I get a kick every time I see you standing there

Week 1!

Sep 10, 2023

In the land down under, a football revolution is brewing, and it's being led by an unlikely group of blue-collar Aussies. These everyday folks, including teachers, construction workers, and bartenders, are trading in their work boots for football helmets and shoulder pads. They're not just filling any roster spot; they're becoming the secret weapons on Special Teams.

Take, for instance, Lou Hedley, who is making his debut for the Saints today. At 17, he decided to drop out of school and pursue a career as a scaffolder, spending his days working on skyscrapers and mine sites. Hedley hails from Leeman in Western Australia, a small coastal town with a population of about 700, where his father made a living as a crayfisherman.

Saints punter Lou Hedley is the NFL's most interesting man | Saints | nola.com

At the heart of this football transformation lies Prokick Australia, a renowned academy founded in 2007.

This institution specializes in turning Australian rules football and rugby players into top-notch punters and kickers for American football. These athletes, often starting with zero experience in American football, invest nearly $10,000 in a comprehensive training program.

And it works. College coaches regularly give scholarships to these Aussie punters based solely on their highlights tapes.

As Michael Dickson, the Sydney-born punter for the Seattle Seahawks, notes, many Australians grow up, "kicking an oval-shaped ball back and forth hundreds of times a day" rather than tossing footballs or baseballs.

Numbers

12: For the first time since 1960, there is no Week 1 starting QB wearing number 12.

7: The Broncos have not beaten the Raiders (0-7) in any game Josh Jacobs has played against them. Jacobs has racked up nearly 900 yards from scrimmage and 9 total TDs vs. Denver

36: Florida again led the way with 36 NFL draft picks this year, ahead of Texas and Georgia for most from any state. This is based on where they finished high school.

359 [TRIVIA]: Jared Goff has not thrown an INT on his last 359 pass attempts. Third-longest streak in NFL history behind who?

Quotes

"I don't like the owner's haircut, I don't like the bowl cut.. kinda pisses me off."

Broncos Linebacker Randy Gregory when asked by a reporter why he hates the Raiders

“I’m drinking Detroit’s kool-aid this year.”

Peyton Manning on the Lions

“Oh definitely, yeah definitely. I’d love to play a few years here, not sure if that few is two, or three or … I mean, five would kind of get me to 45. But I definitely don’t want to be a one-and-done here.”

Aaron Rodgers on retiring as a New York Jet

“He got the short end of the stick. He’s worth a lot. They have to come up with some type of agreement. I hope they get something done over the next couple weeks. It relieves stress and has you more comfortable out there.”