Ravens P Koch Signs Five-Year Contract

Punter Sam Koch signed a five-year contract with the Baltimore Ravens Tuesday, general manager/executive vice president Ozzie Newsome announced.
 
A five-year veteran, Koch owns a 43.7-yard career gross average and 38.1-yard career net average, both marks that rank first in Ravens history. This past season, he became the franchise’s all-time leading punter in attempts (402), yards (17,587) and punts inside the 20 (149).
 
"We believe that we have the best punter and holder in the NFL, and we wanted to make sure he stayed a Raven," head coach John Harbaugh stated. "Sam is a hard worker, a solid person and a great family man. He represents the Ravens and the City of Baltimore very well. I am proud and happy that he will be a big part of where we are taking our team."
 
Since being selected by Baltimore in the sixth round of the 2006 Draft, Koch’s 149 punts inside the 20 rank second in the NFL only to Dustin Colquitt (151). In 2010, Koch placed 39 boots inside the 20, second most in the league and tied for sixth all time. The Ravens’ special teams units were spectacular, with Koch playing an integral role in Baltimore’s opponent average starting field position, which ranked third in the NFL (27.2-yard line). For his efforts, he was named a first alternate to the Pro Bowl.
 
Koch also holds franchise single-season records for net average (39.9) and gross average (45.0), achieved during the 2008 campaign.