Eagles Notebook: Eagles sign former Redskins punter Brooks to compete with Rocca

The Eagles yesterday signed punter Durant Brooks to compete with Sav Rocca, who will be a restricted free agent.

Brooks, who signed a 2-year deal, was not in the league last season after being drafted in the sixth round in 2008 by Washington and appearing in six games. He recorded a 39.6 gross punting average on 26 punts, with nine punts downed inside the 20-yard line and no touchbacks.

He spent the remainder of that season on Green Bay's practice squad and was with the Packers until he was released in training camp before this past season.

Brooks, 24, won the Ray Guy Award as a senior at Georgia Tech as the best punter in the country. He also was tutored by Guy, a family friend.

As a senior, he had 65 punts for 2,929 yards (45.1 average), including 33 inside the 20-yard line and a long of 77 yards. Brooks averaged 45.3 yards per punt during his career, the highest career average in ACC history. He also set an NCAA record for most punts of more than 50 yards over a two-season span, with 57.

Rocca has a franchise-record 37.1 career net average and broke his own single-season team record in 2009 with a 38.3 net. However, he has struggled with his consistency in his three seasons with the Eagles.

Rocca also serves as the holder for kicker David Akers, which could potentially complicate a change.

The Eagles are expecting to add two late-round picks in April's draft as compensation for free agents lost before this season, new general manager Howie Roseman told the team's Web site. The Eagles already have six selections in the first four rounds.

Roseman, citing "preliminary investigation," said the team's free-agent losses, including Brian Dawkins, essentially balanced out with the players they signed.

"If you have a good draft, some of those late picks end up becoming higher," Roseman said. "If you get a late sixth-round pick in a quality draft, that could be a fifth in a not-so-great draft."