Detroit Lions vs atLanta faLcons JOHNSON'S Mega-PURSUIT 2012 ...

niCk harris
Punter
California 12th Year
Ht: 6-2 Wt: 218
Born: 7/23/78 Avondale, Arz.
Draft: ’01, R4 (120)_Den Acquired: ’12, FA-Car
Complete biographical information available on Detroitlions.com.
MANE FACTS
¾ such a valuable member of his team at Cal, students made signs and
t-shirts that said “Nick Harris for Heisman”.
¾ Was close to going to a smaller college to play linebacker before Cal
offered him a scholarship to be a punter.
¾ Has an identical twin brother, Chris, whose football career was curtailed
by a serious knee injury.
¾ served as a chairman for the 17th annual Detroit lions invitational
golf outing that raised more than $100,000 for Detroit lions Charities.
¾ Donated lions’ tickets to each home game to HaVeN, a shelter for the
prevention and treatment of domestic violence, sexual assault and
child abuse, through the lions CaTs (Caring athletes Ticket service)
for Kids program.
¾ Participated in the annual lions Celebrity Bocce Ball Tournament that
raised over $110,000 for Detroit lions Charities.
¾ Took part for the third straight year in the 2007 lions Pet Calendar that
helps to raise money for the Dearborn animal shelter.
¾ Helped deliver thousands of pounds of food and supplies to more than
30 Metro Detroit relief agencies at the United Way Hometown Huddle/
lift Up america event, Dec. 5, at ford field.
¾ Made a special visit to the Children’s Hospital of Michigan during the
2006 season.
¾ Named 2005 special Teams MVP by The Detroit lions Quarterback Club,
the official booster club of the lions.
TRANSACTIONS
¾ signed with the Detroit lions on september 25, 2012.
¾ signed with the Carolina Panthers on May 7, 2012 and was released
from the Panthers on august 27, 2012.
¾ signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars on october 11, 2011 and was
released by the Jaguars on april 28, 2012.
¾ re-signed by the lions september 6, 2007 to a six-year contract
extension.
¾ re-signed by the lions December 30, 2004 to a three-year deal.
¾ signed by the Detroit lions october 14, 2003 and re-signed by the
lions May 25, 2004.
¾ released by the Cincinnati Bengals october 7, 2003.
¾ Claimed off waivers by the Cincinnati Bengals august 29, 2001.
¾ Drafted by the Denver Broncos in the fourth round (120th overall) of the
2001 Nfl Draft and then was waived by the Broncos august 28, 2001.
PRO
Harris, the 12-year veteran punter, is one of the best in the Nfl in pinning
opponents deep in their own territory. Harris returns to the lions as the
team’s all-time leader in punts (687), punting yards (29,556), net punting
average (36.4) and punts inside the 20-yard line (207). He is also second in
career gross punting average (43.0).
¾ Holds five of the team’s Top-10 best seasons with regards to punts
inside the 20-yard line (official stat since 1976), including a franchise
record 34 in 2005.
¾ ranks 27th in Nfl history (fourth among active players) with 936 punts
and 39,695 punting yards. also has generated a gross average of 42.4
yards and a net average of 35.7 yards.
¾ landed 257 punts inside the 20, which ranks 30th in Nfl history
(fourth among active punters.). 204 of those punts inside the 20 have
been with Detroit.
¾ He is a valuable asset in terms of the battle for field position. in his
first four full seasons with the lions (signed for last 11 games in
2003), Harris increased his gross punting average—40.9 in 2004, 43.5
in 2005 and 45.0 in 2006, and he registered his second highest punting
average in 2007 with 44.3.
¾ Harris also increased his net punting average from 2004-06 with 34.2 in
2004, 36.9 in 2005 and 38.7 in 2006, and he recorded his third-highest
net average of his career in 2007 with 36.4.
¾ in 2006, he finished strong with two top-10 rankings amongst Nfl
punters as he was fifth in gross punting (45.0 avg.) and tied for eighth
in net punting (38.2 avg.).
¾ He had one of the best outings in the Nfl in 2005 while proving to be
one of the league’s most accurate punters as he led the Nfl with a net
differential (punts downed inside the 20-yard line minus the number
of touchbacks) of 32. Harris’ 34 punts downed inside-the-20 was the
highest in the league.
¾ He played the 2001-02 seasons and the first five games of 2003 with
the Cincinnati Bengals.
2012: signed with the lions on september 25, 2012 as the team’s punter
after P Ben Graham was placed on reserve/injured list.
¾ Had five punts for 198 yards (39.6 avg), four of which were placed inside
the 20 yard line in his 2012 debut with the lions vs. Minnesota (9/30.
¾ Punted seven times for a total of 299 yards, including one inside the
20-yard line in Week 6 at Philadelphia.
¾ Punted eight times for a total of 321 yards, including three inside the
PLayer ProfiLes
Detroitlions.com
Media.Detroitlions.com
20-yard line in Week 7 at Chicago (10/22).
¾ Near the end of the first quarter, Harris helped changed the field position
as he netted a 58-yard punt from the lions 23-yard line. it was
his longest punt since he had a 61-yard punt for the lions at Miami
December 26, 2010.
