David Akers is on the precipice of setting another franchise record this week. That was certainly news to Akers as he was told of the potential achievement at his locker. But he was more surprised by the fact that he wasn't already the record holder.
With three successful extra point attempts, Akers will tie Bobby Walston for the most in Eagles history with 365. Akers wanted to know how long it took for Walston to amass that total. One-hundred and forty-eight games in 12 seasons to be exact.
"That's a lot of touchdowns," said Akers, who will play in his 160th game as an Eagle this Sunday.
The new record is certainly a possibility this week against a winless Buccaneers team that has surrendered an average of 26.8 points per game. But Akers isn't concerned with that. He's already the franchise leader in field goals and points for a single season and an entire career. He'll reflect on those accomplishments later.
"I just don't really pay attention to it. I just enjoy the fact that I'm on a team and have a job, especially in today's economy with the way things are," Akers said. "I feel very fortunate and blessed to be here as an Eagle. I try to go out and do my best, give fans somebody to cheer for."
Akers has 26 points this season and has hit on 5-of-6 field goal attempts. Just last year, Akers set new career highs with 33 field goals, 144 points and 17 touchbacks. He has successfully connected on 81.0 percent of his career field goal attempts and has never missed an overtime attempt.
One record Akers really wants no part of is the longest field goal record. The team record is 59 yards by Tony Franklin in 1979. The NFL record is 63 yards by Tom Dempsey of the Saints in 1970 and Jason Elam of the Broncos in 1998. Akers had a perfect view of the third-longest field goal in NFL history. It came in the closing seconds of the most-recent meeting between the Eagles and the Buccaneers. Matt Bryant nailed an unlikely 62-yard attempt in the closing seconds to hand the Eagles a heartbreaking 23-21 defeat in Tampa.
Akers wasn't surprised that Bryant made that kick.
"We banged a couple touchbacks down that way beforehand," Akers said. "Matt's got a strong leg to begin with. He really had nothing to lose. He swung at it. It was a great conditions day and he banged it from 62. It was a phenomenal kick. It was probably one of the greatest moments he's ever had. It was one of those perfect hit and it just got up and carried. He had plenty more to go on it."
While a record for the longest field goal would certainly be an accomplishment, Akers would prefer to be known as the "guy who never missed."
"It's never been a big deal for me to kick one to set the record books or anything like that," Akers said. "I'd rather just not miss wherever I'm put out to. There are guys who hit those (long attempts), but they don't last a long time."
-- Posted by Chris McPherson, 10:06 a.m., October 8
