| If Lou Groza was The Toe, Chris Gardocki shall go down in Browns history as The Finger. Arguably the most under-appreciated player in the NFL, Gardocki was for the first two expansions years the best player on the Browns squad--and quite possibly the best punter on any NFL team, period. In 2000 Gardocki booted 108 punts an average of 45.5 yards per kick. Remarkably, only five of those kicks were touchbacks. Even more remarkable: Gardocki has never--ever--had a punt blocked in his 10 year NFL career.
But Gardocki earned himself lasting notoriety during (what else?) a Pittsburgh Steelers game, when Steelers linebacker Joey Porter leveled the 6' 1", 200-pound punter during a kick return. Gardocki, taking affront to the obvious cheap shot, jumped to his feet and flipped the bird at the entire Steelers bench. It was a classic Browns-Steelers moment, broadcast on live television for all to see. For his trouble, Gardocki was fined $5,000 by the league. Fans soon began wearing bootleg T-shirts with a photo of Gardocki's sublime salute to the sons of Appalachia.
Gardocki came to Cleveland from the comfy confines of the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, where he averaged over 45 yards per punt in each of his last three years. The outdoor venue in Cleveland has not put a dent in his production--his averages remain solidly above 45 yards, placing him in elite company in the league. Despite the fact that he's been the most active and consistent punter in the NFL over the past two years, Gardocki has not been selected to a Pro Bowl. It's an oversight that fans hope will get remedied in 2002. |
