The Cowboys have added street free agent snapper Brandon Hartson to the roster and he is expected to compete in training camp against LP Ladouceur. Last week, after signing Drew Ferris, the Seahawks waived Andrew East, leaving Ferris as the only snapper on the Seattle roster.
With the NFL Draft quickly approaching at the end of the month, the Cardinals and Broncos are the only two clubs without a snapper on the roster.
For the 2015 season, the NFL changed extra points by moving the snap to the 15-yard line, creating a longer attempt for kickers. The change was intended for one year, but the NFL announced Tuesday that the change will be a permanent one.
The new rule took the extra point conversion percentage from 99.4 to 94 percent, as kickers missed a total of 71 extra points. This change also keeps in the place the rule that allowed a defensive player to return a missed extra point attempt for two points.
After releasing veteran Clint Gresham last week, the Seahawks have added another snapper for training camp. Drew Ferris, who snapped at Florida last season and had a tryout with the Jet after the 2015 Draft, signed today with Seattle and will compete with Andrew East in training camp.
There were two major developments in the snapping world today. The Seahawks waived client Clint Gresham and the Bears signed Aaron Brewer to a one-year contract where he will compete with client Patrick Scales. Brewer was released by the Broncos last week before signing with Chicago.
Another veteran long snapper has returned to his team, as the Lions re-signed veteran Don Muhlbach to what is believed to be a one-year contract. This will be Muhlbach’s 13th season in Detroit.
The Colts have also added a long snapper to compete with veteran Matt Overton as they have signed Forrest Hill. Hill is an undrafted rookie who last snapped for Auburn in 2014.
Free agency for veteran NFL players starts tomorrow but there has already been some moves at the snapping position. The Ravens signed Morgan Cox to a new five-year deal, while the Broncos have cut Aaron Brewer, who has handled their snaps since joining the team as an undrafted free agent in 2012.
Other snappers that are free to sign with other clubs starting tomorrow include Don Muhlbach (Lions), client Brett Goode (Packers), Danny Aiken (Giants) and Thomas Gafford (Raiders).
The pool of potential unrestricted free agent long snappers continues to shrink. Two veterans, JJ Jansen of the Panthers and Zak DeOssie of the Giants, each agreed to return to their clubs yesterday prior to becoming free agents. Jansen signed a five-year deal, while DeOssie signed a one-year contract as he recovers from a season-ending wrist injury.
With these signings, the pending unrestricted free agent long snappers are Danny Aiken (Giants), Morgan Cox (Ravens), Thomas Gafford (Raiders), Brett Goode (Packers) and Don Muhlbach (Lions)
There have been two long snapper signings in the past week and both happened with the Steelers. Last week, the Steelers brought back pending unrestricted free agent Greg Warren on a one-year deal. Warren has been with the Steelers since 2005 and snapped in 165 games.
Today, the Steelers announced the signing of client Matt Dooley. Dooley, who was in mini-camp with the Steelers last year after finishing his college career at Indiana, was signed to a three-year contract.
The NFL season ended yesterday with a Broncos victory over the Panthers. Snapper Aaron Brewer won his first Super Bowl ring in his second appearance in the big game. Brewer also recorded a solo tackle in the Divisional Round of the playoffs, as did James Winchester of the Chiefs. Those were the only two snappers to record tackles during the entire playoffs.
With the NFL season ended, attention will turn to free agency and the NFL Draft. Veteran free agency starts in early March. Morgan Cox (Ravens), JJ Jansen (Panthers), Don Muhlbach (Lions), client Brett Goode (Packers), Danny Aiken (Giants), Zak DeOssie (Giants), Thomas Gafford (Raiders) and Greg Warren (Steelers) will all become unrestricted free agents.
As for the NFL Draft, with the all-star games completed, attention will turn to the NFL Combine and campus Pro Days. Client Jimmy Landes of Baylor will be the long snapper at the Combine.
The fifth and likely final special teams coaching change in the NFL has been made. The Jets filled the lone remaining vacancy with Brant Boyer.
Boyer, a former special teams standout as a player, was an assistant special teams coach with the Colts before taking the Jets job.
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