Meet the ANTersons

A family of fecundity and failure.

230 points. That is all that remains of Birdman’s (once thought impregnable) lead for the record of total points scored all time in the DelFL. Who is nipping on Birdman’s deadened talons? It might befuddle many DelFLers to know that it is actually Tony who is on the verge of becoming the ‘Points Champion’. A non-Brown Jacket Owner, holding such a prestigious record? How do you square that circle?

It starts with his genealogy. Meet the ANTersons. Regular Season Rockstars. First up, brother Gary (3rd most points scored in NFL history). It was the 1998 NFC Championship game in the Hubert Humphrey Metrodome. That year, brother Gary became the first kicker in NFL history to make every field goal and extra point throughout the regular season. He couldn’t miss. Until he did, when late in the 4th quarter to seal the game against the Falcons, Gary shanked one McManus -style to give Atlanta a chance to comeback, take the game into OT and win. Then there is brother Morten (2nd most points scored in NFL history). It was 1996, week 17, in Duval County. Morten needs to make a 25-yard chip shot to win and take his Atlanta Falcons into the Playoffs, he had never missed from that distance in his career. Until he did. Morten’s team was out and their chance for Lombardi glory was ended. Tony has the same propensity to collapse when the pressure is on as his kicker kin. No matter how many points he racks up in September & October, no matter how many times he messages “I’ve got a Thielen” in WeChat, and even if he passes Birdman to become the ‘Points Champion’, it’s important to remember his bloodline. Like his brothers, he will score a lot of points, but, not when it matters most.