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The mandatory phase of the New England Patriots' offseason workouts is over – at least until training camp starts in late July – and we have re-entered the quieter parts of the NFL calendar.
However, while the football world seemingly turns slower these days it does not stop. After all, by late August, each team has to start making its roster cuts. Until then, players have to secure their spots on the team; they need to do their jobs (well) or someone else will.
Over the course of the next few weeks, we will take a look at the men fighting for those spots on the 2016 New England Patriots. Today, we'll take a look at long snapper Christian Yount.
Name: Christian Yount
Position: Long snapper
Jersey number: 42
Age: 27
Experience: 4
Size: 6'1, 245 lbs.
2015 review: From 2011 to 2014, Christian Yount has been the Cleveland Browns’ long snapper. He appeared in 53 games for the team and signed a five-year contract extension in August 2013. However, only two years into his new deal, the Browns released Yount in May 2015.
He did not find a new home for almost a year: until the Patriots signed the veteran in late-April 2016, Yount was out of a job. New England gave him a one-year minimum deal with a $600,000 salary and no guaranteed money.
2016 preview: Yount’s job prospects in Foxboro highly likely depend on one person: Joe Cardona. If the Patriots’ second-year player, who was the team’s long snapper last season, will get a leave from his duties with the Navy, then Yount won’t have a future in New England.
If Cardona won’t be eligible to play this season, Yount will likely be the player asked to replace him. The 27-year old shouldn’t count on this to happen, though, as it is expected that Cardona will be granted a leave.
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Christian Yount is an experienced long snapper and could potentially be a short-term replacement for Cardona. Still, he will only be on the Patriots’ roster if he has to be – and that likely won’t be the case.