Ponzied placekicker sets NFL records after hitting bottom: ESPN.com

In what would be his final game as a Philadelphia Eagle — a wild-card matchup against the Green Bay Packers — the 37-year-old placekicker had a few things on his mind besides his job.

According to a story on ESPN.com, Akers had found out the day before that doctors discovered a tumor on the ovary of his 6-year-old daughter, Halley.

On top of that, Akers was feeling the weight of losing $3.7 million the year before in a $75 million Ponzi scheme run by Texan Kurt Barton of Triton Financial. Barton was sentenced in early November to 17 years in prison on all 39 counts brought against him. Akers’ fortune was gone, though, so continued success was key to his family’s security.

No pressure.

The normally very reliable Akers wound up missing a 41-yard field goal in the first quarter, then a 34-yarder in the fourth. The Eagles lost 21-16.

A small bit of relief came soon after; while malignant, Halley’s tumor was operable and was removed, but it would be months before they would know if she was in the clear.

Then the Eagles drafted a new kicker.

All of the sudden, Akers was out of a job, his savings was nearly gone and he had a sick kid to worry about.
Fast forward to the present: Halley is doing well, Akers signed a $9 million contract and now holds two NFL kicking records; most field goals in a season (44) and most points (166). He even threw his first touchdown pass.

And while the Eagles failed to make the postseason, Akers will face the New Orleans Saints on Saturday in the NFL Divisional Playoffs.

What a difference a year makes.