Former af2 Kicker, Teammate of Steamwheelers Player Sets NFL Record
October 22, 2007 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Quad City Steamwheelers News Release
The af2 has long prided itself on developing players and preparing them to play at the next level, whether that is the AFL, the CFL or the NFL. On Sunday, October 21st, 2007, that development landed one former af2 player in the NFL record books.
Tennessee Titans K Rob Bironas scored 8 FGs in a 38-36 victory over the Houston Texans, setting an all-time NFL record for most FGs in a single game. He surpassed the old record of 7, which is held by 4 other players (tied most recently the Dallas Cowboys' Billy Cundiff in 2003).
"That doesn't surprise me at all," said Steamwheelers WR/LB Jack Walker, Jr., a long-time friend of Bironas. "He's always had the skill; all he needed was the opportunity. He worked real hard for a long time and made his own opportunities, and now he's in the record books."
Walker and Bironas first met in 2004, when the two were teammates on the Carolina Cobras. They forged a friendship in the Arena Football League that has lasted through the years as the two have pursued their dreams of playing professional football. Their friendship began when Walker needed some extra tickets for family and friends who were attending a Cobras game, and Bironas had already claimed the extra allotment. He went to Bironas, who divided the tickets between them. During the game, when the Cobras were kicking off, Walker joked that Bironas should kick it to his [Walker's] side, since he still "owed" him some tickets. Bironas did just that, and when the ball caromed off the net frame, Walker recovered the ball and scored a TD. The two have been close friends ever since.
Bironas (6-0, 205 Georgia Southern) began his professional football career as a member of the af2's Charleston Swamp Foxes in 2003, finishing the season as the team's 3rd-leading scorer, despite only playing in 12 games as a mid-season replacement. From there he went on to play 2 seasons in the AFL, first for the Carolina Cobras (2004) and then the New York Dragons (2005). With the Cobras, he converted 17-of-40 FGs and 70-of-89 PATs; with the Dragons he hit 7-of-16 FGs and 99-of-117 PATs.
Bironas with NY in '05
Although he originally signed with the NFL's Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent in 2002, Bironas was unable to unseat incumbent K Ryan Longwell. He was also in training camp with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2003 and the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2004, but he would not win a roster spot in the NFL until 2005, when he landed with the Titans. He's been rewriting the record books ever since.
In his first 2 seasons with the Titans, Bironas had already set a franchise mark with 5 game-winning FGs, including 4 in 2006 (surpassing Al Del Greco and Joe Nedney, who each had 3). In 2005, he led the Titans in scoring, posting 99 points on 23-of-29 FGs and 30-of-32 PATs. In 2006, Bironas would lead the team in scoring for the second consecutive season with 98 points on 22-of-28 FGs and a perfect 32-of-32 on PATs. Also in 2006, Bironas would set a franchise record by booting a 60-yard FG with 0:07 remaining to defeat the Indianapolis Colts 20-17 (on 12/3/06).
Walker doesn't believe Bironas' success will change him. "He's humble. He's got a good head on his shoulders," said Walker. "Last season, I sent him a Vince Young jersey to see if he'd ask VY to sign it, and he did it without even a second thought. He's a great guy and deserves all his accolades."
Bironas' record-setting performance is undoubtedly the first instance of an af2 player rewriting the NFL's record books, but it is unlikely to be the last, as more and more af2 players are working their way up to the highest level.
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arenafootball2 Stories from October 22, 2007
- Wranglers Celebrate Five Years of Arena Football - Austin Wranglers
- Former af2 Kicker, Teammate of Steamwheelers Player Sets NFL Record - Quad City Steamwheelers
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