Brian Moorman

Brian Moorman
No. 8     Buffalo Bills
Punter
Personal information
Date of birth: February 5, 1976 (1976-02-05) (age 36)
Place of birth: Wichita, Kansas
Height: 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) Weight: 176 lb (80 kg)
Career information
College: Pittsburg State
Undrafted in 1999
Debuted in 2001 for the Buffalo Bills
Career history
*Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of Week 16, 2011
Punts     844
Punt Yards     37,053
Punting Yard Average     43.9
Stats at NFL.com

Brian Donald Moorman (born February 5, 1976) is an American football punter who currently plays for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League. He was originally signed by the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in 1999. He played collegiately at Pittsburg State.

Moorman is a two-time Pro Bowl selection for the Bills. He also possesses rare athleticism for his position and participated in the 2006 Pro Bowl Skills Competition, usually reserved for wide receivers, cornerbacks and the like.

Moorman was voted into the Bills's 50th Anniversary Team.

Contents

Early years

At Sedgwick High School in Sedgwick, Kansas, Moorman lettered in football, track, and basketball. In track, he was a 3× state hurdle champion and received all-state honors in Football and Basketball.

Collegiate career

Moorman became the first four-time All-American football player in Pittsburg State University history. He earned first-team NCAA Division II All-America honors as a punter in each of his final two collegiate seasons (1997–98) after earning honorable mention All-America honors his first two years (1995–96). Moorman still holds the school's career punting record (43.97 ypp) and he was named to PSU's prestigious 100th Anniversary Football Team in 2003.

In track & field, Moorman earned All-America honors on 10 occasions, including three straight NCAA Division II national championships in the 400 meter hurdles (1997–99). He also claimed eight conference individual event titles. Moorman also still holds the Pittsburg State University school record in the 110 meter hurdles (13.81) and ranks second all-time at PSU in the 400m hurdles (49.77).[1]

Professional career

Moorman signed with the Buffalo Bills as a free agent during the summer of 2001. As a player for the Bills, Moorman quickly gave the Bills reliable punting skill along with an aptitude of launching long punts when needed. In his second season with the Bills, Moorman booted an 84 yard punt in a game and averaged over 43 yards per kick, despite playing most of his games in one of the most challenging climates in the NFL. Over the past several seasons, Moorman's stellar play has seen him selected as a two time NFL All-Pro (2005,2006) and garnered a unique and passionate following among some fans who believe he is the best player on the team: Often known as "Moormanators." Every year near Pro Bowl voting time, these fans take up a cry of "Vote Moorman, Vote Often". This folk-hero like status has even led to some fans creating joke Madden NFL game covers with Brian on the cover. One also sees the occasional Moorman jersey at Ralph Wilson Stadium, unheard of for a punter. Commentator Chris Berman nicknamed him Brian Moorman "Tabernacle Choir".

2006 Season

Moorman was named to the starting squad of the 2006 Pro Bowl for the second consecutive year. During the game, after what was determined as an actual punt play, instead of punting the ball Moorman decided to run on 4th down to convert into a 1st, about 3 yards away from a 1st down, Redskin's free safety Sean Taylor (21) came from 30 yards out of the backfield and completely leveled Moorman with what became the hit of the game. Taylor knocked the ball loose as Moorman flew back 3 yards and pivoted to the horizontal even before landing on his back. Moorman quickly regained his feet and in an act of good sportsmanship after he took the hit, he raced to midfield to congratulate Sean Taylor for making the big play, even though it is customary to turn down the intensity in the Pro Bowl.[2][3]

2007 season

On July 2, 2007 the Buffalo Bills rewarded Moorman with a 10 million dollar contract extension (through 2012), making him the second-highest paid punter in the league, behind Shane Lechler. Moorman was again rewarded for his stellar regular season play by making another Pro Bowl as an alternate.

2008 season

In a 34-10 opening day victory over the Seattle Seahawks, Moorman lined up to hold for what looked like a routine Field Goal attempt by placekicker Rian Lindell, but instead took the ball and heaved a 19 yard touchdown strike to Defensive End Ryan Denney.

2009 season

Brian Moorman had one of his best seasons as he punted for a new career average of 46.6 yards per punt. He also had a new career high in total yards punting with 4192 yards.

References

External links