Just For Kicks: 20 Questions With David Akers

I love the Philadelphia Eagles. I love all 53 members of the team. I would give anything to sit down and talk with each and every member of the team.

But perhaps the most fascinating member of the team is three-time Pro Bowl kicker David Akers, who joined the team in 1999 and is entering his 11th season as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles.

Here is a list of questions I would ask the all-time leading scorer in the history of the Philadelphia Eagles.

1. You are widely known around the league for your tackling ability. What gives you a bigger thrill: Making a tackle on a kick return, or kicking a field goal?

2. Many fans view the kicker primarily as a field goal kicker and underestimate the importance of kickoffs. Just how important is a long kickoff? In 2008, you set career highs in average yards per kickoff (65.8) and touchbacks (17). Was last season a fluke, or do you expect to see continued success in the future?

3. You are a devout Christian. How important is your faith and how do you combine your faith with football?

4. Everybody knows that you are a true football player. But it's time for you to dispel the myth. Does a kicker have to be a football player? Or do they only need to be able to kick field goals and extra points?

5. In 2003, you made a career-long 57-yard field goal against the New England Patriots. There have been rumors of you kicking 60+ yard field goals in practice. What is the longest kick you ever made in your life? And what is the longest kick that you ever attempted?

6. Down by two, seven seconds left, ball on the 42-yard line. Do you tell Andy Reid to send you in for the 59-yard field goal or do you hope he calls for the Hail Mary?

7. We all have goals. Many of them are unrealistic, but still we strive to achieve them. What are some goals you have set for yourself?

8. You are going to be 35 years old following the 2009 season. How long do you see yourself playing in the NFL? Realistically, can you play for 10 more years?

9. You are a real life rags-to-riches story. The city of Philadelphia loves the underdog. Rocky and Vince Papale are two prime examples. Do you take pride in the fact that you were a nobody entering the league?

10. Hollywood calls you after you nail a game-winning 58-yard field goal to defeat the New England Patriots in next year's Super Bowl. They want to make a movie of your life and they ask you to choose the title. What do you pick? And which actor gets to play David Akers?

11. In 2005, you kicked a game-winning 28-yard field goal to defeat the Oakland Raiders despite a torn hamstring in your kicking leg. You then collapsed into your teammate's arms after making the kick. How excruciating was the pain and how much willpower did it take for you to be able to make the kick? Was this your greatest moment as a football player?

12. Many athletes claim that individual accolades don't matter. They say that winning is the only thing that counts. Is this really true?

13. Let's face the facts. From 2007 to the middle of the 2008 season, you simply could not kick a field goal of over 40 yards. What happened?

14. You missed an extra point and a field goal during last year's NFC championship game against the Arizona Cardinals. How much will misses like this dwell on you? Are you able to block out failures from your past?

15. In an emergency situation, could you punt the football? And how far would your punts go?

16. If you were forced to play one position other than kicker (or punter) for a full game, which position would you pick? Could you survive playing another position?

17. In 2001, you established the David Akers Kicks for Kids Foundation, which raises money for sick children and their families. How important is charity work to you?

18. Who do you think is the best kicker in the National Football League?

19. What do you think about as you are lining up for a field goal? Are you thinking about making the kick or do you try to clear your mind of any thoughts?

20. Every year, the Eagles bring in a no-name kicker during summer training camp sessions. Are you ever actually worried that you might lose your starting job?