SAV'S NFL SHOT

[Dutchy]

dont underestimate them DA, most of the are well over 6 foot and 100k'gs...

Well done Sav, this has made my day after the Bay win today...well deserved, will be watching plenty more NFL this year now!

[devilsadvocate]

dont underestimate them DA, most of the are well over 6 foot and 100k'gs...

Granted they're massive units. They still wear body armour!!

My post was aimed at their dig called our game soft effectively....we dont need anything but balls to play Aussie Rules!

[Hondo]

dont underestimate them DA, most of the are well over 6 foot and 100k'gs...

Plus direct, intentional hits are encouraged! (within the rules)

[Dutchy]

Ive never likes the game until the last 2 seasons, once you understand the rules to a degree and watch a bit it can be a real exciting game, much better than the Rugby's IMO

[devilsadvocate]

Ive never likes the game until the last 2 seasons, once you understand the rules to a degree and watch a bit it can be a real exciting game, much better than the Rugby's IMO

I agree with that. And that's not a great advertisement for rugby is it!!!!

[Dutchy]

exactly!...I give all sports a go in trying to understand them and get into them, but both Rugby's leave me scratching my head!

[devilsadvocate]

exactly!...I give all sports a go in trying to understand them and get into them, but both Rugby's leave me scratching my head!

Yep, the more I try, the more I dislike it!

[Dutchy]

its official!

With Job Secured, Rocca's Work Continues
September 3, 2007 | Last Updated: 9/3/07 2:58 PM ET | Comments (0)
By: JUSTIN KUNKEL

Upon his arrival to the United States, Sav Rocca reveled in the relative anonymity of life as an NFL punter. After spending 15 years as a star in the Australian Football League, he was trying to break into American football at the position which has the lowest profile.

Nevertheless, after a training camp that saw him become a fan favorite and unseat incumbent Dirk Johnson, he shouldn't count on going unnoticed any longer.

"I went down to the shore the other day after I found out (I had made the team) and there were a couple of fans that recognized who I was and gave me their best wishes."Rocca said.

What has endeared Rocca to the fans is his interesting back-story and — more importantly — his huge leg. In the preseason he averaged 45.4 yards per punt on 15 attempts in addition to uncorking a 65-yarder against Baltimore.

He has also become somewhat infamous for being on the business end of a vicious shot from Ravens linebacker Antwan Barnes in the same game.

"It pretty much goes, 'Congratulations on making the job, that was an awesome hit you took in the first round, and I liked the way you got up.'"Rocca said of his interactions with fans. "That's about the way it ends as well.""

But while his preseason exploits may have gotten him recognized on the Ocean City Boardwalk, he understands that he has to perform in the regular season to hang onto the job he worked hard to win.

"I reckon I had two beers after I found out (that I won the job) and now straight back into work,"he said.

If Rocca needs an example of how fickle the fortunes of an NFL punter can be, he need look no further than his former teammate.

After making four trips to the waiver wire between 1998 and 2003, it appeared as though Johnson had found a long-term home with the Eagles when he posted a solid 37.4-yard net average in 2004 and an excellent 38.4-yard net average in 2005. Still, throughout camp he was locked in tight competition with Rocca, and now finds himself on the waiver wire again.

In fact, Johnson was one of the players who called Rocca to make sure he knew he had made the team.

"He's a great guy and just looking back he helped me out a little bit,"Rocca said. "I certainly learned a lot of things off of Dirk. It was awesome to learn off of him. He's a pretty good punter and he's very consistent.""

Consistency is one thing that Rocca wants to improve, and though he said he hasn't talked to the coaching staff about why they decided to give him the job, his raw power and potential seems a likely reason.

Even though he knows he must continue to work on his technique to hasten his adjustment from Australian football to American, Rocca admitted that it is a bit easier to breathe now, knowing that he has made the team.

"It was very anxious at that time but I'm glad that I made the team and that decision is over with and now we can get on with the job,"he said.

[Dutchy]

some video footage of his press conference after teh last preseason game -

http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/multimedia/index.asp?mm_file_id=4127&play_clip=Y