Pittman gone for last 4 games

[painekiller]

Bryan Pittman has been suspended by the league for violation of the substance abuse policy. He is done for the rest of the season. Might this be his last snap for us?

[papabear]

I knew his appeal had to be settled before the last four games of the season. After the bad snap last night I figured his career as a texan was over.

[Nconroe]

Pittman seems to have had three or so bad snaps this year, so might be he is gone now. Wonder how they will replace him. Using Dreesen or a regular center would save a roster spot.

[painekiller]

Pittman seems to have had three or so bad snaps this year, so might be he is gone now. Wonder how they will replace him. Using Dreesen or a regular center would save a roster spot.

Clark Harris TE from the practice squad is the guy Kubiak said would handle the duties.

[NBT]

Hmmm, that's interesting. Who is Clark Harris and where did we get him?

[painekiller]

Did not seem to miss Pittman today, maybe the snap was a little to high on the missed FG, but that also could have been the cold's effect on the ball.

I think we may have a new LS/TE on the team.

[NBT]

How come Pittman, of all the guys implicated, is the only one not to be covered by the restraining order?

[papabear]

How come Pittman, of all the guys implicated, is the only one not to be covered by the restraining order?


Because the rest of them were all taking star caps, a dietary supplement containing banned substance X(don't know the exact names). Pittman was caught using banned substance Y, which is similar too but different than substance X.

The players got the injuction because they were taking an over the counter supplement and claimed that even though the folks who run the NFL substance abuse policy knew that there was a chance this product contained a banned substance they failed to properly notify the players. I don't think they have a case because the policy clearly states that the players are responsible for everything that they put in their body regardless of it's legal to buy at the grocery store and even recommends to not take ANY supplements because they aren't well regulated.

At least one of the other low profile players has already started serving his suspension, and can only hope to recoup lost money from game checks/fines.


I have never seen the details, but there was hints from Pittman that he got his stuff from a doctor....I guess he didn't follow the proper procedure to get league approval....long snappers don't get much press so I'm taking a guess here.

[kravix]

How come Pittman, of all the guys implicated, is the only one not to be covered by the restraining order?

He was taking a different suppliment.

Along those line i totaly disagree with the govt stepping on this. Players have access to a complete list of safe products and their manufacturers, 24 hour hotline for suppliment questions, and their trainers are supposed to be an official source also. They chose to take a supliment not on the list. Granted the label did not list the ingredient that is the cause of this, but it could have been avoided none the less.

It is also the governments fault because of the crappy FDA regulations which do not require the companies to list all ingredients on the bottle or supply a list with the product on the shelf.

The players known better and now they are throwing a hissy fit. I am going to laugh my but off if the league gets this cleared up and tells the players their suspensions will take effect immediatly through the post season, if applicable, and into the next regular season.

[HPF Bob]

Pittman's been a screw-up ever since he got here. Never understood why we've held onto him so long other than they've been too lazy to find anyone better.

[kravix]

I have to disagree Bob, he was arguably one of the best LS in the league. I can only remeber 1 bad snap prior to this year, and most of his bad snaps this year were around the very high stress times for him.

[HPF Bob]

I have to disagree Bob, he was arguably one of the best LS in the league. I can only remeber 1 bad snap prior to this year, and most of his bad snaps this year were around the very high stress times for him.

Well, let's see. I remember the alley-oop snap in a game against the Jets a couple of years ago. Then there was the airball that went over Turk's head last year in San Diego for a touchdown. And those are just the really memorable ones, not the ones where the holder saved his bacon.

I haven't seen much of the Texans this year in Austin but Pittman seems to average one truly horrific f-up per year and a few more poor snaps that might cause a bad punt or a bad hold. IMO, he's one of the players holding us back from being a playoff-caliber team.

[Arky]

I just have never liked wasting on roster spot on a long snapper. Most of these guys are pretty athletic.... can't one of the linemen or tight ends or someone learn to pick up this trade with extra practice? It's not rocket science....

