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Tip your John Deere cap to an NFL ironman
Cold, Hard Football Facts for January 7, 2007
There's a player heading into the NFL playoffs with a résumé so long and unique that you'd think the hype machines would be off the rails with excitement.
A national champion in college, he has played in an NFL-record 304 consecutive games and is the only player in league history to play at least four seasons with four different teams. In addition, this former Pro Bowler holds many all-time records for his position, and recently delivered an inspirational pregame talk that helped steer his team into the playoff round.
Despite this amazing résumé – record-holder, vocal leader, collegiate champ – he has only won a single playoff game.
Quite a story, isn't it? Isn't it time that this player finally adds the final piece to his puzzle?
Isn't it about time that Jeff Feagles finally got that ring?
 Yes, the N.Y. Giants' punter has never missed a game since breaking into the league in 1988 with the New England Patriots – 314 in a row. And he's the all-time leader in both punts (1,514) and punts inside the 20 (483).
All this despite a Presidential-style work pattern – four years with Philly, four years with Arizona, five years in Seattle and now four years in New York – that is unique in football history.
The 40-year-old Feagles also deserves a smidgeon of credit for inspiring the team before their playoff-clinching 2006 win over the Washington Redskins. At the request of coach Tom Coughlin, he gave a speech on the team train Friday night that more than one teammate agreed was helpful motivation.
His collective achievements aren't Hall of Fame worthy by any stretch – he's like the baseball player who hits .270 with 14 home runs, but for 20 years in a row. Impressive, but forgettable.
Feagles was never the best punter in the game (career average 41.6, just one Pro Bowl), but he has always been the best at pinning opponents deep (483 kicks inside the 20, almost 100 more than No. 2 Sean Landeta).
For the ancient-by-football-standards Feagles, this is likely the final run – he was ready to retire last season but came back for one last shot.
The Steelers won it for Jerome Bettis last year, vowing to take him home to Detroit for the big game and doing just that. The Broncos made sure John Elway would go out on top.
Feagles? Probably not.
Regardless, when ol' No. 18 comes on the field for the Giants this weekend, stand up and give him a cheer. There's never been anyone quite like him.
10 OLDEST ACTIVE PLAYERS IN THE PLAYOFFS
- John Carney, K, Saints (born 4-20-64)
- Vinny Testaverde, QB, Patriots (11-13-64)
- Jeff Feagles, P, Giants (3-7-66)
- Matt Stover, K, Ravens (1-27-68)
- Ricky Proehl, WR, Colts (3-7-1968)
- Fred McAfee, special teams, Saints (6-20-68)
- Kendall Gammon, long snapper, Chiefs (10-23-68)
- Keenan McCardell, WR, Chargers (1-6-70)
- Jeff Garcia, QB, Eagles (2-24-70)
- Robbie Tobeck, C, Seahawks (3-6-70)
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