Has bar. Will travel.
The whole nomad thing is new to Scott Player, but punting in the NFL is not. The Browns' newest new punter joined his new teammates for practice Wednesday and, by Sunday, might be handling the punting chores for the Browns.
He even brought his own facemask.
If you recognize Player -- and you might; he's been punting professionally since 1995 -- it's probably because he's the last remaining NFL player who wears a single-bar facemask. The NFL changed its rules in 2004 to require kickers and punters to wear full facemasks, but Player is still allowed to wear his because he did so before the new rule was enacted.
"I carry (the masks) with me," he said. "In Arizona the mask was gray, too, so I didn't even have to get the Krylon out."
At 37, he's an old(er) guy in a new situation. Player spent the last 10 seasons as Arizona's punter, but was waived near the end of this year's preseason and was brought in by the Browns the following week for a tryout when Dave Zastudil suffered a strained oblique.
The Browns went with Paul Ernster at the time, but with Zastudil still battling soreness and his status still up in the air, they waived Ernster and signed Player on Tuesday.
"I needed a more long term answer," Browns coach Romeo Crennel said. "I think Player gives me a more long term answer."
Crennel said he's not ruling Zastudil out, but said there is "some consideration to resting him
"Sometimes with a back (injury) you might be able to punt great on a Sunday. Then we might go through a week and he might not be able to get out of bed."
Player has a solid track record. A Pro Bowler in 2000, he's consistently kicked them long (a 43.1 career average) and has landed 179 career punts inside the 20, including 32 in 2004 and 28 in 2002. He averaged a career-best 44.9 yards per kick last year.
Not bad for a guy who started his professional career in the CFL then played in the World League before finding a long-term NFL home.
"I was in Chicago last weekend because they had an injury situation," he said. "I'd been in Arizona a long time, and now I'm back on the circuit again. It's kind of strange.
"I'm here as long as they need me. How long that is, I don't know. I just need to be ready."
Zastudil was dressed for practice Wednesday and said he's still receiving full treatment for the soreness caused by the strained oblique. He said he struggled to stay loose between kicks last week and isn't sure when he'll get past the point of not knowing how his body will react.
"I'm taking it day to day," he said. "I'm getting my treatment and doing my drills. Hopefully one of these days I'll wake up and feel great. But I'm not sure when that's going to be."
"I'm mentally preparing like I'm playing Sunday," Player said. "If I get told otherwise, that's out of my control. Dave might be back; I don't know. I just have to be ready to perform."
