Browns waive longsnapper
Published 12:58 am Wednesday, November 30, 2011
The Associated Press
CLEVELAND — Ryan Pontbriand won’t get time to snap out of his slump.
The Browns waived their once dependable long snapper on Tuesday, two days after Pontbriand’s second poor snap in three weeks cost Cleveland a possible win. The two-time Pro Bowler had been with the Browns since 2003 and had the second-longest tenure on the club to kicker Phil Dawson.
On Sunday in Cincinnati, Pontbriand rolled a snap that caused Dawson to miss a potential go-ahead 55-yard field goal in the fourth quarter of a 23-20 loss to the Bengals. Two weeks ago, against St. Louis, Pontbriand’s snap bounced off the right leg of teammate Alex Mack, disrupted Dawson’s timing on a 22-yarder that was partially blocked and gave the Rams a 13-12 win.
Pontbriand had been one of the Browns’ steadiest performers since former coach Butch Davis drafted him in 2003. But the 32-year-old has struggled this season, and following Sunday’s game admitted he has been in an uncharacteristic slump.
On Monday, Browns coach Pat Shurmur hinted at a possible change at the position.
“We can’t slump,” Shurmur said. “We can’t be in slumps. I think it’s important that we all perform and we’ve got to perform all the time. You hold me to that standard, I think the players hold themselves to that and then I know individually they do as well.”
For eight seasons, Pontbriand’s snaps were precise and nearly perfect, with the football rotating tightly and landing in the hands of Cleveland’s holder with the laces facing away from the kicker. He was regarded as one of the NFL’s best long snappers, an unheralded position that goes unnoticed until there’s an error.
Pontbriand, who played in 134 career games with the Browns, was named to the Pro Bowl in 2007 and 2008.
It is not yet known who will take Pontbriand’s spot.