There's no way Lonie Paxton makes this team
 

Reading articles about Mills made me think we'll see a lot of players long snapping in pre-season games. How many guys do we now have that can long snap? Several years of Belioli scouting and drafting has yielded too much talent to waste a roster spot on a guy who plays one position and is in the game for 8 plays a game. It was once worth keeping Paxton because the 54th best player at the end of training camp wasn't as seriously challenging for a roster spot. This year final decisions are going to be something like:

Keep one......Pass, Paxton, Bethel

Preaching to the choir my friend. There was a big thread about this right after the draft, probably fallen back, but search for "Paxton" and you'll find it.

Beware though: There are posters on this board who will warn you that The Immortal Lonnie Paxton is the only person born on this earth capable of properly longsnapping and that the Patriots will retain him for eternity.

(Just don't tell them we won a SB with him on IR...)

No way Belichick drops Paxton who is a proven commodity in favor of a newbie...it simply will not happen. Long snapper is very high on Belichicks list...right behind TE's. :D

Why make two positions worse?

Just for the sake of having a more efficient roster, you'd purge one of the best, most reliable longer snappers in the league for a rookie? Not only would you be severely downgrading the long snapper position, but also taking some of the focus of a developing rookie away from learning the Patriots' system.


I don't know why so many fans are so eager to indulge in some more rookie hype and continually throw out names of versatile, effective veterans that supposedly should be expurgated in favor of unproven potential.


"buT d00d! cHAd jaaKsOn OWNzors! hEs dA neXXT jrery riiCEE!"


I'd give an extra $200k to have one of the best at his position to maintain the quality of an overlooked unit on my team anyday.

DAM IT!
I thought it was a moment of brilliance to come up with such insight into the mind of Belioli. I read that thread it turns out....and only subconciously absorbed it....

I told you to choose from Pass, Paxton, and Behtel. Who's the rookie?

Mills is one of many candidates to snap....

All potential is unproven. WHen it is proven it changes from potential to accomplishment.

And every time a rookie is added to the roster he takes the place of someone who was there last year, so every team every year picks potential over accomplishment in 5 to 10 cases.

Anyway, Hochstein can long snap.

The question is whether long snapper deserves a roster spot, because I've read many times that we are doomed without AV and no kicker can replace him, why bother to have a long snapper? No one can kick FGs except AV.

How is Lonnie Paxton a VERSATILE veteran? He only FRIGGIN LONG SNAPS.

That is the opposite of versatile. It's unitile, or monotile or whatever.

If there is a player--anyone--not just newfangled rookie who can longsnap as well as actually add value to the team in some other capacity, how could people not be for this?

Honestly, it baffles me.

Randel El can play wide receiver and quarterback! Let's just dump Brady, who can only play QB! He's wasting a roster spot! Get the Redskins on the phone! Anything to clear a roster spot for these deities ..er.. hyped rookies!

Ha. Brilliant.