Zigeunerzelt » Picking through the wreckage of a once-promising 7-9 season

is never enjoyable.Nonetheless Authentic Deshazor Everett Jersey , as I’ve had a few days to ponder the 2018 Washington Redskins, I’ve unearthed one additional, glaring indignity.And I’m not even talking about the awful non-call that almost certainly cost the Redskins the Texans game.Instead, I mean the injustice of the postseason honors snub for Redskins punter Tress Way.This year, Way led the NFL with 41 punts inside the 20 (PITT).While leading the league in that category is worth some small measure of celebration on its own, even more impressive is the fact that Way pulled this off without a single touchback all season.The NFL has been tracking PITT and touchbacks since 1991.Tress Way is the only player in NFL history to lead the league in punts inside the 20 without having a single touchback all season.In fact, no punter has ever finished in the top five in PITT and gone through a season touchback-free, much less led the league.The only player who really came close was the Rams’ Johnny Hekker in 2016.Not only did Hekker log an NFL-record 51 PITT, but he only had one touchback all season.Even that is an outlier, though: Of the previous eleven years’ worth of PITT leaders prior to Way, including Hekker twice Youth Montae Nicholson Jersey , the average number of touchbacks was a robust 6.2.Only Hekker had fewer than three.The difference is that Hekker—rightfully—earned Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro accolades for his amazing season.Not so for Way, whose greatness went unrecognized.He didn’t even make second-team All-Pro.He won’t be going to the Pro Bowl, either.This, despite the fact that he did something that has eluded every NFL punter in recorded history.Michael Dickson (Seahawks) and Brett Kern (Titans) are this year’s Pro Bowl picks.Dickson was the AP’s first-team All-Pro, while Hekker was second-team.By way of comparison, here are the key stats for Way, Dickson, Kern, and Hekker:Way - 41.5 NetAvg / 41 PITT / 0 TBDickson - 42.5 / 28 / 5Kern - 41.7 / 39 / 3Hekker - 43.0 / 21 / 2The only statistical advantage these other players have over Way is a slight edge in net average.But even Hekker, the best of the four, was only 1.5 yards better than Way.First-team All-Pro Dickson beat Way by one little yard Cheap Josh Doctson Jersey , and was far short of Way in the other categories.And it wasn’t as if Way were bad in this regard: His 41.5 average was still good for ninth in the league this season.I know what you’re thinking.“Ah, but what about the [fairly meaningless] gross average figure?I bet Dickson and company blow Way out of the water.”Not really.None of them led the league.Andy Lee of the Cardinals—who got a lot of practice this year—took that title.Way was only a yard behind Hekker and 1.8 behind Kern.Again, though, this category isn’t as relevant as the others mentioned above.The fact that Way topped the NFL in PITT while also having no touchbacks means he, with help from his Redskins’ punt coverage teammates,was the most effective punter in the league, which is what should matter most.Unfortunately, Way’s unprecedented achievement wasn’t enough to overcome the reputational value of his peers.He deserved better. The differences between Patrick Mahomes and Alex Smith are undeniable, one of them an up-and-coming quarterback with a big arm and little experience, the other the consummate game manager whose ability to avoid mistakes has served him well over the years.There are also some similarities, though."Very businesslike Jamison Crowder Jersey ," Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce said. "Alex liked to have a lot of fun in the locker room as well. That's why he's an All-Pro in terms of one of my favorite teammates I've ever had. I think Pat is very similar, where he understands football but likes to go out and have fun."Here's another similarity the Chiefs would like to see between their current quarterback and his predecessor: Smith finished his time in Kansas City having beaten the Chargers eight straight times.That's the opponent for the start of the Mahomes era on Sunday.The Chiefs traded Smith to Washington in the offseason after getting a glimpse of Mahomes in Week 17 last year, when he dazzled in his starting debut against Denver.The Chiefs' playoff positioning had been wrapped up and most of the starters got the day off, but Mahomes nevertheless put on a show against the Broncos' starting defense in a come-from-behind road win.Mahomes thinks that experience, combined with a year spent working side-by-side with Smith, will serve him well when he leads the Chiefs into their season opener."Having the preseason games helped," he said. "Being able to start off with those games and then having that Denver game last year and seeing where I need to be at with my emotions and at the same time play with a lot of passion is something that will help me going into this one."Did it feel any different walking into the practice facility this week as the No. 1 quarterback?"Not necessarily," Mahomes said. "I get to compete and play a sport that I love. I get to play with a lot of guys I have built great relationships with. So I am going to just go out there and have fun and hopefully win a football game."If that sounds like a starter wise beyond his years, well, that's because in many ways Mahomes has been groomed for this moment since his childhood. His father, Pat Mahomes Cheap Trent Williams Jersey , spent 11 years in the major leagues, and his boy spent quite a few of those years bouncing around the clubhouse.He understands the pressures and responsibilities of being a professional athlete."I haven't seen any nerves. I know he's excited to play. I think the whole team is," Chiefs coach Andy Reid said."Probably both teams are, to get out of camp and get this thing going. He is excited. I haven't seen anything that would tell you he's nervous. He's a pretty confident kid in his ability and I think he just wants to get going and play the game."Fans in Kansas City may be even more eager to see Mahomes on the field.They've waited an entire generation for the Chiefs to draft a quarterback in the first round, and see him develop into the clear starter. The last to do so was Todd Blackledge, who flamed out after he was selected in 1983 鈥?the same draft that produced John Elway, Jim Kelly and Dan Marino.Starters since then have ranged from Steve DeBerg and Dave Krieg to Joe Montana, who was on the downward side of his illustrious career. There was Steve Bono and Elvis Grbac, and Damon Huard and Tyler Thigpen, and a four-year stretch under Matt Cassel marked by mediocrity at best.When it comes to expectations for Mahomes, the floor is mediocrity.The ceiling? A championship.The march toward that begins when the Chiefs visit the Chargers on Sunday."Probably walking off the field hopefully with a win would be the best moment I am looking forward to Youth Josh Norman Jersey ," Mahomes said. "Hopefully we can go out there and compete on every aspect, every side of the ball 鈥?offense, defense, special teams 鈥?and come out with the win."Notes: Safety Eric Berry (heel) did not practice Thursday, making it even more unlikely that he plays against the Chargers. Berry is still considered day to day, but he has been out since early in training camp. "We've kept great communication with him," Reid said. "We'll just see how it goes." Custom Arizona Cardinals Jerseys