Jacksonville Jaguars punter Bryan Barker is one-tenth of a yard away from the NFL's net punting record for one season. The league record is 39.9 net yards, and Barker's net punting average through 13 games is 39.8 yards.
Barker currently leads the NFL in both net punting and gross punting (46.3). In fact, his gross punting average is tied for the second-best mark in the NFL in the last 32 years. He has punted 55 times, with just six touchbacks and 23 kicks inside the 20.
Barker credits the Jaguars' punt coverage team for his success. "It's a team game," he said, "and there are 11 players on the punt team. We all count on each other. Therefore, any success we have should be thought of as team success, not individual success."
Net punting became an official NFL statistic in 1977. Here's how Barker ranks on the all-time list:
Rk. Player Team Year No. Avg.
1. Mike Horan N.Y. Giants 1993 44 39.9
Bryan Barker Jacksonville 1997 55 39.8 (through 13 games)
2. Jim Arnold Detroit 1987 46 39.6
3. Rich Camarillo Phoenix 1992 54 39.6
4. Rohn Stark Indianapolis 1992 83 39.3
5. Matt Turk Washington 1996 75 39.2
Here's how Jaguars rank in other statistical categories: Mike Hollis leads the NFL in scoring with 116 points. His 27 field goals leads the AFC, and his 87.1 percent accuracy on fields goals (27 of 31) is fifth in the AFC. … RB James Stewart is tied for seventh in the league with nine touchdowns, and Natrone Means is tied for 14th with eight TDs. … QB Mark Brunell ranks third in the AFC in passing with a 88.5 rating. … WR Jimmy Smith is second in the AFC with 69 receptions and second with 1,129 receiving yards. Keenan McCardell is sixth in the AFC with 61 catches. His 802 yards ranks 11th. … Natrone Means is 13th in the AFC with 618 yards rushing, and James Stewart is 18th with 484 yards. … Smith is seventh in the AFC with 1,129 total yards from scrimmage. …Bryan Barker leads the entire NFL with both a 46.3-yard gross punting average and a 39.8 net average. … Reggie Barlow ranks fourth in the AFC with an 11.8-yard punt return average. … Deon Figures is tied for sixth in the conference with four interceptions. … Clyde Simmons is tied for ninth in the AFC with 7.5 sacks. … The Jaguars rank 10th in the NFL in total offense (19th rushing, 9th passing), and they rank 23rd in defense (13th rushing and 23rd passing). … The Jaguars' average of 25.7 points a game is third in the NFL, behind only the Denver Broncos (30.2) and Green Bay (26.4). … The Jaguars' offense is 13th in the NFL in third down percentage (66 of 170, 38.8 percent) and the defense is tied for 28th in opponent's third-down conversions (80 of 180, 44.4 percent). … The Jaguars' plus-8 difference in turnovers-takeaways is third best in the AFC and fifth best in the NFL.
