Things have slowed down a bit for the NFL and the snapping position. In the last few weeks, the only transaction involved the Seahawks waiving former CFL snapper Pat MacDonald, leaving Matt Overton as the only snapper on the roster. The updated snapper chart, along with the names of all current NFL special teams coaches, is linked below.
There have been two additional snapper signings in the last few days, as the Seahawks re-signed Matt Overton, who was waived by the team earlier this year, and the Texans added street free agent and former Baylor snapper Jon Weeks. Weeks is the smallest snapper in the NFL right now at 5’9”.
With these latest signings, as well as the signings of college free agents right after the conclusion of the NFL Draft, below is a chart of snappers by team as training camps approach.
There has been one additional snapper signing confirmed, as the Lions have added Sam Scroggins from West Virginia State. Scroggins is the fifth snapper to sign a free agent contract since the end of the Draft. A couple of snappers have earned tryouts for mini-camp, including Matt Wigley of San Jose State (49ers) and Tom Harrington of Western Michigan (Bears).
I have been able to confirm a few free agent snapper signings since the end of the Draft. Clint Gresham of TCU signed with the Saints, Mike Windt of Cincinnati signed with the Bengals, Morgan Cox of Tennessee signed with the Ravens and Justin Drescher of Colorado signed with the Falcons. There may be some more signings and tryouts to come and I will post them as they are confirmed.
The NFL Draft has just concluded and no long snappers were drafted. Snapper Clint Gresham of TCU was mentioned frequently during the ESPN broadcast and will likely sign a free agent deal now that the Draft has concluded. Longsnap.com will be updated frequently over the next few days as snappers are signed to free agent deals or offered tryouts.
With the NFL Draft approaching on April 22-24, here is the latest as to each team’s snapping situation. The Rams recently made Chris Massey one of the highest paid snappers, signing him to a four-year deal. With Massey’s signing, the remaining unrestricted free agent snappers are Ethan Albright, James Dearth, Kevin Houser, Ryan Neill, client Bryan Pittman and Jeff Robinson.
Seattle recently waived street free agent Matt Overton, leaving Pat MacDonald as the sole long snapper on the roster. Houston is the only club without a pure snapper on the roster, although they did use tight end Joel Dreessen in that role much of last season.
There were a total of seven special teams coaching changes this off-season. There are new coaches in Buffalo (Bruce DeHaven), Carolina (Jeff Rodgers), Detroit (Danny Crossman), Philadelphia (Bobby April), Pittsburgh (Al Everest), San Francisco (Keith Schottenheimer) and Seattle (Brian Schneider).
The NFL approved a number of rule changes today, one of which will help snappers on field goals and extra points. Specifically, the new rule states that a defensive player who is within one yard of the line of scrimmage at the snap must have his entire body outside of the long snapper’s shoulder pads on field goals or extra point attempts. A similar rule was passed a few years ago, but the safety of snappers remains an issue because of a lack of consistent enforcement of the existing rule.
With free agency underway, there have been two re-signings of unrestricted free agent snappers. The Atlanta Falcons re-signed Joe Zelenka, while the Super Bowl Champion New Orleans Saints have re-signed Jason Kyle. Both contracts were for two years. In addition, the sole restricted free agent snapper to receive a tender offer, Jon Condo, has signed his tender and will remain a Raider for the 2010 season.
Just prior to the start of this year’s NFL Combine, 16 snapping specialists eligible for the 2010 NFL Draft attended former NFL special teams coach Gary Zauner’s inaugural College Senior Specialists Combine in Arizona. Zauner’s Combine, which also included punters and kickers, tested snappers in a number of drills. Following the camp, Zauner ranked the snappers and presented the top snappers’ results and film to each NFL team.
Zauner recommended eight snappers as being skilled enough to get into a pro camp and compete for a roster spot. The recommended snappers are Kayl Anderson (Kansas), Cody Brown (Abilene Christian), Morgan Cox (Tennessee), Justin Drescher (Colorado), Kamuela Kapanui (UNLV), Andrew Pitz (Penn State), Preston Powers (Ole Miss) and Sam Scroggins (West Virginia State).
Later this month, Zauner will conduct his Free Agent Specialists Combine in which NFL, CFL and UFL teams are scheduled to attend. More information on the results of the College Combine and the upcoming Free Agent Combine is available at www.coachzauner.com.
At the NFL Combine last weekend, TCU’s Clint Gresham was the sole snapping specialist, but Boston College linebacker Mike McLaughlin also drew attention from NFL clubs for his snapping ability.
At midnight, NFL free agency begins and without the benefit of the salary cap. There have been a number of developments on the eve of the free agency period at the snapping spot. Ken Amato of the Titans, a potential unrestricted free agent, has signed a two-year contract to remain with the Titans, while Mike Schneck of the Falcons has decided to end his 11 year career and retire.
There were two restricted free agent snappers this year and Raider snapper Jon Condo made headlines yesterday when the Raiders gave him a contract tender that would earn them a second round pick if someone were to sign him and the Raiders did not match the offer. The other restricted free agent, Ryan Neill of the Rams, was not tendered a contract and now becomes an unrestricted free agent.
The other unrestricted snappers are Ethan Albright (Redskins), James Dearth (Jets), Kevin Houser (Seahawks), Jason Kyle (Saints), Chris Massey (Rams), client Bryan Pittman (Texans), Jeff Robinson (Seahawks) and Joe Zelenka (Falcons).
