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A few years ago, I wrote a chapter in the book “FOOTBALL Rising to the Challenge: The Transition from College to Pro” entitled “Representing Players on the Fringe: An Agent’s Perspective.”  Until February 1st, Longsnap.com readers can purchase the book by clicking on this link.

http://www.jbpub.com/catalog/9780763733766/?AID=357

However, after February 1st, the link to this valuable book will be removed, so if you are interested in reading more about making it in professional football, this is the book for you.

In the release describing the book, it notes that:

This book will help your athletes learn to expect certain challenges and to overcome them. It includes advice on financial career aspects; agent issues; mental and emotional preparation; dealing with the media; balancing personal goals with team interests; and endorsement deals. This volume has forty-seven original essays written by more than thirty-five well-known professional athletes, college and professional coaches, NFL team and league administrators, agents, lawyers and others who have experience in the field.

The college all-star game season is about to get in full swing and a number of NFL Draft prospect long snappers will get a tremendous opportunity to showcase their skills.  Mike Windt (Cincinnati) and Morgan Cox (Tennessee) will snap in the Senior Bowl, while the only snapper invited to the Combine so far, Clint Gresham of TCU, will snap for the Texas side in the Texas vs. The Nation game next month.  Blaze Soares of Hawaii, who is primarily a linebacker, is slated to snap for the Nation side.  The East-West Shrine Game, which takes place this weekend, will use position players to snap.

The recent traditional of adding a long snapper as a “need” player to the Pro Bowl teams has continued this year, with Raiders snapper Jon Condo representing the AFC, while Jon Dorenbos of the Eagles will snap for the NFC side.  Each player is making their first Pro Bowl appearance.

With the NFC and AFC Conference Championship games set, here are some quick notes about the snapping position through the first two rounds of the NFL playoffs.

Matt Katula of the Ravens had solo tackles in each of  his team’s two playoff games.  However, it appears that his arm injury may still be having an effect on his snapping, as he had a high snap on a field goal attempt Saturday night against the Colts.  Jets snapper James Dearth added an assisted tackle in yesterday’s win against the Chargers.   The Chargers missed three field goals in the game and snapper Dave Binn tried to take at least some of the blame away from kicker Nate Kaeding, claiming not all of the snaps were laces-out.

Each year, the experts at FootballOutsiders.com closely examine all aspects of the NFL game.  Special teams is no exception and the final rankings for the 2009 NFL Regular Season are complete.  Football Outsiders analyzes a variety of special teams categories and also factors in such things as weather conditions.

This year, the top five units were Cleveland, Philadelphia, Minnesota, Chicago and Tampa Bay.  In 2008, both Cleveland and Chicago were also in the top five, while Minnesota was dead last.  The bottom five this year were New Orleans, Carolina, Pittsburgh, Detroit and, in the last place spot, Green Bay.

With the regular season concluded, it is not uncommon to see many special teams coaches fired and, in some cases, hired elsewhere.  To date, the special teams coaches in Buffalo (Bobby April), Detroit (Stan Kwan), Pittsburgh (Bob Ligashesky) and San Francisco (Al Everest) have been let go, while new staffs are being sought in Seattle (Bruce DeHaven) and Washington (Danny Smith).  It is also expected that Bucs special teams coach Rich Bisaccia will move to the college ranks at Tennessee.

With Alabama’s victory over Texas last night, the college football season has come to a close.  The snappers in last night’s game, Greg Smith of Texas and Brian Selmon of Alabama, were the subject of a USA Today article yesterday.  As usual, the focus was on the quiet but critical roles snappers play in the success of a team.

With the regular season concluded, attention will now turn to the college all-star games and then the Combine in February.  As for snappers, there are a handful of draft-eligible long snappers with a chance to get into a training camp in 2010.  To date, TCU snapper Clint Gresham appears to be the only snapper invited to the Combine.

The NFL regular season is now complete and the playoffs start next Saturday.  Client Justin Snow of the Colts played in his 160th consecutive game Sunday and now trails only Peyton Manning for the Colts all-time game streak.  Snow’s accomplishments were featured in a story this weekend in the Indianapolis Star that describes how Snow has become a complete snapper by snapping well, blocking and being able to get downfield and cover.  Dave Binn of the Chargers played in his 178th consecutive game, tying the Charger record.

In game action, Raiders snapper Jon Condo had another solo tackle and finished tops among all snappers in punt tackles with ten total, seven of which were solo stops.  Pat Mannelly of the Bears added an assisted tackle.  Normally reliable Ravens snapper Matt Katula appears to still be bothered by an arm injury, as he had a few low snaps on placements.

Below is the final NFL Long Snapper chart for the 2009 regular season.  It is also available on the NFL Long Snappers page.

NFL Long Snappers Chart-2009 Final

Week Sixteen is complete and it appears there will be no changes at the snapping position after a few weeks of frequent transactions.  In game action, Chiefs snapper Thomas Gafford had a high punt snap over the head of his punter that led to a Bengals field goal.  Matt Katula of the Ravens was able to snap despite continued problems with his right wrist and forearm.

A number of snappers recorded tackles this week, led by Zak DeOssie of the Giants who had two solo tackles and an assist.  Don Muhlbach (Lions),  Lonie Paxton (Broncos), Cullen Loeffler (Vikings) and Pat Mannelly (Bears) each had solo tackles, while client Justin Snow (Colts) added an assist.  The updated NFL Long Snappers Chart  is now available on the NFL Long Snappers page.

The Lions have released veteran snapper Nate Hodel as Don Muhlbach is ready to return after missing Week Fifteen with a concussion.  In addition, Matt Katula continues to be bothered by an elbow injury and the Ravens have added rookie Nick Sundberg, who spent the season in the UFL, to the practice squad just in case.

The NFL Long Snappers Chart has been updated to include all of the latest snapping changes and can be viewed at the NFL Long Snappers page on Longsnap.com

Last night’s post summarized a strange week in the snapping world and the latest changes at the snapping position.  On the positive side, a number of snappers recorded tackles in Week Fifteen, led by Thomas Gafford (Chiefs) with two solo stops.  Matt Katula (Ravens), JJ Jansen (Panthers), client Brett Goode (Packers), client Justin Snow (Colts), Jeremy Cain (Jaguars), Cullen Loeffler (Vikings) and Jon Condo (Raiders), the current tackle leader, all had solo tackles.

The NFL Long Snappers chart is now updated with the most current tackle figures.  The chart will be updated again later this week to reflect the latest snapper changes in Seattle with Jeff Robinson and Pittsburgh with Jared Retkofsky.  In addition, Nate Hodel is currently the replacement for Don Muhlbach in Detroit and will be added to the chart if Muhlbach remains out again this week.