Detroit Lions rookie punter Sam Martin has been named the NFC's special teams player of the week.

He is the Lions' first punter in 20 years to win the award, dating to Jim Arnold in 1993.

Martin boomed six punts an average 52.5 yards last weekend in a 27-20 win against the Washington Redskins. That includes rocketing one 72 yards into the end zone, the club's longest punt since Tom Skladany had a 74-yarder against Oakland in 1981.

Detroit drew some fire for selecting the Appalachian State punter in the fifth round of April's draft, but the move has paid off. Martin's net average is 42.7 yards, sixth in the NFL.

Last year, Lions punter Nick Harris' net average was 37.6 yards per attempt, which ranked 26th. His long was 58 yards.