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I'm going to tell you a story. I think it's interesting. You might too, because it tells you a little bit about the NFL.
I know someone very well who is best friends with the wife of a long snapper in the NFL. In fact, this person and her husband often sit with the wife of the long snapper at football games. The woman, although her husband is a part of this NFL team, feels like an outsider. In fact, her and her husband have never been able to sign a 12 month lease on a home in the town where he plays. The reason? Some NFL teams hold off on signing their intended long snapper until the last minute, holding auditions continuously for the job, up until training camp. They treat these guys like outsiders that they have to let in, but don't want.
When the wives of players get together, to eat out, or do something, the established players wives think nothing of dropping several hundred dollars for a day's activities. The long snapper's wife has a rough time paying out a hundred bucks for the day. In fact, a lot of long snappers in the league will have roommates who are members of the practice squad, sharing an apartment with them. The wives can't even afford to be in the town where the guy plays. They live in quiet areas somewhere else, and their big investment is Sunday Ticket to watch him play. They fear leaving "home," because they may have to pack up, and head home, at any time.
The wives often go together and charter a private plane flight to road games, and stay at luxury hotels, and are chauffeur driven to games. They sit in luxury seats, and enjoy the game. The LS wife sits in decent seating, but usually in another section of the stadium, and is pretty much on their own, if they can even afford to travel to the games by coach class on an airline, and they stay at cheaper hotels, and try to use "courtesy vans" from the hotel to the stadium. It's a no-frills trip for them, to watch their husbands play.
In the end, there are no big endorsements, no notoriety, and often, no shirts hung in rows for sale, with their name and number on them. They are forgotten members of the team.
But, these are important people. Their long snaps often make the difference between good or bad punts, and successful PATs and FGs. They are the forgotten people, that nobody recognizes, and usually, rarely care about. Yet, the ball is in their hands when it comes to scoring roughly 1/3 of all the points scored in games, and often is in their hands, starting what will be a game winning, or losing kick. Lots of pressure, and doing it well is as important as being a punter, or kicker.
Anyhow, that's what I gleaned from a conversation with one of their wives. I came away with a special respect for these guys, and their families. They're a huge part of every team's success.
I know someone very well who is best friends with the wife of a long snapper in the NFL. In fact, this person and her husband often sit with the wife of the long snapper at football games. The woman, although her husband is a part of this NFL team, feels like an outsider. In fact, her and her husband have never been able to sign a 12 month lease on a home in the town where he plays. The reason? Some NFL teams hold off on signing their intended long snapper until the last minute, holding auditions continuously for the job, up until training camp. They treat these guys like outsiders that they have to let in, but don't want.
When the wives of players get together, to eat out, or do something, the established players wives think nothing of dropping several hundred dollars for a day's activities. The long snapper's wife has a rough time paying out a hundred bucks for the day. In fact, a lot of long snappers in the league will have roommates who are members of the practice squad, sharing an apartment with them. The wives can't even afford to be in the town where the guy plays. They live in quiet areas somewhere else, and their big investment is Sunday Ticket to watch him play. They fear leaving "home," because they may have to pack up, and head home, at any time.
The wives often go together and charter a private plane flight to road games, and stay at luxury hotels, and are chauffeur driven to games. They sit in luxury seats, and enjoy the game. The LS wife sits in decent seating, but usually in another section of the stadium, and is pretty much on their own, if they can even afford to travel to the games by coach class on an airline, and they stay at cheaper hotels, and try to use "courtesy vans" from the hotel to the stadium. It's a no-frills trip for them, to watch their husbands play.
In the end, there are no big endorsements, no notoriety, and often, no shirts hung in rows for sale, with their name and number on them. They are forgotten members of the team.
But, these are important people. Their long snaps often make the difference between good or bad punts, and successful PATs and FGs. They are the forgotten people, that nobody recognizes, and usually, rarely care about. Yet, the ball is in their hands when it comes to scoring roughly 1/3 of all the points scored in games, and often is in their hands, starting what will be a game winning, or losing kick. Lots of pressure, and doing it well is as important as being a punter, or kicker.
Anyhow, that's what I gleaned from a conversation with one of their wives. I came away with a special respect for these guys, and their families. They're a huge part of every team's success.