GREEN BAY, Wis. -- The words had barely escaped Peter Mortell’s lips -- “I believe I’m an NFL punter” -- when the Green Bay Packers rookie’s point was proven for him, albeit in an unexpected way.
Following the Packers’ preseason victory over Oakland at Lambeau Field last Thursday night, Mortell found himself in a swirl of lights, cameras and questions as he stood at his locker. After another impressive performance -- he averaged 57.0 gross yards, 58.0 net yards and 4.52 seconds of hang time on his two punts -- reporters weren’t so interested in his heartwarming local-boy-makes-good story as they were in the fact that he’s turned the Packers’ punting battle into a genuine competition with incumbent Tim Masthay.