Saints Punter Thomas Morstead Named Player of the Week
 

Saints Punter Thomas Morstead Named Player of the Week
by Doug Miller, NewOrleansSaints.com
Wednesday, November 25, 2009 - 12:00 PM



New Orleans Saints rookie punter Thomas Morstead has been named the NFC's Special Teams Player of the Week for action that occurred during the NFL's week 11 action. Below are his list of accomplishments in winning the award:

SPECIAL TEAMS: P THOMAS MORSTEAD, NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

• Morstead punted four times and had a 48.8-yard gross average with a 46.0-yard net average in the Saints’ 38-7 win at Tampa Bay.
• He had one punt downed at the Tampa Bay one-yard line and another at the five-yard line.
• Morstead had two 50-yard punts, including a long of 58 yards.
• He allowed only one punt to be returned for a total of 11 yards.
• Morstead also handled kickoff duties and recorded three touchbacks. For the season, Morstead is tied for third in the NFL with 18 touchbacks on kickoffs.
• In his rookie season from Southern Methodist, this is Morstead’s first career Player of the Week Award. He is the first Saints punter to be honored since 2004 (MITCH BERGER, Week 14).
• He is the fourth Saint to win a Player of the Week Award this season, joining
• DREW BREES (Weeks 1 and 6),
• DARREN SHARPER (Week 4)
• DT ANTHONY HARGROVE (Week 9).

New Orleans Saints - Saints Punter Thomas Morstead Named Player of the Week

Re: Saints Punter Thomas Morstead Named Player of the Week
 

congrats rookie....you were clearly worthy of 2 draft picks

Re: Saints Punter Thomas Morstead Named Player of the Week
 

Good job rook ... I love seeing the kicker getting touch backs for the Saints epically with this defense

Re: Saints Punter Thomas Morstead Named Player of the Week
 

Clearly could not disagree more.

He's a freakin' Punter dude. NO PUNTER is worth 2 picks.

Even if he was top 5, or top 10, or even top 15 in the NFL I'd still say 2 picks for a punter (in a 4 pick draft) is STUPID.

Re: Saints Punter Thomas Morstead Named Player of the Week
 

Great draft choice. If Hartley comes around, the kicking game is set for a long time.

Re: Saints Punter Thomas Morstead Named Player of the Week
 

we still got all 4 picks

when was the last time we had a kicker that could kick the ball into the back of the endzone on nearly every kickoff?

dude averages the league average in punts while also putting more than enough hang time on it for us to clobber any returner that isnt smart enough to fair catch it

hes been getting noticed by several people from around the league including coaches, analysts, and other players on different teams

i hated the fact that we traded 2 picks to get him....but if someone can almost single handidly turn around our fortunes on special teams then he deserves a lot respect and credit from us

Re: Saints Punter Thomas Morstead Named Player of the Week
 

So you think our punter (ranked in the bottom half of the NFL) has single handedly turned around our special teams?

So how many picks would you give up for a top 10 punter?

Wow, I give up. I've seen my share of homerism over the years, but this is probably the worst I've ever seen.

Re: Saints Punter Thomas Morstead Named Player of the Week
 

stats are miss leading. The kid very rarely punts from deep in his own terrioty. The key stats to look at are return yards and fair catches for him. Hang time baby. You can not return a punt that just hangs up there forever.
Room for mprovement? sure

Re: Saints Punter Thomas Morstead Named Player of the Week
 

Pretty impressive for a rookie punter to win NFC Spec Teams player of the week, regardless. Unfortunately, he'll always be known as "The Punter We Gave Up 2 Draft Picks For", which is a shame. He's had a few shanks, but he...is...a...rookie. 2 time Pro Bowler Brian Moorman of BUF had a 40.8 gross average with a 33.8 net average as a rookie...our Morstead has a 43.6 gross with a 37.0 net. AND he's our kickoff guy...what more do you want from this kid? Good on you, Thomas! Keep on truckin'...