Tornado Alley (PROG)

[blackhawks]

Get outta here with that Crocodile Punter shit!

https://sports.yahoo.com/chicago-bears-hard-knocks-episode-043300398.html

Getting to know you

Viewers learned several things about rookie punter and native Australian Tory Taylor on Tuesday night.

He rejected a reporter-proposed nickname of “The Crocodile Punter” during a news conference earlier this month at Halas Hall. “I definitely don’t want that one,” Taylor said. “How original.”

Taylor had at least some difficulty navigating from the team hotel to Soldier Field for his first home game as a Bear.

He continues to leave the jaws of teammates and coaches on the floor with his leg strength and unique punting skill set. Commented offensive coordinator Shane Waldron during an offensive meeting: “Those punts? I don’t know if you guys have ever just stopped for a second and watched him. It’s damn unbelievable. Like that ball is going out at the 2-yard line. Different spins. He had every club in the bag working out there today.”

Tory Taylor didn't disappoint in his @ChicagoBears preseason debut ✅🇦🇺#NFL #DaBears #AussiesDoItBetter pic.twitter.com/LBo9FFxr6e

— NFL Australia & NZ (@NFLAUNZ) August 14, 2024

Taylor is also doubling as the holder for kicker Cairo Santos and coming along quite nicely. On Saturday, amid drizzly conditions in the second half against the Bengals, his ability to provide a clean hold for Santos’ 51-yard field goal was notable and acknowledged by a couple of teammates and coaches. “People don’t understand how hard that is in the rain, bro,” Taylor said.

Oh, and yes, Taylor has a quick wit about him too. After Caleb Williams sent him a humorous text on draft weekend welcoming him to the team but letting him know there were no plans for punting from the Bears offense in 2024, Taylor waited four months for a timely clapback.

It came Saturday after the Bears needed him early and often against the Bengals after failing to pick up a first down in the first quarter. “Yo,” Taylor called to Williams, “I thought you said no punts. We had three in the first quarter, man.