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David Akers performed 12 seasons in Philly and established workforce information in profession factors and area targets made.
David Akers wasn’t mincing phrases when describing his relationship with Philly followers. They helped change his life, for the higher.
Akers credited the entire Eagles’ group for taking an opportunity on him in a latest interview on the Pat McAfee Present. Three different groups had reduce the younger kicker earlier than he obtained a one-year contract from the Eagles in 1998. He went on to play 12 seasons in Philadelphia and certified for a franchise-record 5 Professional Bowls.
“First off, Philly modified my life,” Akers mentioned. “The followers in Philly are simply unimaginable as a result of in the event you sort of purchase into their mentality in the event you see what that household, that means the small city of Philly is, they simply suck you in. It’s a giant metropolis with a small-town really feel.”
Akers retired from the NFL after the 2013 season following brief stints in San Francisco and Detroit. He stays the Eagles’ all-time scoring chief (1,323 factors) and was inducted into the workforce’s Corridor of Fame in 2017.
“David Akers embodies every part we search for in a participant each on and off the sphere,” Eagles proprietor Jeffery Lurie mentioned in 2017, by way of the workforce’s official web site. “He was gifted, dependable, powerful, and naturally clutch. He performed a significant position within the success of this franchise throughout his time right here, however he additionally cherished this metropolis and our followers and he made an incredible influence in the neighborhood.”
#Eagles Corridor of Fame member @David2Akers displays on his time in Philadelphia #PatMcAfeeShowLIVE pic.twitter.com/LLzQWaRajC
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) Could 11, 2020
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Akers Remembers ‘Sucking It Up’ in Playoff Sport
Akers was a dependable and clutch kicker for almost all of his profession in Philly. He transformed 294-of-357 area aim makes an attempt (82.4%) whereas establishing a postseason workforce report in factors (134). He was chosen to the NFL’s All-Decade Staff of the 2000s.
However there’s one recreation that sticks in his craw, that 2010 wild-card showdown towards Aaron Rodgers and the Packers at Lincoln Monetary Area. Akers missed two essential kicks within the back-and-forth recreation — one from 41 yards and one other from 34 yards.
“These two kicks hit for me of actually sucking it up,” Akers mentioned. “It was a windy day and I’m not making excuses … the 34-yarder, I ought to’ve hit it in my sleep.”
#Eagles Andy Reid on David Akers 2 missed FG: “We are able to all depend. These factors would have helped.” http://bit.ly/eaglesfall
— Ryan Messick (@Ryan_Messick) January 10, 2011
The Eagles misplaced 21-16 and then-coach Andy Reid sort of threw the kicker beneath the bus after the sport.
“Andy Reid mentioned you are able to do the mathematics. As a result of two kicks, six factors, and there you may have it,” Akers mentioned. “It sucked. That was the final recreation I wore an Eagles uniform.”
The New Franchise Kicker in Philadelphia
The Eagles used the transitional tag on Akers in 2011 and he finally signed with the San Francisco 49ers on a three-year deal price $9 million. Philly by no means matched the provide and took Alex Henery within the fourth spherical of the draft.
For Akers, it was a refined reminder of how the NFL is a enterprise. For the Eagles, it began a protracted search to discover a new franchise kicker. Henery was a bust they usually cycled by means of a bunch of mediocre gamers throughout the post-Akers period. (Sure, “double-doink” legend Cody Parkey was one).
#Eagles have signed Okay Jake Elliott to a five-year contract extension by means of 2024.#FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/679RCAxn3K
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) November 27, 2019
Lastly, Jake Elliott burst on the scene after the Eagles plucked him off the Bengals observe squad in 2017. The previous fifth-round choose boomed that game-saving 61-yard area aim towards the Giants in Week three and the remainder is historical past. Tremendous Bowl hero. Elliott inked a five-year extension price $21.eight million final 12 months that made him the third-highest paid kicker within the league.
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