For Bills punter Brian Moorman the past nine NFL seasons have been about great accomplishments that have earned him franchise and league distinction. The list of honors was lengthened earlier this week when he was named to the NFL's All-Decade Team for the 2000s.
The members of the team were initially released at halftime of the Pro Bowl with Moorman being named as one of the two punters for the 53-man squad along with Oakland's Shane Lechler. Moorman however, was unaware that such a team was being named by the league.
"I didn't know until Monday morning when I woke up and had a couple of text messages," he said.
And Moorman may have still been shaking the cobwebs as he interpreted the wishes of congratulations from friends and family on making the All-Decade team as a franchise honor.
"I had been the only punter for the Bills for 10 years so I thought it only made sense to be on the Bills' All-Decade Team," said Moorman. "Then I realized it wouldn't make sense for the Bills to do that since they just did a 50th All-Time Team. So I went online and found it. It's pretty cool."
The most impressive of Moorman's punting exploits took place in the second half of the decade (2005-2009) where he stands tied for second in punt return average against (7.2), third in the league in net punting average (39.1) and is tied for fourth in punts inside the 20 (133).
Moorman, however, takes none of it for granted knowing how tough it was just to get into the league coming out of college.
"To be able to be recognized on an All-Decade team, that's everybody that has played over the last 10 years," he said. "Then you have to consider the fact that you also have to put a body of work together, to play nine years in this league at any position is difficult.
"People think you have greater longevity as a punter or kicker, but it's hard to get in. It took me three years. It's easier to become a Senator in the U.S. than it is to become a punter or kicker in the NFL because there are only 32 jobs."
That's why making the league's All-Decade Team was such a shock.
"If you had told me in 2000 when I was trying to break in and I was in Europe playing for the Berlin Thunder that I would on the All-Decade team for this decade, I would've said, 'Yeah okay,'" Moorman said. "I was just trying to make the team."
And knowing how hard it was to simply make it in the NFL keeps him grinding each and every offseason in an effort to improve the following year.
"I know there's somebody out there trying to take my job and that helps me to get better and continually try to improve," he said. "It helps me work harder each and every year so I don't lose anything. It makes you reflect, but also it makes you want to work harder to prove them right and prove I can do it again."
Making the All-Decade Team again would require Moorman to play at least another seven seasons, but seeing his mentor Jeff Feagles still playing this past season at age 43 has Buffalo's punter believing he's got plenty of good years ahead of him.
"I've been lucky to be in one place the last nine years and I think that helps," he said. "I've had success here and I think people respect that, so I'm thankful that they do and honored and I'll keep working hard to try and continue to have success. I intend on being here a long time. I'd love to be here another nine years."
