Guy's election to Hall gives Texans' Lechler hopes of following suit

The two greatest punters in NFL history played for the Oakland Raiders.

One is being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday.

The other is finishing his career with the Texans.

When Ray Guy was finally voted into the Hall of Fame in February, some predicted he would open the door for punter Shane Lechler, who starred at East Bernard and Texas A&M before Al Davis drafted him in the fifth round in 2000.

"You ask anybody anywhere about punting, and Ray's name comes up," said Lechler, a 14-year veteran who's in his second season with the Texans. "It's great (a punter) finally broke the ice, and I'm glad it's Ray.

"As for opening the door, well, I think it might be cracked a little, maybe let me take a peek in, but I wouldn't say it's opened all the way up."

Davis used a first-round pick on Guy in 1973, and he punted for 14 seasons and played for three Super Bowl champions.

Guy, a seven-time Pro Bowl pick who led the NFL in punting three times, was so exceptional that the Ray Guy Award was created to honor the best punter in college football each year.

Lechler, who turns 38 on Aug. 7, has a 47.6-yard gross average to Guy's 42.4, which is a reflection of the eras in which they punted. Lechler has a 40-yard net average.

"I've looked at Ray's numbers and how he compared to the punters of his era and how I've compared to the guys of my era," Lechler said. "I think anybody who dominated their era as long as he did should go in. I'm happy for him.

"People asked me, 'What did you think about Ray getting in?' and I said, 'Ray, in his prime, would be punting in the NFL right now.'

"Selfishly, I wanted to be the first guy in. Unselfishly, I'm glad somebody got in. That's the honest truth."

A tough act to follow

When Lechler left the Aggies for the Raiders, he was under a lot of pressure to follow in Guy's footsteps - a nearly impossible task.

"When I got to Oakland, I heard, 'You can be the next Ray Guy,' " he said. "Those were big shoes to fill. At first, I didn't want to hear that at all."

Punting for Guy's team was a curse and a blessing.

"I believe it became a blessing probably after I put five solid years together," Lechler said. "I had to deal with, 'He's just a rookie. Maybe he had a lucky year.'

"Then I made the Pro Bowl my second year, and we went to the Super Bowl my third year."

Over time, Lechler became friends with Guy, who moved back to Mississippi after he retired.

"I've worked his camps, did some interviews on the phone for his book, and every year he calls about the time training camp starts," Lechler said. "There were times when something would be written and Ray would call and say, 'Man, don't worry about what's being said.' "

When Guy is inducted on national television Saturday night in Canton, Ohio, Lechler will think about how it will impact his possible candidacy.

He got a chance to practice his induction speech in the spring when he was enshrined in the Texas High School Sports Hall of Fame in Waco.

"It was awesome," Lechler said. "The best part about it was hearing everybody's story about how they made it and who they thanked. I was lucky enough to have my mom and dad, my wife and kids, and my high school head coach there with me. To be able to tell everyone how they were part of a big step I had to make - that was the biggest honor I could have had.

"When I played at a small 2A high school on Friday nights, when we got on the bus, there was a trail of cars behind us. With my dad being a high school coach for 20-something years, that's all I grew up knowing. I mean, Texas is the only place high school football's played, right? At least that's kind of how you feel. You grow up with a strong opinion about it, and it's for all the right reasons.

"When you play high school football in Texas, it's just like the movie 'Hoosiers.' High school football in Texas is second to none."

Proving self … again

For the 10th time in his playing career, Lechler has a new coaching staff.

"No matter how last year went, I have to prove myself," he said. "I've got to challenge myself and set new goals. They haven't been around me. They don't know me from anybody."

Oh, yes they do. They know Lechler's just another Guy, one of the two greatest punters in NFL history, one who could be destined for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.