Lechler and Asomugha Play in 2009 Pro Bowl
NFC Rallies to Beat AFC 30-21
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| Aloha Stadium during the 2009 Pro Bowl. The 2010 Pro Bowl will be played in Miami. |
Kirby Lee |
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| Oakland Raiders CB Nnamdi Asomugha made two solo tackles while playing in his first Pro Bowl. |
Kirby Lee |
Oakland Raiders CB Nnamdi Asomugha made two tackles in his Pro Bowl debut, and P Shane Lechler punted three times for a 39.3-yard average with a long of 63. Lechler had one of his kicks downed inside the NFC's 20-yard line. However, the NFC defeated the AFC 30-21 in the 2009 Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Asomugha and Lechler were named to the 2009 Pro Bowl squad on December 16, 2008. “It is great to see our opponents and fans recognize both their talents and reward them with the highest individual honor,” said Raiders Head Coach Tom Cable. “The Raider organization is very proud of both Nnamdi and Shane.”
The Pro Bowl selection is the fourth for Lechler. “I’m excited to have the opportunity to represent the team in the Hawaii again,” said Lechler. “I’m glad I’m going to have some company over there with Nnamdi (Asomugha) being selected. I’m very proud of him and feel that it’s been a long time coming, so it will be good for him to get his first one under his belt.”
For Asomugha, this year’s selection was the second of his six-year NFL career. He was an addition to the 2006 Pro Bowl squad after being named an alternate, but did not make the game due to the late notification.
“It’s a dream come true,” said Asomugha. “It has always been a goal of mine since I’ve been in the NFL, and it’s the one of the highest individual honors that you can get. It’s another step in achieving my goals as a professional, and I’m extremely excited to go to Hawaii and represent the Raiders organization.”
Lechler has 682 career punts for 31,902 yards in nine pro seasons. He was originally a fifth-round draft pick out of Texas A&M University by the Raiders in 2000. Lechler’s 46.8-yard punting average is the highest in NFL history for players with at least 250 attempts. Lechler reached the qualifier of 250 punts during the 11/23/03 contest at Kansas City, where he surpassed Pro Football Hall of Famer Sammy Baugh (45.1). Lechler led the AFC and finished second in the NFL in gross punting average (47.5) in 2006. He also led the NFL in net punting in 2007.
Asomugha was the Raiders’ first round selection in the 2003 NFL Draft. He leads the Raiders in passes defensed with nine so far in 2008 and his interception on November 9 against Carolina brought his career total to 10. Asomugha tied for third in the NFL in interceptions in 2006 with eight. He also recorded an interception in 2007.
The Raiders have had 168 Pro Bowl selections among 57 different players since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970.