FanHouse Andy Lee

Training camps have wrapped up, the NFL season is right around the corner, and it's still hot as sin outside. But instead of cooling you off with a warm island song, FanHouse break out ye old heat check for our 2009 NFL Season Previews. We'll rate each club in 5 categories on a scale of 1 to 10, high score wins.

After generating a significant amount of hype over the past few years, the 49ers will enter 2009 with no expectations on the board. Division rival Arizona went to the Super Bowl, while many expect a rebound from long-time division champion Seattle. To me, this makes the 49ers a dangerous team.

Remember that great 1987 University of Miami team? With Michael Irvin, the Blades brothers, Melvin Bratton, Daniel Stubbs, that team won the national championship, a year after the more famous 1986 team fell short.

But I doubt there are many fans who could name the only player left from that team in the NFL. It's Giants punter Jeff Feagles, and if you didn't know that, don't feel bad. According to a story Feagles once told, even some of his own Hurricanes teammates who later became his NFL teammates didn't know he was on the team.

But while those Miami teammates didn't know who Feagles was, his Giants teammates appreciate him. In fact, Arthur Staple of Newsday reports that the Giants are rallying to get Feagles in the Pro Bowl:

"He's the best I've ever seen," [linebacker Antonio] Pierce said of Jeff Feagles. "Ever since I got here, he's been deserving of [a Pro Bowl nod]."

Kawika Mitchell said: "You usually measure a punter by his ability to put the ball outside the numbers. Jeff does it whenever he wants to."

Punters are often overlooked as necessities, but not "real football players" or some such silliness. It's all fun and games until the special teams costs you a game. Then, not so much. That's why Andy Lee and Mike Scifres are so well regarded -- and appreciated -- by their teams.

Anyway, in an effort to beef up its special teams, the Steelers used a fourth-round pick on Daniel Sepulveda. Not a very well received move in some parts of the Pittsburgh media; in fact, one writer suggested the team would've been better off with Mike Barr, the free agent that was annually invited to Steelers training camp only to lose the job to whoever the competition was.

Like clockwork, Barr lost out to Sepulveda, was released, but did land a job with the Cardinals. That lasted 11 games until Arizona sent him packing earlier this week. The reason? He was awful, of course. And even without looking at the stats, the fact that the Cards invited Mitch Berger, Tom Rouen and Chris Gardocki to compete for the job is reason enough to think that Barr wasn't faring very well. (For the three of you who care, Berger won the job. Season saved in the desert.)

And for anybody else who thinks punters aren't important, here's what Dr. Z had to say following the Steelers-Dolphins Monday night game:

Every year we indulge ourselves in award shows. From the Oscars to the Espys we just can't turn away. This year I figured why not one more, so I'd like to introduce you to the Eddies, and no these awards have nothing to do with Iron Maiden. This award is honor of the great Eddie DeBartolo Jr., the man who gave us the 49ers dynasty. So without further ado I present to you the Midseason Eddie Awards.

Offensive MVP: Frank Gore and Alex Smith are both deserving of this honor, but through eight games Frank Gore gets the nod. The second year back out of the "M" is eighth in rushing yards and sixth in yards from scrimmage. Gore has had a few mishaps this season, mainly in holding onto the ball, but Frank keeps the 49ers in games with his legs. Just imagine the yards he'd have if the 49ers didn't play catch up through most the season.

Defensive MVP: There is not a whole lot to chose from with this unit, but so far on the season the MVP goes to Walt Harris. In seven games this season Harris has 27 tackles, four interceptions, and six passes defended. One of the few bright spots on a poor defense.

The 49ers have to cut 22 players after Friday's finale against the Chargers and Andy Lee better not be one of them. Did you hear that Nolan? Good.

There is no reason Andy Lee should be cut, it's Andy Frickin' Lee we are talking about, not Bill 'The Flower' LaFleur. I know Tom Rouen is a veteran, but really, who cares, besides Mrs. Rouen. He's been in the league for what 14 years, he isn't getting any younger and he isn't getting any better. On the other hand you have Andy Lee, a young kid who is getting better each season and after kicking a 49ers record of 107 punts his leg hasn't fallen off. That should account for something, right? Do you honestly believe Rouen could make it to 107 punts? Rouen is what 64, 65 years old, isn't that the time when seniors start breaking their hips? Lee also averaged over 40 yards per punt in 2005 and the last time the 49ers had a punter average over 40 yards per punt was 1998, when Reggie Roby averaged 41.9 yards.

I understand that Rouen is better than Lee at putting kicks inside the 20, but he should be considering he has been punting since the leather helmet days. I know one thing, Rouen doesn't tackle or act as well as Andy Lee. Rouen has only five tackles in 14 years, Lee has three in two. I'm not sure about anyone else but I like it when a punter gets in on the action. The last time the 49ers made this mistake and released a punter after two seasons, he ended up becoming a pro-bowler on a different team. So, Nolan don't pull a Donahue by allowing Lee to become the next Chad Stanley.

I'm gonna go out on a limb here. I'm gonna volunteer my opinion to this team. A team without Andy Lee is like a foot without a big toe. And Andy Lee is always gonna be here to be that big toe for Niner fans. I think that we owe a big round of applause to our newest, bestest buddy, and big toe...Andy Lee.