Patriots Select Navy Long Snapper Who May Not Play Until 2017
There are very few “sexy’’ picks to be made in the final day of the NFL draft. A long-snapper may be one of the least sexy.
The New England Patriots traded down from the 147th pick to the 166th pick, and used their newly-acquired selection to grab Navy long-snapper Joe Cardona.
The Patriots have created a bit of a training camp competition at the long-snapper spot between Cardona and incumbent starter Danny Aiken, but <a href=”according to Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Cardona may not be available to play in the regular season until 2017 due to his responsibilities in the Navy.
“Even if they give him a waiver, they can call him at any time,’’ a special teams coach told McGinn. “They could call him right in the middle of the season and all of a sudden you lose your guy. And, we’re kind of in a wartime situation now. I wouldn’t mess with it.’’
Cardona says he does not have an update as to his availability for the Patriots with regard to his service in the Navy.
“The decision is out of my hands,’’ he said. “I’m prepared to be the best football player I can be for the New England Patriots and the best naval officer I can be. Whatever duty I’m doing at the time I’m doing it, I’m just prepared to do my best.’’
Cardona is the first Navy player to be drafted in the past 20 years, and was the only long snapper invited to the 2015 NFL Scouting Combine. According to NFL.com, Cardona’s long snaps have been clocked at 41 miles per hour, which is considered extremely fast.
“He will play in our league until he wants to quit,’’ said an NFC special teams coach, according to NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein. “Guys like this have way more value to teams than people realize.’’
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