The Raiders’ punter competition is over. On Tuesday, the Raiders waived Johnny Townsend, which effectively anoints undrafted rookie A.J. Cole as the team’s punter moving forward. 
The Raiders used a fifth-round pick to select Townsend last year, but he didn’t do much in his rookie season or training camp this summer. Cole, meanwhile, managed to put two punts inside the 20 against the Rams on Saturday. Quickly, Cole earned a fan in head coach Jon Gruden.
“[Cole] put on an orbital display the other day against the Rams [in joint practices last week],” Raiders head coach Jon Gruden said Saturday night (via Scott Bair of NBC Sports). “We haven’t seen kicks like that since [Shane] Lechler was here or [Marquette] King. He has a live leg and it looks like he can directional punt and hold, so Townsend has his hands full.”
In related moves, cornerback Hamp Cheevers was waived. Meanwhile, the club signed defensive backs Makinton Dorleant and Joshua Holsey.
Raiders end punting competition… damn, they were winning over the last 17 years too. Course other teams were having a scoring competition instead…
Don’t quit your day job…if you have one.
LOL!
Haha sore Raiders fan bowser ;), this just in, competition over because the Raiders plan to carry two punters this year lol
Hooray for the undrafted rookie!
AJ Cole cant pitch, but he sure can punt
Gruden doesn’t know how English works.
Team as a whole is a dumpster fire.
Raiders PUNT on punting competition !!
If you thought the punting competition offered breath taking excitement just wait until the LS competition begins.