The Bengals escaped four of five games in 2009 with Brad St. Louis as long snapper. They won't have to worry about the sixth game.
Late Tuesday, the Bengals cut the ten-year veteran loose after poor snaps cost Cincinnati points in the Denver, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and Baltimore games.
Look, the Bengals aren't going to win every game in the final seconds by three or fewer points this year. If they try to win like this every week...they will be much closer to 5-11 than 11-5. In the AFC last year, an 11-5 team didn't make the playoffs. The Bengals cannot afford to lose games because they can't get the snap down on an extra point or field goal. Keeping St. Louis while he was fighting this mental block would have lost the Bengals games. Not a game, multiple games.
The Bengals are 4-1 through five games. Who knows what will happen over the next eleven games. But the Bengals owed it to the other 52 guys on the squad, plus their fans who have suffered through two decades of incompetence (on and off the field) to make a change at long snapper.
Clark Harris takes over for St. Louis, who last played in the NFL with the Houston Texans (ironically). Let's hope that this is the last time we have to mention Clark Harris. Ever.
According to wikipedia, this guy is a winner.
"Harris is an avid board game player and 4 time Stoopball world champion with the help of team mate Christopher Mezey"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clark_Harris
Posted by: Clayton | October 13, 2009 at 09:17 PM
Great quote here from Darrin Simmons regarding whether they should have continued their loyalty to St. Louis:
“What does it matter? We have to be able to snap the ball, hold the ball, and kick the ball,” Simmons said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s me or Marvin long snapping. We’ve got to do all those things.”
Posted by: Mockenrue | October 13, 2009 at 09:22 PM
I just got a prank call. They hung up when I answered.
Why is this relevant you ask?
The caller ID showed the call was from "Brown Paul Stadium" 621-8383
must be a new marketing campaign.
Posted by: me | October 13, 2009 at 09:38 PM
Welcome, Clark Harris.
This should take me off the potential heart attack victim list. I realize it's tricky keeping the ball in the same zip code as the holder, but this was overdue.
Posted by: concretefish | October 14, 2009 at 03:35 AM
It's a shame that it had to happen to a 10-year veteran this way. But it had to be done. Extra points and field goals under 50 yards have to be nearly automatic.
Posted by: Major Payne | October 14, 2009 at 08:50 AM
@Mockenrue: It's funny you say that. I know you're joking but I did see something today, I think on Lance's Blog, that someone received a call with a pre-recorded voice from someone in the Bengals organization (I can't remember who they said it was) inviting this person whom they called to a "phone conference" with Ray Maualuga and others at another time. I don't know how real this is but that's what's being said.
Posted by: Randy | October 14, 2009 at 11:11 AM
That was "me" who said that, Randy. Think you got our names confused.
Posted by: Mockenrue | October 14, 2009 at 12:50 PM
I got that call also, and an email. It is real. They are actually going to call my house and if I answer at that time I will be joined to the call. Interesting, I am a season ticket holder. You would think they would include people they are trying to sell tickets to. They already have me.
Posted by: Gambling Fool | October 14, 2009 at 01:23 PM
Clark Harris to the throng of reporters trying to talk to him:
"You guys will never want to talk to me again," he said. "That's what I'm hoping for."
Actual quote. Actual awesomeness.
Posted by: Mockenrue | October 14, 2009 at 07:04 PM