new long snapper

[GakMan23]

Jeff Dickerson

ESPN Staff Writer

 

Bears have signed long-snapper Aaron Brewer to one-year contract. Brewer spent the last four years with the Denver Broncos where he previously played under Bears coach John Fox and special teams coordinator Jeff Rodgers.

 

[Lucky Luciano]

Jeff Dickerson

ESPN Staff Writer

 

Bears have signed long-snapper Aaron Brewer to one-year contract. Brewer spent the last four years with the Denver Broncos where he previously played under Bears coach John Fox and special teams coordinator Jeff Rodgers.

 

sounds like an excellent choice. the next patrick mannelly? here is some info on him:

 

OZY - http://www.ozy.com/rising-stars/aaron-brew...st-player/67679

 

Denver Broncos long snapper Brewer isn’t completely anonymous, though. He’s good at what he does, but it just so happens that the epithet most commonly following his name is a little less desirable than what gets attached to Manning: Twenty-five-year-old Brewer was once dubbed “the worst player in the NFL.” But don’t feel too bad. Brewer’s earning more than $1 million a year playing a position that requires him to be on the field for only a handful of snaps each game. He’s about to play in his second Super Bowl in his four pro seasons. And his consistently flawless snaps on punts, field goals and extra points are a big reason Denver is in the NFL’s championship game this Sunday against the Carolina Panthers. “No one cares about the long snapper, but it’s a position of paramount importance, because it changes the whole perspective of field position,” says Wayne McDonnell, an associate professor of sports management at New York University.

 

At 6-foot-5 and 230 pounds, Brewer would stand out in most crowds. But on media day, he easily blends into the chaos. His long dirty-blond hair streams out from a “Super Bowl 50’’ cap as he listens to teammates get interviewed. A Denver TV reporter sticks a microphone in Brewer’s face and proclaims, “We have never talked to this young man,’’ and then moves on after his questions elicit a few quick self-deprecating answers. But behind that surfer-dude exterior is a perfectionist. Long snapper guru Chris Rubio says that Brewer is extremely athletic, not to mention consistent and automatic. “Being a long snapper is almost like being a professional free-throw shooter; you’re doing the same thing every time,’’ Rubio says. “Long snappers have to be like a sniper — you have one job, and you have to do it well.’’

[jason]

I know Denver just won the SB, but I really hope the Bears don't just sign all former Denver players. Picking all the players up at the right time is paramount; otherwise, you just end up doing what Lovie has done in Tampa Bay (resigned Conte recently!).

[madlithuanian]

Oh man! I think you owe the new longsnapper an apology remotely comparing him to Conte!

 

 

 

I know Denver just won the SB, but I really hope the Bears don't just sign all former Denver players. Picking all the players up at the right time is paramount; otherwise, you just end up doing what Lovie has done in Tampa Bay (resigned Conte recently!).

 

[bradjock]

Jeff Dickerson

ESPN Staff Writer

 

Bears have signed long-snapper Aaron Brewer to one-year contract. Brewer spent the last four years with the Denver Broncos where he previously played under Bears coach John Fox and special teams coordinator Jeff Rodgers.

 

Good! There was speculation that two of Robbie's misses were due to bad snaps or holds. It appears we plan to keep one of the most accurate kickers in NFL history so it's important we put him in a position to succeed.

[Lucky Luciano]

I know Denver just won the SB, but I really hope the Bears don't just sign all former Denver players. Picking all the players up at the right time is paramount; otherwise, you just end up doing what Lovie has done in Tampa Bay (resigned Conte recently!).

 

i don't believe that is true in this instance... He’s about to play in his second Super Bowl in his four pro seasons. And his consistently flawless snaps on punts, field goals and extra points are a big reason Denver is in the NFL’s championship game this Sunday against the Carolina Panthers.

 

But behind that surfer-dude exterior is a perfectionist. Long snapper guru Chris Rubio says that Brewer is extremely athletic, not to mention consistent and automatic.

 

this guy fills a serious need at a key position we are weak at since mannelley retired. he is young and has post season experience. he could virtually play at a high level for 10 years in chicago.

 

in my opinion this is one of the better signings we have had this offseason.

[BearFan2000]

i don't believe that is true in this instance... He’s about to play in his second Super Bowl in his four pro seasons. And his consistently flawless snaps on punts, field goals and extra points are a big reason Denver is in the NFL’s championship game this Sunday against the Carolina Panthers.

 

But behind that surfer-dude exterior is a perfectionist. Long snapper guru Chris Rubio says that Brewer is extremely athletic, not to mention consistent and automatic.

 

this guy fills a serious need at a key position we are weak at since mannelley retired. he is young and has post season experience. he could virtually play at a high level for 10 years in chicago.

 

in my opinion this is one of the better signings we have had this offseason.

 

 

Exactly, it's easy to forget as we were spoiled for so many years to have one of the best long snappers in the business in Mannelly. Also easy to forget is how much of a precision position that is. Punting, FG's, and XP's, are so much about timing with the place kicking for FG/XP requiring precision down to the rotation of the ball so the holder can quickly catch and get it down for the kicker. Since Mannelly retired we've struggled to find even a decent long snapper. That struggle can effect a kicker's confidence as Robbie went from a guy who had it down to a science and knew and trusted that when he lined up to kick he could count on the ball being placed in the best spot possible for him. He went from that to having to think about more than just lining up to kick but also trying to adjust on the fly when the timing is off or the hold isn't good, etc. I really do like this signing. He's young, and it sounds like he has that perfectionist quality that made Mannelly such a great snapper. I think it has more to do with filling a big need than it does who he previously played for. Same can be said for other former Bronco's we've signed. We are bringing in guys that we feel fit our system and fill needs. I think it is always somewhat natural for a coach who recently coached elsewhere to have guys in mind from his former team as he knows them better than other teams in the hunt for them.