World Footy News

As the 2010 NFL season is about to enter into preseason games we take a look at the former Aussie rules footballers who have been trying to secure a place in the position of punter at various clubs across the US.

Ben Graham - Arizona Cardinals - after a great season in 2009 Graham is guaranteed to be the starting punter for 2010 and will be holding punts for his former Jets team mate Jay Feely.

Sav Rocca - Philadelphia Eagles - the club has brought in Ken Parrish to compete with Rocca for the punting job and it looks like the competitior might beat the incumbent for the place on the team as he can kick off, saving wear and tear on the leg of the team's kick David Akers, who turns 36 in December. If Rocca does lose the job he may get a shot elsewhere in the NFL during the season.

Mat McBriar - Dallas Cowboys - Mat will continue with his long term employer as the team's punter and looks likely to be the holder for kicker Nick Folk.

Chris Bryan - Green Bay Packers - former Collingwood footballer Bryan is looking to break into the NFL and is currently in a battle for the punter's spot with Tim Masthay. It looks like a decision may not be made until both have punted in the preseason games, Bryan's use of the drop punt for accuaracy is definitely working in his favour.

Jy Bond was cut from the training camp squad of the New York Giants and is now signed in the UFL with the Hartford Colonials as punter. And David King (not from North Melbourne but Euroa and Norwood footy clubs) who was earlier signed to an initial places on the roster of the New England Patriots was released from the squad in June after the Pats' decided to go with Zoltan Mesko who they took high in the draft.

Others that were mooted as possible crossovers after retirement such as Anthony Rocca, Nick Davis and Scott Lucas all made some steps in the direction of the NFL but decided not to follow through or were unable to find a team that would sign them.

Dustin Fletcher has long been considered to be a good chance of making the transition but looks set to play with Essendon again in 2011. Carlton's Brendan Fevola has himself voiced his desire to punt in the NFL on multiple occaisions but his off field efforts as well as his mounting injuries may work against him when his AFL career come to an end.