Bills punter raked over the coals after allowing game-winning TD
Before Monday night’s 22-16 overtime loss to the New York Jets, few likely knew who Buffalo Bills punter Sam Martin was.
That’s no longer the case after he allowed the game-winning touchdown to Jets rookie receiver Xavier Gipson on a punt return in overtime — a play in which the 33-year-old punter attempted to tackle the speedy returner in a fashion that would only be acceptable if the NFL was a two-hand touch league.
Following the play, Martin was promptly roasted on social media for essentially handing the Jets a win.
Many argued that instead of standing in Gipson’s way and trying to shove him to the ground, Martin, who was the last line of defense between Gipson and scoring, should have dove in front of the undrafted rookie to either impede his path to the end zone or to slow him down long enough for another defender to chase him down.
Martin was having a solid game up until the overtime period. He averaged 49.5 yards per punt on his first two kicks before Gipson returned his third one for a 65-yard touchdown. It was only Gipson’s second punt return of the game. His other one netted just one yard.
Martin signed a three-year, $7.5M contract extension with the Bills in March. He’s averaged 46.2 yards per punt during his 10-year career with the Bills, Detroit Lions and Denver Broncos. He’s recorded just five tackles over that span as well.
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