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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 2:09 p.m., Wednesday, October 15, 2008

NFL: New punter for Redskins

By Jason La Canfora
The Washington Post

WASHINGTON — Ryan Plackemeier participated in his first practice Wednesday as the new punter for the Washington Redskins. He also worked with place kicker Shaun Suisham, as Plackemeier will be holding for field goals and point-after kicks.

Suisham doesn't kick much on Wednesdays — Thursday is more of his kicking day — but he and Plackemeier worked for a while on simulating kicks and establishing timing.

"He's a good punter, and he's been in the league for three years," Suisham said of Plackemeier. "I don't anticipate any issues whatsoever."

Plackemeier said he is comfortable holding — there were a few issues in this regard with former punter Durant Brooks, a rookie — and Suisham said he expects them to build a chemistry in short order.

"We just started to familiarize outselves with each other, just getting used to working together," he said.

Plackemeier lost out in recent punting competitions in Minnesota and Green Bay. He battled injury in the preseason and was cut by Seattle after Week 1, but said he quickly began to look forward and had one of his best workouts Tuesday at Redskins Park.

Brooks was replaced after six games, during which he ranked last in the NFL in average yards per punt and net average.

"They thought they needed to make a change, and it's a business," Plackemeier said. "No hard feelings."