David Akers: A Fan's Farewell

With the drafting of kicker Alex Henery by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fourth round on Saturday, it more than likely marks the end of the David Akers era in Philly.

It is unfortunate that Akers' career in Philadelphia came to an end the way it did.

In the wild card round of the NFC playoffs, Akers missed two field goals against the Packers; those were six points that could have given the Eagles the lead.

Little known to everyone was that Akers' daughter, Halley, had a malignant tumor that was diagnosed days after the playoff game. The sickness of his daughter definitely affected Akers during the game, which may turn out to be his last in an Eagles uniform.

If there is one thing that Eagles fans should remember about Akers, it is not how he missed the two field goals, you should remember all of the good times he provided for Philadelphia Eagles fans.

Eagles fans should remember how Akers won the 4th-and-26 game in 2003 against the Packers or how his magnificent onside kick opened the 2000 season against the Cowboys to make the beginning of a new era in Eagles' history.

Eagles fans should also remember the consistency that Akers, whose field goal accuracy is a career 81.9 percent and has only missed six extra points in his 12 seasons in Philadelphia.

As a Eagles fan, it will be very different not seeing the veteran from Louisville in the No. 2 Eagles jersey, but it is a change that was coming and as the last member of the 2004 Super Bowl is almost certain to leave Philadelphia this offseason, the time for change is now, and I, on behalf of all Eagles fan, would like to thank David Akers for everything over the 12 years he spent in Philadelphia as a model of consistency and veteran leadership to the Philadelphia Eagles franchise.