WE: Redskins sign long snapper

[SNF]

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/s...ial/Redskins-sign-long-snapper-100693544.html

Redskins sign long snapper
By: John Keim
Examiner Staff Writer
08/14/10 4:56 PM EDT

With the Redskins believing they're ready to win this year, they did not want to enter the season trying to groom a young long snapper. So they signed veteran James Dearth today, according to a league source. The story was first reported in the Newark Star-Ledger.

Dearth, drafted as a tight end, snapped nine seasons with the New York Jets, but the team wanted a younger player at the position. Dearth is 34. The Redskins had wanted the same thing, which is why they did not re-sign Ethan Albright this past offseason. Albright had snapped for Washington from 2001-09. But Nick Sundberg clearly wasn't the answer. He was inconsistent in practice, with some snaps on field goals even hitting the ground. He didn't have any such snaps in Friday's 42-17 win over Buffalo, but he also rarely hit the same spot twice.

 

[Bulldog]

All of the specialist positions are ones where players usually have to try out several times before finding a permanent home.

In the end the age of a long snapper or punter is really irrelevant.

These guys when effective can play into their late thirties.

Dearth looks like a player Jets fans liked and it may be that Ryan pulled the plug on him too soon given the circumstances.
Posted via BGO Mobile Device

 

[Burgundy Burner]

How long will it be until we hear of "Dearth Vader" a la "Red Snapper"? Hey, as long as he makes the team and is very consistent. I saw a few snaps last night that made me shudder.

 

[Alaskan]

I have this fear that letting Albright go will come back to haunt us.

If it ain't broke don't fix it.

 

[Neophyte]

I have this fear that letting Albright go will come back to haunt us.

If it ain't broke don't fix it.

I've thought the same thing. The guy was money.

 

[Boone]

I have this fear that letting Albright go will come back to haunt us.

If it ain't broke don't fix it.

I've thought the same thing. The guy was money.

If that turns out to be the case, at least we can take some solace in the awesome blog title opportunities it affords....

'Fresh out of Red Snapper, Redskins turn to Flounder...'

etc...etc...etc...

In all seriousness, if the Redskins fortunes rest on the fate of our long snapper, things will already have gone horribly, horribly wrong

 

[CounterTrey]

I've thought the same thing. The guy was money.

Same here. Not sure I understand this if it was just age. Was the guy not performing anymore? If he was then I can't see why'd you change that of all things.

 

[Alaskan]

In all seriousness, if the Redskins fortunes rest on the fate of our long snapper, things will already have gone horribly, horribly wrong

Remember this:

 

[Goaldeje]

Remember this:

Damn you sir. Back to therapy it is then...
Posted via BGO Mobile Device

 

[Boone]

Remember this:

Yep.

And I'll stand by the comment

 

[Neophyte]

If that turns out to be the case, at least we can take some solace in the awesome blog title opportunities it affords....

'Fresh out of Red Snapper, Redskins turn to Flounder...'

etc...etc...etc...

In all seriousness, if the Redskins fortunes rest on the fate of our long snapper, things will already have gone horribly, horribly wrong

Don't get me wrong Boone, I would love for the position of long snapper to be our biggest issue of the year. If that is the case, I'm pretty comfortable saying this team will amaze all of us.

However, I remember a couple years ago (or maybe it was last year) where the Steelers had long snapper issues and a couple of games did hinge on it. All it takes is a bad snap in punt formation deep in your own end to screw a game up that might otherwise have been in hand. In the NFC East this year I am kinda thinking a game might be the difference between winning the division and a wildcard or sitting home in January.

I just can't help but wonder if Shanahan is fixing things that weren't broken when we have real broken things to fix.

Or maybe I have just been bitching about my team so long that I have to have something to bitch about or it doesn't feel like football season.

 

[servumtuum]

Or maybe I have just been bitching about my team so long that I have to have something to bitch about or it doesn't feel like football season.

LOL! I know how you feel, Neo-it actually feels odd to think optimistically about the Skins. I find myself making myself think of things that might go wrong because I'm afraid of the bubble bursting. It'll take some getting used to I guess, but an 8-8 or 9-7 season record would cleanse out a lot of accumulated gunk for me. Starting with a win over the Cowbums, of course.

 

[Boone]

I always think optimistically about the Skins. I don't consider it 'homerism' - but the joy in being a fan is to hope that, logic aside, your team could have one of those magical years, or be just on the verge of a period of dominance. I've never understood gloom and doom fans. What's the point of watching at all if you can't muster hope?

 

[Neophyte]

I hope I am far from "doom and gloom", my friend. I don't ever remember starting a season like that. I have, however, made a hobby of complaining about the poor personnel decisions made by this team over the last decade or longer.

I would like to think this is just one of those occasions.

I am generally upbeat about the team as a whole, especially after the game the other night (while still tempering my enthusiasm with knowledge that it was the Buffalo Bills we played and it is still pre-season).

 

[Boone]

My brother, those comments weren't directed at you in any way. Servumtuum's post just prompted the thought. Promise Sorry if my post implied otherwise.

I think you must be suffering from PSPTSD (Pre-Shanahan Post Traumatic Stress Disorder).

 

[Jimbo]

Remember this:

I STILL have a spot on my head where hair won't grow after pulling a clump out after that play.

I sure hope we aren't calling the new guy "Dearth Maul" at any point during the season.

 

[servumtuum]

My brother, those comments weren't directed at you in any way. Servumtuum's post just prompted the thought. Promise Sorry if my post implied otherwise.

I think you must be suffering from PSPTSD (Pre-Shanahan Post Traumatic Stress Disorder).

Boone, I never lack for hope for the Redskins nor do I ever not root for a Redskin win-when I say optimistic, I refer to the part of me that is the "realist", the part that calculates probabilities and likelihoods and analyzes stats and re-watches games to concentrate on how the team operates tactically and reads info on the opponents and analyzes them the same way. The logical, walking computer part.

That part is becoming more optimistic that the Redskins will, in actual reality, be something they were not last season.

Competitive.

The PSPTD thing fits too.

 

[Lanky Livingston]

The Red Snapper was great here for a long time - and if his contract were a little longer, I think Shanahan would have left well enough alone. However, Ethan is 39 years old, and his contract was up. There are very few situations in the NFL in which any team would re-sign a 39 year-old offensive lineman. Those are simply the breaks.

 

[SNF]

It really sounds like Dearth was the Jets version of Albright, extremely reliable. He was less consistent last year, which is probably the reason they tried to go in another direction. The reports are that his loss of focus were probably due to his father being very sick, and his mother passing away.

 

[riggins44]

My guess is Albright is only a call away if needed. We should be okay with Dearth Vader.