Len Pasquarelli of ESPN.com recently wrote about what he called the “golden age” of punting, with both gross and net punting averages at all-time highs.  Pasquarelli noted how last weekend’s Colts-49ers game turned on the punting efforts of Colts’ rookie Pat McAfee and the benefit the 49ers get from punter Andy Lee.  Currently, 14 punters have gross averages of 45 yards of more and nine have net averages of 40 yards or more.

However, Aaron Schatz of Football Outsiders has questioned whether the early strong numbers might be attributable to good weather and that a more relevant analysis of punting figures will be after the season ends.