With free agency set to commence next month, one of the few unrestricted free agent snappers has re-signed with his team. Thomas Gafford recently signed a one-year deal to stay a member of the Chiefs.
The unrestricted free agent snappers, who can sign with any club if they do not re-sign by the start of free agency, are Patrick Mannelly (Bears), Don Muhlbach (Lions), Greg Warren (Steelers) and Andrew Economos (Buccaneers).
This year was a bit unusual when it comes to special teams coaching changes in the NFL. In some years, it is typical to have significant turnover at the position. However, to date, there have been just three changes since the end of the regular season.
Kevin O’Dea will replace Dave Wannstedt in Tampa Bay, Ben Kotwica moves from the Jets to Washington where he will replace Keith Burns and Thomas McGaughey moves from the college ranks to assume the vacancy with the Jets created by Kotwica’s move.
As noted recently, 13 year NFL long snapper and client Justin Snow recently opened his Long Snapping Academy. In addition to private instruction options, Snow has teamed with former NFL kicker Michael Husted and his National Camp Series.
Snow will appear with Husted and others at two upcoming camp events for interested snappers, kickers and punters. The Indianapolis camp is March 16th, while an Atlanta event will be held on March 30th.
For more information, interested snappers can contact Justin at (317) 989-4810.
The NFL season came to an end Sunday, with the Seahawks winning the Super Bowl in convincing fashion over the Broncos. A special congratulations to client Clint Gresham, who snapped the Seahawks to victory.
Attention now turns to the NFL Draft, starting with the NFL Combine in late Ferbuary in which one snapper, Marcus Heit of Kansas State, will be featured. Pro Days on college campuses will follow, mixed with veteran free agency beginning March 11th.
Veteran snapper Patrick Mannelly appears likely to return to Chicago next season according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. Mannelly, who is 38 and an unrestricted free agent, holds the record for most games played by a Bear with 245 over his 16 NFL seasons. Those 245 games are third highest among all NFL long snappers, behind Trey Junkin who snapped in 281 games and David Binn who snapped in 256.
Client and veteran NFL long snapper Justin Snow has recently started his own camps and training programs for long snappers. Snow, who spent 13 years with the Colts and Redskins, has developed a variety of camps and training program packages for aspiring long snappers at all levels of football.
Among the upcoming featured events is a camp at the Colts Training Facility on Sunday, March 16th that will include Snow and other NFL specialists.
More information is available at Snow’s website at www.prolongsnapper.com or by emailing Justin at Justin@prolongsnapper.com.
News broke yesterday that the NFL and its Competition Committee will consider the elimination of the extra point after touchdowns. Among the factors leading to the potential change is the fact that point after attempts have become almost automatic, with only five missed extra points this season and a 99.1 percent success rate since 2004.
The rule change is an obvious concern for snappers, who are typically on the field for between eight and ten plays a game. Eliminating extra points would further reduce their game participation and value.
The Super Bowl teams are now set and will feature client Clint Gresham, who will snap for the Seahawks, and Aaron Brewer, who will handle the snaps for the Broncos on February 2nd.
During the playoffs, just two snappers recorded tackles, with client Brett Goode (Packers) tallying a solo tackle in the Wild Card game and Matt Overton (Colts) adding two assisted tackles in the Divisional round game.
Rick Gosselin of The Dallas Morning News recently revealed his special teams rankings for the 2013 NFL season. Gosselin has been ranking this component of football for over 30 years and determines his special teams unit rankings based on 22 different aspects of special teams play.
For 2013, the Patriots had the top unit, follower by the 49ers, Chiefs, Cowboys and Ravens to round out the top five. The bottom five teams were the Giants, Broncos, Saints, Bills and the Redskins finished last.
Blake Ferguson, a high school junior and LSU recruit, took him the 2013 Herbalife 24 Chris Rubio Award last night in Vegas as the top high school long snapper. Ferguson prevailed over two senior snappers, Alan Lucy and Tanner Carew.
Longsnap.com 