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Here's the official Texans press release:
CONTACTS:
Kevin Cooper (832) 667-2035
Zac Emmons (832) 667-2220
Evan Koch (832) 667-2050
Charles Hampton (832) 667-2282
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Saturday, March 23, 2013
TEXANS SIGN P SHANE LECHLER
HOUSTON – The Houston Texans have signed six-time All-Pro and seven-time Pro Bowl unrestricted free agent P Shane Lechler, it was announced today. Terms of the contract were not disclosed.
Lechler is the NFL’s all-time leader with a 47.5-yard gross punting average. He has led the NFL in gross average four times (2003-04, 2007 and 2009) and net average four times (2000, 2007-09) in 13 seasons, all with the Oakland Raiders. The East Bernard, Texas native has two of the top four single-season gross punting marks in NFL history with a 51.9 average in 2009 (second) and a 50.8 average in 2011 (fourth). Lechler also ranks seventh all-time with a 38.8 net punting average.
Drafted out of Texas A&M in the fifth round of the 2000 NFL Draft by Oakland, Lechler was named an Associated Press All-Pro in 2000, 2003-04 and from 2008-10, and to the Pro Bowl in 2001, 2004 and from 2007-11. For his career, Lechler has played in 206 games, punted 1,014 times for 48,215 yards and has placed 322 punts inside the opponents’ 20-yard line with only four blocked punts. He has averaged 47.0 yards or better in each of his last seven seasons.
In 2012, Lechler had a gross average of 47.2 yards and a net average of 39.0 yards on 81 punts with 21 inside the opponents’ 20-yard line.
Following are the free agents the Texans have re-signed (2):
T Andrew Gardner (6-6, 309); Restricted
CB Brice McCain (5-9, 185); Unrestricted
Following are the free agents the Texans have signed (2):
P Shane Lechler (6-2, 230); Unrestricted (Oakland)
S Ed Reed (5-11, 205); Unrestricted (Baltimore)
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