Hardly anyone knows who the best long snappers in the NFL are, so long snappers aren’t included on Pro Bowl ballots. Instead, the coaches of the AFC and NFC Pro Bowl rosters are allowed to pick their own long snappers.
Now AFC coach Bill Belichick and NFC coach Mike Smith have made their picks: Dolphins long snapper John Denney will be on the AFC team, and the Giants’ Zak DeOssie will long snap for the NFC.
“It’s an honor to be named to the AFC Pro Bowl team and it always feels nice to be recognized by people attached to the game,” Denney said.
Said DeOssie, “In the back of my mind, I had a one-in-16 chance at the worst. So, I figured maybe I could be getting a call, maybe not. I don’t know how it works and who it’s up to ultimately, but apparently somebody down in Atlanta saw something that they like and they extended an invitation to me, which I’m very fortunate about.”
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Deossie’s father played with Giants when Belichick was there. Nepotism reigns in the NFL.
Yep, nepotism reigns. Unfortunately, Belichick picks the AFC player, and DeOssie plays for an NFC team. DeOssie was picked by Mike Smith.
Try another theory.
Pat Mannelly (Bears) is the best long snapper in the NFC. Hands down. Has been for years.
DeOssie’s math is wrong. 1/16 chance being the floor assumes that no one has a better than 1/16 shot. For every person who had a better than 1/16 shot, the floor gets lower. So yeah. Suck it.
Yeah DeOssie made SUCH a great snap on the New Miracle at the New Meadowlands play to start the ball rolling to end the G-men’s playoff chances. Hope this is the last time we see him in a Giants helmet.
@xbt3, Smith, not Belichick nominated DeOssie. He also happens to be a very good long snapper. It will be his second Pro Bowl at that position.
That would be true if Bill Belichick was coaching the NFC squad, but in fact he is the coach of the AFC. Idiocy reigns on the message boards.
Way to go Denney! What a great bonus for an otherwise thankless job. You have one of those situations where if you do everything right, no one notices, if you screw up, everyone knows.
Runningbacks invite their offensive line, defenders invite their buds. Who invites longsnappers who don’t make it? haha.
hey! smith didnt know any other long snappers so he asked belichick who said my friend’s son plays in the nfc.