivated.

Haha nice one but yeah I think it's time to move on or bring in some competition, if there is one thing he does well I suppose it's punt in cold weather.

 

[JackBauer]

Belichick has kept him year after year.

Why do you think that is?

 

[FilPats]

Belichick has kept him year after year.

This could be a reason.

Sparking up some punter talk - Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston


Those looking purely at punting average and net yardage might determine that it's time for the Patriots to move on. But on the flip side, Hanson had one of the best seasons of his 11-year career in terms of avoiding touchbacks, and he also was effective on inside-the-20 efforts.

One stat I was unaware of until researching it for the piece was that opponents had just 20 punt returns all season against the Patriots. No team defended fewer punt returns this season, which is something I'm sure head coach Bill Belichick and special teams coach Scott O'Brien appreciate -- keeping the ball away from dangerous return men.

 

[Kontradiction]

Eh, I'd like to see the team try to bring in someone else.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

This could be a reason.

Sparking up some punter talk - Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston


Those looking purely at punting average and net yardage might determine that it's time for the Patriots to move on. But on the flip side, Hanson had one of the best seasons of his 11-year career in terms of avoiding touchbacks, and he also was effective on inside-the-20 efforts.

One stat I was unaware of until researching it for the piece was that opponents had just 20 punt returns all season against the Patriots. No team defended fewer punt returns this season, which is something I'm sure head coach Bill Belichick and special teams coach Scott O'Brien appreciate -- keeping the ball away from dangerous return men.

This. I would bring him back, but I also expect BB to find some competition to push him. Iowa's Brandtner did a fine job in El Paso for Texas vs The Nation, six punts with four downed inside the 20. I believe it was a cold day for El Paso with a bit of wind too.

 

[efin98]

Lots of complaints about him, no suggestions on who they should get...

The list of current free agents is short...Mitch Berger from the Broncos. Jeff Feagles from the Giants. Sam Koch from the Ravens. Michael Koenan from the Falcons. Matt Turk from the Texans. Hunter Smith from the Redskins. Saverio Rocca from the Eagles. Daniel Sepulveda from the Steelers.

Since people were focusing in on kicking average:
Koch was 19th.
Turk was 23rd.
Sepulvada was 24th.
Koenan was 25th.
Rocca was 27th.
Berger was 28th.
Feagles was 34th.
Smith was tied for 32nd.

Koenan is supposedly getting franchise tagged so he may be off the list.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

For the absolute minimum or close to it, I guess.

Dead last in the league in net yards 2009 NFL Player Punting Stats - National Football League - ESPN

 

[ctpatsfan77]

For the absolute minimum or close to it, I guess.

Dead last in the league in net yards 2009 NFL Player Punting Stats - National Football League - ESPN

This statistic would be better if they also calculated average punting position (in other words, is he punting on average from his own 20, as Shane Lechler often is, or from his opponent's 45, etc.).