NFL teams continue to drop snappers as they prepare for training camp. Matt Camilli, an undrafted rookie from UTEP, who signed with the Eagles after the Draft has been waived. Camilli’s departure leaves a total of just 11 teams with more than one snapper on the roster with training camps set to begin late next month.
The Titans have waived snapper Jake Ingram, who was signed in the off-season as a possible replacement for free agent Ken Amato. Ingram’s departure leaves undrafted rookie Beau Brinkley as the only snapper on the roster unless the Titans decide to bring Amato back.
Two NFL teams had three snappers on the roster heading into this week and both are now down to two. Veteran Ryan Pontrbriand has been released by the Niners, while the Falcons have waived Corey Adams. The Niners have Kyle Nelson left to compete with Brian Jennings, while rookie Josh Harris will compete with Joe Zelenka for the snapping job in Atlanta.
High school snapper Cole Mazza, who was previously profiled on Longsnap.com for his impressive array of college scholarship offers just received another one that he could not pass up. Mazza has become what is believed to be the first snapper to accept a full scholarship to Alabama under Nick Saban.
Mazza, who was trained by snapping guru Chris Rubio, had originally committed to UCLA before receiving an offer of a full ride from Saban and the Crimson Tide. Mazza also had offers from Washington State and Utah.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have added some veteran snapping competition for incumbent veteran snapper Greg Warren. Matt Katula, who has seven years of NFL snapping experience, has been signed to a contract.
Katula snapped for the Vikings at the end of last season after Cullen Loeffler was injured and has previously snapped for the Patriots and Ravens.
With rookie minicamps complete and teams now in the middle of organized team activities or OTA, it’s a good time to survey the NFL snapping landscape. Although at least nine snappers received tryouts with NFL teams, to date, no tryout snapper has been signed. Thus, a total of eight rookie snappers have signed NFL contracts after the Draft.
Below is an updated Long Snapper Chart with the current snappers under contract for each NFL club.
There have been a few additional transactions involving snappers in the last few days. The Falcons waived Scott Albritton, leaving them with veteran Joe Zelenka, first year snapper Corey Adams and rookie Josh Harris on the roster. Another rookie, Bryce Davis, signed with the Bengals, while first year snapper Derek Chard signed with the Jets. Finally, rookie snapper Chris Pousson will tryout for the Bucs.
The smoke has started to clear from this weekend’s NFL Draft and the free agency frenzy that occurs right after for undrafted college talent. The undrafted route is the way most snappers make it to the NFL and this year is no exception. To date, seven rookie snappers have signed contracts, specifically, Josh Harris (Falcons), Charley Hughlett (Cowboys), Aaron Brewer (Broncos), Matt Camilli (Eagles), Nick Guess (Chargers), Travis Tripucka (Rams) and Beau Brinkley (Titans). The Ravens were the only club to add a street free agent snapper, as they signed Patrick Scales who was in training camp with them last season for all four pre-season games.
A number of other rookie snappers will receive tryouts in mini-camp over the next two weekends, including Kyle Wojta (Bears), Casey Casper (Packers), James Winchester (Chiefs) and Cody Nutter (Bucs).
Once again this year, no long snapper was selected in the Draft. Titan snapper Jake Ingram was the last snapper taken when he was drafted by the Patriots in the Sixth Round in 2009. However, a number of the top college snappers have either signed contracts or being invited to mini-camp on a tryout basis.
The rookie snappers associated with teams that I am aware of are Josh Harris (Falcons), Nick Guess (Chargers), Matt Camilli (Eagles), Beau Brinkley (Titans), Aaron Brewer (Broncos), Charley Hughlett (Cowboys), Travis Tripucka (Rams), Kyle Wojta (Bears) and Casey Casper (Packers). There are likely a few other moves pending that will be announced in the next few days.
Last week, the Giants quietly extended the contract of long snapper Zak DeOssie. DeOssie is now under contract until 2015. Picked in the Fourth Round of the 2007 NFL Draft as a linebacker out of Brown, DeOssie has made snapping his niche with the Giants. This is the second contract extension of his career.
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