PRO FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : RAMS : This Old Shoe Didn’t Bother Landeta

Punter Sean Landeta opened his equipment bag at Arrowhead Stadium Sunday and discovered he had packed three left shoes.

“I had one right one that was a practice shoe, definitely nasty looking with holes and threads dangling down,” Landeta said. “I wore my street gym shoes to kick in pregame warm-ups so I didn’t get my feet wet. I was afraid my socks would get soaking wet. I borrowed scissors from the trainer before the kickoff to cut the threads off and look presentable.”

Landeta not only looked good, but worked his way into the record books after averaging 52.5 yards a punt on four kicks.

Landeta, who purchased 10 pairs of shoes for $90 as a sophomore at Towson State in 1980, tied Parker Hall (1939) and Danny Villanueva (1962) for the top single-game average in Ram history.

“I have two pairs left,” said Landeta, who will return to using his regular game shoes this week against Atlanta. “I’m not superstitious, so I’ll go back to my regular game shoes. The practice shoes just have too many holes. . . . “

Landeta said Sunday’s performance against the Chiefs was the best of his NFL career. He averaged 52.5 yards a punt on six kicks in the 1983 USFL championship game for the Philadelphia Stars, and in a three-game stretch in 1992, he had 17 punts and averaged 51 yards.

Landeta is averaging 46.6 yards a punt this season, which would be a team record if it stands up through 16 games.

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Coach Chuck Knox said he does not expect offensive tackle Darryl Ashmore (knee) to be ready for this week’s game, but there’s a chance guard Leo Goeas (ankle) will be ready.

Linebacker Roman Phifer, who was a key contributor in the first meeting with Atlanta, might miss this one because of a hyperextended elbow.

Defensive lineman Kevin Patrick, who has been residing on the practice squad, underwent arthroscopic shoulder surgery.