Veteran NFL punter Shane Lechler turned 40 years old on Sunday, and his Houston Texans teammates didn’t hesitate to remind him that he’s now “over the hill”.
The team called Lechler up to the team auditorium (you may remember it from last year’s Hard Knocks), and gave him gifts such as a walker, Rogaine… and the Steph Curry dad shoes, the Under Armour Curry Twos.
Here’s more, from Monday Morning Quarterback‘s Peter King:
On Sunday night, O’Brien and players Vince Wilfork, Brian Cushing and Johnathan Joseph called Lechler to the front of the team auditorium, gave him a cake shaped like the number 40, and also got him a walker, some Rogaine, and those Steph Curry sneakers people think look old-fashioned. Then the teams sang him Happy Birthday. He’s coming off a season in which he avearged 47.3 yard per punt, fifth in the league, and no one here is trying to nudge him into retirement. In 16 seasons, the 47.3-yard average is better than any of his first six NFL seasons, and just two-tenths of a yard off his career average. Here’s how long he’s been around: Lechler’s had beers with Ken Stabler. “I’m not in any mood to start growing up,” he said.
Even if the meme may have lost some fire (it’s a whole two months old!), that’s pretty funny stuff from the Texans players. They’re not the only team mocking teammates for age in training camp either: Pittsburgh Steelers players have been singing “Happy Birthday” to DeAngelo Williams everyday, and filled his room with 750 balloons, to remind him that he’s an “old” running back at 33 years old.
[MMQB]
