Jets Waive Punter Ben Graham

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Jets Waive Punter Ben Graham

Published: Tue, September 16, 2008 - 7:04pm ET
Randy Lange

By Randy Lange

Lange is editor-in-chief of newyorkjets.com. He covered the Jets for 13 years for The Record of Hackensack, N.J.


File Under: Eric Mangini, waived, Ben Graham, Paul Raymond

09/16 — The Jets have announced this evening that punter Ben Graham has been waived.

It was a difficult ending to a rough start to the season for the Thunder from Down Under. In the home opener against New England on Sunday, Graham had one of the most ineffective days in his fourth season as the Jets punter. His four punts netted 27.3 yards and the Patriots' ensuing drives after all four kicks started on the Jets 48 or deeper into plus territory.

Graham's story has been an inspiring one. Originally scouted while he was still starring for the Geelong Cats in the Australian Football League in 1997 by then-Jets assistant coach Eric Mangini, he postponed exploring opportunities in the NFL until 2005, when he got an offer to try out for the Jets' punting job.

He won the job at the age of 31, brought his family with him from Geelong to Long Island, and settled in for three seasons as the Green & White's often magical punter, delivering his "drop punts," end-over-end kicks that often bounced straight in the air and were downed by the Jets' coverage team. Last season was his best in punts downed inside the opponents' 10-yard line (9) and inside the five (6).

Graham's best season was probably 2006, when he was reunited with Mangini, who took over as the team's head coach, and had career highs in gross average (44.2) and inside-the-20 kicks (26).

His gross was consistently around 43.7 yards, but his net dropped to a career-low 36.6 last season, and his hang time unofficially was also the shortest of his career. This season, despite seeming to have gotten new life in his leg — he drilled an 86-yarder in the Green & White Practice at Hofstra Stadium a month ago. But his hangtime suffered on six punts at Miami and then came the Patriots game.

The Jets also have announced that Paul Raymond, the undrafted free agent WR from Brown University, has been released from the practice squad. The team did not have any immediate announcements on who will replace Graham as punter or who will take Raymond's spot on the practice squad.

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upset fan 2 Said:

Fri, September 19, 2008 - 10:17pm ET

"poor ben. why did the jets let him go after just one bad game, when he is one of the greatest punters in the NFL. with no replacement punter, the jets are in a hole and i wouldn't be surprised if the chargers capitalize on this, Monday. d*** it jets, why'd ya have to let him go..."

Offensive Comment?

mike Said:

Sat, September 20, 2008 - 8:59am ET

"I hope the Jets management know that a kid like Paul raymond will be a positive force on someones offense with his speed and brains. The jets already have a few of their WRs injured and not playing 100%. Paul had 2 TDs in the pre-season and is hard to cover. The waiving of him seems to be a contrary move to what should have been done which is give him a chance to catch more TDs in the real games. "

Offensive Comment?

deacon aunt Said:

Thu, September 25, 2008 - 8:28pm ET

"agree with Pranit- "waive the whole team"- seems like "waiving" is the ONLY thing the Jets are good at...."

Offensive Comment?