New York Giants punter Jeff Feagles is likely to retire, which led the team to draft punter Matt Dodge of East Carolina in the seventh round today.
The New York Post reports that Feagles told Giants coach Tom Coughlin last week that he doesn’t feel like he can handle the physical demands of the job.
Asked what specifically is bothering Feagles, Coughlin answered, “He’s 44-years old.''
The oldest player in the NFL, Feagles said this month that he was planning to come back. But apparently he has had second thoughts.
“I was surprised,’' Coughlin said. “Jeff was trying to do the right thing. He did the honorable thing with the best interest of the team at heart.’'
Dodge will now compete with Jy Bond, a former Australian football player, for the punting job. Neither Dodge nor Bond has ever been a holder on field goals, and Coughlin said the holding job will now go to backup quarterback Jim Sorgi.
If Feagles is done, the historical record will show that he retired with the NFL records for consecutive games played, total punts, total punting yards and punts inside the 20-yard line.