¾ Had four punts for 176 yards (44.0 avg) with a long of 47 and a net
average of 36.8 in Week 8 vs. seattle (10/28). Harris now has 900 punts
for his career for a total of 38, 207 yards.
¾ Had two punts for 99 yards, landing one inside the 20-yard line, in the
lions’ 31-14 win over Jacksonville in Week 9 (11/4).
¾ Had three punts for 118 yards and a net average of 39.3, his longest
going for 44 yards, in Week 11 vs. Green Bay (11/18).
¾ Placed four punts inside the 20-yard line on Thanksgiving Day vs.
Houston (11/22), giving him 202 punts inside the 20 with the lions and
becoming the first punter in lions history (since 1976 when statistic
become official) to register 200 career punts inside the 20-yard line.
¾ Punted twice for a total of 70 yards, his longest going for 39 yards, in
Week 14 at Green Bay (12/9).
¾ Punted eight times for a season-high 376 yards, landing two punts
inside the 20-yard line, in Week 15 at arizona (12/16).
2011: Played in 11 games for Jacksonville and produced a gross average of
42.7 yards and net average of 37.9 yards with 13 punts inside the 20, five
touchbacks and long of 55 yards.
¾ Totaled 3,075 punting yards for the 2011 season.
COLLEGE
regarded by many as the premier punter in college football during his Cal
career where he averaged 42.3 yards per punt, and his 13,621 total yards
broke previous NCaa mark of 12,947 by TCU’s Cameron young.
¾ Placed 92 of his punts (28.6 percent) inside-the-20 and also held for
place kicks.
¾ earned consensus all-american honors in 2000.
¾ Had his best season average, 44.7 yards, as a junior in 1999.
¾ Well-conditioned athlete who had Cal’s fastest 10-yard dash (1.77) and
second-best 20-yard shuttle time (4.17).
PERSONAL
attended Westview (ariz.) High school where he earned National Coaches’
association all-america honors as a senior with 42.3-yard punting average.
¾ also earned prep all-state honors as a linebacker and saw action on
offense as a receiver and a rusher.
¾ all-state prep soccer player as well.
¾ Holds a bachelor’s degree in american studies and a master’s degree
in education from the University of California.
¾ Married to wife, Heather, and they have twins, Drew and Halle.
¾ full name is Nicholas John Harris.
HARRIS’ SINGLE-GAME BESTS
Punts: .......................................................................................................9 (seven times) last vs.NyJ 11/7/10
Punting yards: ......................................................................................................................431 vs. Ten 11/27/08
average: .................................................................................................................................59.5 vs. Min 12/7/08
long Punt: ...............................................................................................................................67 vs. Chi 12/24/06
inside 20: .................................................................................................. 4 (eight times) last at Min 10/12/08
Net average: ..........................................................................................................................52.0 vs. Dal 12/9/07
HARRIS’ CAREER STATISTICS
Year Team G Pnt Yds Avg. Net TB Bl In20 Lg
2001 Cin 16 84 3372 40.1 33.9 6 1 21 57
2002 Cin 15 65 2608 40.1 31.4 4 1 11 57
2003 Cin/Det 16 91 3615 39.7 32.1 8 1 16 53
2004 Det 16 92 3765 40.9 34.2 7 1 32 60
2005 Det 16 84 3656 43.5 36.9 2 0 34 60
2006 Det 16 66 2967 45.0 38.2 9 0 18 67
2007 Det 16 68 3010 44.3 36.4 5 0 26 58
2008 Det 16 90 3952 43.9 38.0 6 0 24 66
2009 Det 16 74 3175 42.9 36.8 5 0 20 56
2010 Det 16 90 4018 44.6 35.8 8 0 24 66
2011 Jac 11 72 3075 42.7 37.9 5 0 13 55
2012 Det 11 60 2482 41.4 36.9 1 0 18 58
Totals 181 936 39695 42.4 35.7 66 4 257 67
2012 (Det)
Date Opp G Pnt Yds Avg. Net TB BL In20 Lg
9/9 sTl 0 DiD NoT Play
9/16 at sf 0 DiD NoT Play
9/23 at Ten 0 DiD NoT Play
9/30 MiN 1 5 198 39.6 24.2 0 0 4 51
10/14 at Phi 1 7 299 42.7 41.0 0 0 1 56
10/22 at Chi 1 8 321 40.1 39.3 0 0 3 58
10/28 sea 1 4 176 44.0 36.8 0 0 0 47
11/4 at Jax 1 2 99 49.5 43.5 0 0 1 50
11/11 at Min 1 6 228 38.0 37.0 0 0 0 42
11/18 GB 1 3 118 39.3 39.3 0 0 0 44
11/22 HoU 1 8 299 37.4 36.1 0 0 4 43
12/2 iND 1 7 298 42.6 38.9 1 0 3 56
12/9 at GB 1 2 70 35.0 28.5 0 0 0 39
12/16 at ari 1 8 376 47.0 40.3 0 0 2 51
12/22 aTl
12/30 CHi
Totals 11 60 2482 41.4 37.3 1 0 18 58