The Eagles decided to give incumbent punter Chas Henry some stiff competition during training camp by signing two-time Pro Bowl punter Mat McBriar to a one-year contract Wednesday morning.
McBriar, a 33-year-old native of Australia, was a Pro Bowler in 2006 and 2010 during an eight-year stint with Dallas (2004-11). He has averaged 45.3 yards per punt in his career, good for fourth place in NFL history. He also has a 38.4-yard career net average and has downed 175 punts inside the opponents' 20-yard line.
His health is a question mark, however. The Cowboys decided not to re-sign him after McBriar underwent surgery in February to dissolve a cyst that had formed behind his left knee.
The Eagles were impressed with his performance during a tryout Monday at Lehigh University that also featured former NFL punters Jason Baker, Chris Bryan and Brad Maynard.
Henry, who was signed last season as a free agent from Florida, had an inconsistent rookie year. He had two punts blocked late last season and the former high school quarterback also took a lot of heat for throwing an incomplete pass on a fake punt against New England.
