Ray Guy may have been the best punter in NFL history, but John James certainly gave the Oakland Raiders great a run for his money when he kicked for the Falcons for 10 years.
In a 13-year career, James punted for 43,992 yards, almost 25 miles, while making the Pro Bowl three times. He had only six of 1,083 punts blocked and held for some of the more memorable field goals in franchise history.
James, born in Panama City, Fla., actually never played high school football (Bay County), turned off by a coach early in his career when he was told he was nothing more than a tackling dummy.
He enrolled at Florida in 1968, where his father Wilbur played on the great Gators team of 1928. When coach Doug Dickey was brought in to replace Ray Graves two years later, James decided to try out in the spring of his sophomore year and made the team.
He kicked for two years and averaged 40.3 yards on 57 kicks during his senior season in 1971. There wasn’t much interest from the NFL, but Dickey put in a call to friend and Falcons coach Norm Van Brocklin, who said he would give James a tryout.
He came to Atlanta in June, 1972, and during the middle of baseball season, kicked in the outfield at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium. He nailed the tryout and signed with the Falcons.
Wearing No. 6, he won the job over fan favorite and Georgia Tech star Billy Lothridge, who had been the Falcons’ punter since they entered the league in 1966.
From 1972-81, James was perhaps the most consistent player the Falcons had and arguably the best punter in the NFC.
He made three straight Pro Bowls from 1975-77, and while the team struggled for most of those years, he led the league four times in attempts and yardage, including punting 109 times during the 1978 season when the Falcons made their first playoff appearance. His best single-season average per punt was his rookie year (42.8 on 61 punts).
James also held on two key field goals in the memorable Monday night win over the Vikings in 1973 and for all five of Tim Mazzetti’s field goals in a 15-13 win over the Los Angeles Rams in ‘78.
The Falcons released James in ’81 and he kicked for three games for Detroit after the players strike in ’82, and then was traded to Houston, where he finished his career, kicking in 37 games for the Oilers. He played in 187 games with his longest punt being a 75-yarder in ‘75.
Two years later, he was back at his alma mater, overlooking Florida’s booster club and helping raise funds. He retired in 2013 and is in the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame as a “Gator Great.’’
Where he lives: James, now 67, splits his time between homes in Gainesville and Highlands, N.C. He has four children, daughters Helen and Susanna, and sons Scott and James.
When he does now: He is an avid painter, saying sometimes, "I paint all day and look down at my watch and realize that I missed dinner.''
On not playing in high school: "I tried to play my ninth grade year and had a bad experience with the coach. I was like the fourth-string quarterback and he said I wasn't good for much. I played golf and basketball instead.''
On walking on at Florida: "I actually went there to try out for the golf team and did pretty well, but that was the year they won a national championship. When coach Dickey came to the Gators, I decided to try out, and I knew I could punt because I did it in sandlot football. So I bought a ball and practiced for two months, and in the spring, beat out the punter.''
On going to the Falcons: "I had written the 10 worst punting teams in the league asking for a tryout and was rejected by all of them, including the Falcons. But I was in coach Dickey's office one day and he said, 'Who do you want me to call, either Don Shula for the Dolphins or Norm Van Brocklin for the Falcons?' I liked Atlanta and he called Norm and he agreed to give me a chance. I went up there for the tryout and general manager (Tom Braatz) set up two towels in left field 60 yards away. I bombed the ball well past that and they signed me to a contract that day. But Norm said that didn't guarantee me a spot on the team, and I had to beat out Billy, who was a favorite of everyone. But in the first preseason game against San Diego, I kicked six times and averaged over 50 yards. Norm cut four punters on the plane ride back, and a few games later against Cincinnati, they asked me to kick a ball out at the 2 (-yard line), and damn if I hit it. They cut Billy the next day.''
On playing for Van Brocklin: " 'The 'Dutchman.' He had a quick wit, but wasn't long on words.''
On Ray Guy: He was the best ever and I knew him because my brother-in-law back then coached Ray at Southern Mississippi. Reggie Roby may have had the strongest leg ever for a punter, but Ray was the best.''
On playing for the Falcons: "We weren't very good, but I loved it because Atlanta is a fabulous city. I also made a lot of close friends on the team. The players were very close back then.''
On why he quit after the 1984 season: "It's an interesting story. I was in Houston and we were playing the Steelers, and I kicked a ball to a guy named Louis Lipps. He weaved himself through and I, of course, was playing safety and somehow found a way to get him out of bounds. Those were the days when I was wearing a single-bar facemask, and I got up and said to myself, "I'm almost 40 now, it's time.''
On working with the Gators for almost 30 years: "It was a great run in football and in basketball, and we raised more than a billion dollars. The funny thing is Steve Spurrier used to call us booster boys and now he is actually a booster boy.''
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