Packers punter Tim Masthay was one of the stars of the NFC Championship Game, completely taking Bears return man Devin Hester out of the game with his hang time and directional kicks. But Masthay easily could be out of the NFL right now.
Masthay said at Super Bowl Media Day that he wasn’t sure if he’d be on an NFL roster at all in 2010, and he was looking at other options — options which pay a whole lot less than playing professional football.
“I have an interest in the Peace Corps,” Masthay said. “If I didn’t get picked up by another team, I’d probably be doing that right now.”
Masthay said that between the Colts cutting him in 2009 and the Packers signing him in 2010, he got by with a part-time teaching gig.
“I was released by the Colts and a free agent for about four or five months,” Masthay said. “During that time I was working out on my own and tutoring about 20 hours a week at the local university.”
A year later, Masthay’s fortunes have changed for the better. And although punters are easily overlooked, he’s a big reason the Packers are here.