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Published on 09/22/2011 at Thu Sep 22 10:00.
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Britton Colquitt

Denver Broncos punter Britton Colquitt punts during NFL action in 2010. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Broncos rookie cornerback Chris Harris was probably beating himself up for his unsportsmanlike conduct penalty that cost his team 45 yards of field position in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Although head coach John Fox got the rookie’s back later in the week, questioning the call, Harris has to be relieved it didn’t cost the Broncos the game.

The penalty did have a steep cost to one of his teammates, though. Punter Britton Colquitt could have been in the NFL record books.

Or, more accurately, higher in the NFL record books.

Colquitt, who had a fantastic game, averaged 51 net yards and 55.8 gross yards punting for the day. According to DenverBroncos.com, those marks placed him fourth and tenth respectively in the NFL record books, minimum six punts.

But if Colquitt’s 82-yard punt in the fourth quarter hadn’t been called back by Harris’ penalty, Colquitt’s day would have been even more historic. The punter would have averaged 60.0 gross yards for the game, which would have broken the NFL record. His net average would have been 58.5 — second in league annals.

“It wasn’t only the six punts for a 55.8-yard average, with an amazing 51.0-yard net,” Sports Illustrated‘s Peter King wrote. “It was the fact that he had no bad punts. How many times has a punter punted six times in a game, with the worst one being a 49-yarder? His punts traveled 57, 58, 59, 49, 57 and 55 yards in a 24-22 Denver win.”

It’s a testament to both Colquitt’s skills, which are quickly becoming elite, and the Broncos special teams coverage that Colquitt’s Week Two finds itself listed among the best punting performances of all time. If only the refs hadn’t thrown the yellow flag, Colquitt’s game would have reigned above them all.

Sky’s the limit for Colquitt [DenverBroncos.com]

  • http://www.broncotalk.net Josh Temple

    So nice to have a high quality punter in Denver finally, now he just has to start being internet awesome like Kluwe.

  • areferee

    Such are the fortunes of “war”.

    The good news is, Colquitt is only 26, and with good health, he will have many other chances to set records in a long and productive career, hopefully, all with the Broncos.

    It is clear, notwithstanding his kicking colleague Matt Prater’s legal issues, the Broncos have the finest special team’s “leg men” in the NFL.

  • 5280

    havn’t seen such awsome kickers since tom rouin and jason elam.  i think pratter can break the field goal record if he kicks from between the hash marks.

  • http://thingsatrexdoes.tumblr.com Mike Birtwistle

    The special teams have been on a completely different planet compared the last 4 years.  Punt coverage especially.

  • Guest

     Finest ‘leg men’ maybe you haven’t seen the guys in Oakland those 2 guys are pretty good as well. Would be interesting to see their stats if they played half of their games at a mile high