Punter Shane Lechler, a Lone Star State native, has left the only NFL team for which he has played to join the Houston Texans.
Meeting the media on the day he signed a document that officially ended his 13-year run with the Raiders, Lechler said it nearly happened in 2009.
“I always followed the Texans since they brought the franchise here,” Lechler said, via comments distributed by the Texans. “It’s just something that I’ve been looking forward to for a while. I thought it was going to happen four years ago, but Mr. Davis offered something that I was not going to turn down. Now that that’s out of the way and signing here today in Houston, I’m very excited.”
Lechler was surprised that the Raiders didn’t try to keep him, but he’s happy to be coming home.
"[T]hat’s in the past now,” Lechler said of the Raiders’ lack of interest. “I knew, when I hit free agency this year, I knew there was one place that I had in mind, and that was here. Luckily, it worked out; the situation has worked out. Everything fell into place.”
In Houston, Lechler will be playing for a head coach who recruited him in high school. “To be around Coach Kubiak, it’s going to be an honor and a lot of fun,” Lechler said. “They’re winning a lot of football games, which I’m ready to get involved in as much as I can. I’m just excited about it.”
In all, Lechler used the word “excited” seven times during his remarks.
Who does this punter think he is? A personal punt protecter?