On another note, was somewhat perplexed when the TV camera showed a #82 sitting next to Owen Daniels on the bench after his fumble. Who the hell was that? I had to look it up.... Turned out to be the new guy, Clark Harris TE/LS....

[papabear]

I just have never liked wasting on roster spot on a long snapper. Most of these guys are pretty athletic.... can't one of the linemen or tight ends or someone learn to pick up this trade with extra practice? It's not rocket science....

On another note, was somewhat perplexed when the TV camera showed a #82 sitting next to Owen Daniels on the bench after his fumble. Who the hell was that? I had to look it up.... Turned out to be the new guy, Clark Harris TE/LS....

I don't like it either, but the thinking is that your long snapper gets hurt then your stuck with someone who is snapping cold and hasn't practiced it with the team.

[Rum Runner]

I just have never liked wasting on roster spot on a long snapper. Most of these guys are pretty athletic.... can't one of the linemen or tight ends or someone learn to pick up this trade with extra practice? It's not rocket science....

I had a co-worker who was the long snapper for Virginia Tech (and was in several camps but never the final 53) and although it's not rocket science, what he could do was pretty damn impressive. He could fire the ball, between his legs, harder than my high school quarterback could from the pocket. He could calculate the rotations of the ball in order for me to catch the ball and place it in position to kick with the laces already pointing out... it was very weird; if you've never tried to catch balls coming up, that fast, from 5 yards away, while on a knee, you should try it sometimes.

I hate to waste roster spots too but I'd take a great guy over a multi-dimentional average guy.

On another note; I'm an aviator in the Army and we are not supposed to self-medicate AT ALL. We clear EVERYTHING we take through our flight surgeons. It's not that bad...

[Arky]

.......it was very weird; if you've never tried to catch balls coming up, that fast, from 5 yards away, while on a knee, you should try it sometimes........

Now, that takes some skill. The way the holders catch and spin (laces out)... Lots of practice...

Still not impressed by the skill of the long snapper. Doing a quick search of the rosters of just AFC teams at www.nfl.com (www.espn.com just listed the LS's alternate positions - TE, LB, etc.), most teams do carry a LS. It's curious that Tennessee Titan LB Ken Amato is also listed as the LS. If I'm not mistaken, he participates on special teams so that at least gets some extra value...

If I was running the show, I'd hire a retired LS to come to camp and teach the top 2 or 3 prospects (among the regulars) everything he knows. Pay the starting LS an extra bonus and give the backup half the bonus as incentive. Some of these guys (especially centers) were LS's in high school/college....

It's interesting that the Buffalo Bills Ryan Neal and the Texans Clark Harris are both from Rutgers which, I suppose, makes Rutgers a hotbed of LS's... :p

At any rate, I wouldn't have a problem with it so much if the NFL would do away with the stupid 45 man gameday roster and let all 53 suit up....

[HPF Bob]

I remember a snapper for the Bengals many years ago who showed off his skill by deep snapping a football to hit a soda can off a pedestal where the punter would want it (10-15 yds back) between his legs 50 straight times. They had the JUGGS gun on him too to clock the speed of his snaps - although I forget what the speed was, it was impressive.

There's definitely a skill the best ones have (throw in the fun of getting bull rushed after every snap) and I don't mean to belittle it. But there are 200 colleges a year spitting out snappers and only 32 at a time make it in the NFL so it can't be that hard a skill to master. As automatic as most of these snappers are, keeping a guy like Pittman who screws up badly at least once a year seems to me like somebody who could be easily replaced.

[Keith]

But there are 200 colleges a year spitting out snappers and only 32 at a time make it in the NFL so it can't be that hard a skill to master.Not that I disagree with your point, but by this logic, there are 200 colleges a year spitting out quarterbacks, too. And kickers, and punters, etc. Yet we still have Red Grange back there booting balls for the Texans and scrambling for first downs.

There are many times where a "split second" is the difference between a kick or a punt getting off and getting blocked. Pittman had one of the quicker snaps in the league. Is it so much better than Option B to keep him on the roster? Probably not, but I think there is some skill differentiation at the position just as there is at all of the other positions.