Donnelly’s 68-Yard Punt Brings Only Momentary Happiness

His best punt of the year provided a good example of what the season has brought for Rick Donnelly and the Atlanta Falcons.

In overtime against Philadelphia last Sunday, Donnelly boomed a 68-yard punt that ducked out of bounds inside the Eagles’ one-yard line.

“That was great feeling at that moment,” Donnelly said. “It didn’t last very long.”

Two plays later, the Eagles scored on a 99-yard pass to win 23-17.

That has been the pattern for the team tied for the National Football League’s worst record, 1-9, and the rookie punter with the league’s best net average, 37.9 yards.

The net average takes return yards into account. Donnelly’s 43.3-yard punt average ranks him seventh in the NFL.

Donnelly set a team record against Philadelphia, punting seven times for a 52.1-yard average, surpassing Billy Lothridge’s 50-yard average against the Baltimore Colts in 1967.

In 1984, Donnelly was the nation’s third-leading punter at the University of Wyoming with a 47.3-yard average. But he was passed up in the draft by the NFL, traditionally skeptical of punters from high-altitude regions.

“What people don’t realize about kicking at Wyoming is the wind and the bad weather you kick in a lot of the time,” he said. “A lot of kickers would come in and look forward to punting in Wyoming. Then they’d see what the wind was doing at that stadium and say, ‘Oh, no.”’

The Falcons signed Donnelly late in training camp after he was released by the New England Patriots. He then beat out three-year veteran Ralph Giacamarro.

Donnelly did not start the 1985 season well, but he said he wasn’t concerned.

“I knew I wasn’t hitting the ball as well as I could,” he said. “And I knew I would settle down and do what I’m capable of doing. I’m more relaxed and confident now.”

“The guy continues to get better and better,” said Falcons Executive Vice President Eddie LeBaron. “He was a little inconsistent at first, but we always thought he had an extra-strong leg that, with time, would help this team.”