Packers Extend P Tim Masthay: 4-year, $5.5 Million Contract

We've all seen the impact that an improving Tim Masthay has made on the Packers' punting game. After coming on strong to close the 2010 season, he set the franchise single-season record for gross punting average last season. Now it seems that Ted Thompson recognizes the value that Masthay has brought to the team, as Masthay reportely signed a big contract extension today:

Ian Rapoport @RapSheet

Today in punting news: #Packers lock up P Tim Masthay with a 4-year, $5.465M extension through 2016, per source. $1.2M signing bonus

8:58 AM - 3 Aug 12 via TweetDeck

Masthay is on a one-year, $540,000 contract for 2012 and would have been a Restricted Free Agent after this season. This deal will keep him in Green Gold for the next five seasons, and I for one am very excited to have the punting game solidified for the foreseeable future rather than potentially returning to the revolving door of punters in the 2000's (see Bryan Barker, B.J. Sander, Jon Ryan, Jeremy Kapinos, and Derrick Frost).

Timmy has made leaps and bounds since first coming into training camp a few years ago, and has been very consistent in camp. Don't believe me? Then follow Rob Demovsky, aka "The Punting Professor", who reports regularly on Masthay's punts from training camp. He should continue to progress and be a solid weapon in the field-position battle for the next several years.