Jeremy Reper-USA TODAY Sports

Raiders P A.J. Cole is on a mission in 2023

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Justin Churchill | Last updated 11/20/23

The Las Vegas Raiders may not be having the best season, but they have a player who easily deserves more praise than the little to none he is currently getting.

No, it isn't Davante Adams, no matter how many times he has talked about not getting the ball enough when Josh McDaniels was still in charge. While Adams has been good, it's not him who isn't getting the credit they deserve. No, it's not any of the other superstars on this team, like Maxx Crosby or Josh Jacobs.

Crosby still doesn't get the respect he deserves, though. But there are others, too. Robert Spillane is a huge example. As Antonio Pierce has said several times, he is the heart and soul of the team, and he continues to make game-winning plays for the team.

But the player I'm actually talking about is A.J. Cole, who has been one of the best, if not the best, punters in the NFL. The Raiders' PR team tweeted an interesting stat about Cole that further proves this point. Here is the tweet:

P AJ Cole punts it 63 yards, notching his 11th punt of 60+ yards this season, tied for the most in the NFL.

P AJ Cole punts it 63 yards, notching his 11th punt of 60+ yards this season, tied for the most in the NFL.
— Raiders PR (@RAIDERS_PR) November 19, 2023

Not only has Cole been elite this year, but the Raiders' special teams have been much better than I think most of us thought they would be. We know about Cole and Carlson, but the national media doesn't give those guys the publicity they deserve.

Now, that is either because they are special teams guys who really don't get that much credit anyway or because they are on a bad team. But you cannot deny that Cole is having a pretty amazing season.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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