This week, NFL team owners voted on two rule changes that will implicate the kicking game. Although no permanent changes were made to extra points as had been discussed, there will be a temporary change during the first two full weeks of the preseason. Those attempts will be pushed back to the 20 yard line, making it a 37 yard kick. The other change is to the uprights which will go from 30 feet tall to 35 feet tall going forward.
The Buccaneers have signed veteran snapper Jeremy Cain, while the Patriots have added Charley Hughlett in the past few days. Cain has prior experience with Bucs coach Lovie Smith from his time with the Bears. Cain has also snapped in the regular season for the Titans and Jaguars and been in training camp with the Redskins and Eagles. Cain will compete with client Patrick Scales for the snapping job and likely marks the end of the line with the Bucs for Andrew Economos, who has handled the snaps in Tampa Bay since 2006.
Hughlett, who was in camp with the Cowboys in 2012 and 2013, will challenge Danny Aiken in New England. Aiken recently signed a one-year deal to remain with the Patriots.
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.
