Veteran free agency began in the NFL Tuesday and another snapper quickly re-signed with his club. Greg Warren signed a one-year deal to stay in Pittsburgh and leaves Patrick Mannelly (Bears) and Andrew Economos (Buccaneers) as the only remaining free agents.
The only restricted free agent long snapper this year, Danny Aiken of the Patriots, has signed a one year contract to remain with the Patriots. With Aiken’s signing, there are just three snapping free agents remaining.
Patrick Mannelly (Bears), Greg Warren (Steelers) and Andrew Economos (Buccaneers) are all free to sign with any team starting Tuesday. All three teams have signed snappers in the off-season, with the Bears adding Brandon Hartson, Bryce Davis signing with the Steelers and client Patrick Scales joining the Buccaneers.
After the NFL indicated in January that it was considering the elimination of the extra point, the NFL Competition Committee is now apparently mulling a longer kicker as an alternative. Reports surfaced yesterday that the NFL may experiment with an extra point attempt from the 25 yard line, instead of the current placement at the 2 yard line.
Extra points would become a 42 yard attempt in an effort to make the kick something less than automatic. Kickers converted 99.6 percent of extra points this past season, missing only five of 1,267 attempts.
Although there is no consensus on this new, longer kick attempt, it is likely to be a key consideration as the NFL explores various options to changing the current extra point procedure.
As veteran free agency rapidly approaches in the NFL, Don Muhlbach of the Lions has signed a one-year deal to return to Detroit. With Muhlbach’s signing, there are just three unrestricted free agent snappers remaining. Pat Mannelly of the Bears is expected to return to Chicago and Greg Warren (Steelers) and Andrew Economos (Buccaneers) are set to become free agents on March 11th if not re-signed by their clubs.
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.
