GREEN BAY, Wis. — As the punter for the NFL's highest-scoring team, Tim Masthay doesn't get on the field very often. But when he does, the 25-year-old is very effective.
With Masthay set to become a restricted free agent after this season, general manager Ted Thompson announced Friday that the Green Bay Packers have signed their third-year punter to a contract extention that is reportedly worth $5.465 million over four years.
Masthay punted only 55 times last season, and 27 other NFL punters were used more. In fact, Masthay had 50 fewer attempts than the league's busiest punter last season, St. Louis' Donnie Jones.
After going undrafted out of Kentucky in 2009, Masthay started his career with the Indianapolis Colts but was waived soon after.
Once in Green Bay, Masthay beat out Chris Bryan during 2010 training camp and has since solidified a position that had been cycling through a new starter on an almost annual basis. Jon Ryan punted in Green Bay in 2006 and '07, Derrick Frost took 75 percent of the punts in 2008, and Jeremy Kampinos took over in 2009.
Last season, Masthay set Packers franchise records in gross (45.6) and net (38.6) punting average. He also is regarded as an excellent directional punter.
Data from ProFootballFocus.com graded out Masthay's 2011 season as the 16th-best in the NFL.
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