Raiders & 49ers: Bay Area Special Teams on display
For the first time ever, both kicker and punter combination from both conferences in the league’s Pro Bowl is comprised from two teams.
The NFL will have an all-Bay Area special teams fest, as the San Francisco 49ers and the Oakland Raiders have six representatives donning the all-star jerseys.
Yes – six. Even the long snappers got a nod to Hawaii.
Sebastian Janikowski, Shane Lechler and Jon Condo will be on the AFC squad. David Akers, Andy Lee and Brian Jennings will on the NFC’s side.
“There must be something in the water,” said Lee, the 49er punter who averaged 50.9 yards per punt in 2011.
“It’s awesome to be here with my guys and to have my long snapper here,” Lee said. “For Dave to have his long snapper here, so it’s his rhythm that he’s been used to all season, it’s a really unique thing to share this with those guys that you spent all season with.”
Sebastian Janikowski kicking off in 2011.
“It’s fun,” the Raiders Lechler said, as he continued his excellent career in 2011 with a 50.8 average last campaign. “We’re going to see if one of these golf courses can let us get a six-some out here because we’re going to go play, us against them, and put a little money on the line.”
NOTES:
- Lechler is a seven-time Pro Bowl selection and a nine time all-pro.
- This will be Janikowski’s first Pro Bowl. He is Oakland’s franchise leading scorer, a holder of the league’s longest field goal (63-yards) and the longest field goal in overtime history (57-yards in 2008).
- Condo is a two time Pro Bowl selection (2009, 2011).
For more Pro Bowl coverage, stay tuned to SBReport.net, as our staff will be live in Hawaii bringing you images from the annual event.
