Breaking: Bengals release long snapper Brad St. Louis
by Josh Kirkendall on Oct 13, 2009 6:50 PM EDT
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PrintApparently snaps that went everywhere except to the holder was just too much to handle for the Cincinnati Bengals coaching staff. On Tuesday afternoon, the Bengals announced that they finally released long snapper Brad St. Louis.
A 4-1 start marred by snafus in the field-goal operation that has cost the Bengals 11 points in a season they have won by an average of four points cost the long snapper his job Tuesday when the club cut Brad St. Louis after 10 seasons and 144 games.
The Bengals replaced him with Clark Harris, a first-year player who has four games of NFL experience, all at the end of last season with the Texans. After spending most of last season on their practice squad, the Texans released him on cut down day before this season started. The 6-5, 257-pound Harris spent another week on the practice squad before Houston cut him last week.
Harris was one of four non-turtle long snappers the Bengals invited last week, basically putting St. Louis on notice that he was in serious jeopardy of losing his job. When he elected to long snap a punt against the Ravens, when a seven-yard snap would have sufficed sending Shayne Graham and Kevin Huber scrambling to recover the fumble, he was rewarded by the football gods when Baltimore was called for illegal formation. However, his ten year stay have ended when another bad snap, though Huber recovered it quick enough, was partly to blame for a terrible field goal attempt.
Like St. Louis, Harris is a tight end who, if anything, has four career regular season games under his belt.
- 2007 NFL Draft: Drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the seventh round.
- September 1, 2007: Cut.
- September 2, 2007: Signed on Green Bay's practice squad.
- September 11, 2007: Cut from Green Bay's practice squad.
- November 28, 2007: Signed to the Detroit Lions practice squad.
- August 19, 2008: Re-signed with the Detroit Lions.
- August 30, 2008: Cut from the Lions
- September 17, 2008: Signed with the Houston Texans practice squad.
- September 30, 2008: Released from the Texans practice squad.
- November 5, 2008: Signed with the Houston Texans practice squad.
- December 3, 2008: Promoted to the Texans' 53-man roster (Bryan Pittman was suspended for four games).
- September 5, 2009: Waived from the Houston Texans
- September 6, 2009: Signed with the Texans practice squad
- October 6, 2009: Released from the Texans practice squad
And in a bit of irony. Who do the Bengals play this weekend? None other than the Houston Texans.
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Does this mean
We don’t have to hold our breaths during PATs and field goals now? Hopefully we can win games that aren’t going to cut my lifespan in half?
Considering Bengals karma.
You’d be surprised?
Blogger at CincyJungle.com -- SB Nation Cincinnati Bengals blog.
by Josh Kirkendall on Oct 13, 2009 7:09 PM EDT up reply actions
I doubt it
this guy has something to play for. I think Brad got his punt snaps mixed with the field goal snaps. I mean the other 31 teams are automatic and 90% of the NCAA teams are as well. Just not St Louis
CB85
by TennBengalfan on Oct 14, 2009 10:23 AM EDT up reply actions
Added more.
I added more stuff about Clark Harris’ history of being cut, signed, released, signed, waived, signed, etc.. I got it from Wiki. So of course, it’s accurate. (whistling)
Blogger at CincyJungle.com -- SB Nation Cincinnati Bengals blog.
by Josh Kirkendall on Oct 13, 2009 7:12 PM EDT reply actions
ok, i'm glad he's gone too but...
it really sucks for him personally. I mean the guy has been on the team since 2000, think about how awful those 2000, 2001, and 2002 teams were. So he lives through all of that and gets through last year, then basically gets a mental block right as the team is starting to play it’s best in years. I mean, that’s rough.
understood, but...
His action on the field is what cost him his job in Cincy. Sorry, but Snaps and Kicks need to be automatic.
he had his chance to redeem himself
they warned him with bringing in snappers and he still blew 2 snaps…. good bye
CB85
by TennBengalfan on Oct 14, 2009 9:45 AM EDT up reply actions
+1
and i don’t feel sorry for anybody who played pro football, no matter how long or short their career was. if they’re smart enough, the money they made should be more than enough to get them on track and set them up for life (assuming they never step on the field again).
+1
The new guy will have something to play for, so he can start to earn the big checks
CB85
by TennBengalfan on Oct 14, 2009 10:19 AM EDT up reply actions
Everyone forgets how bad...
…the kicking game was in the late Nineties before the drafted St. Louis. For the most part, he did very good work — and, as had been said already, on some really crappy teams. Sucks it has to end this way. S’long Brad.
Everyone forgets...
I agree. St. Louis was a big improvement over what we had before him, and overall played well for us. Everyone just remembers the bad snap in Denver years ago and his horrible play this year.
Having said that, its been obvious for weeks he had to go. I’m glad the Bengals finally acted.
Seems to me
The only way people will remember the long snapper’s name is when he’s doing something wrong.
He's the bass player of the team
Do your job right, nobody notices.
by Rocket_Man_G on Oct 13, 2009 8:26 PM EDT up reply actions
And occasionally, you can be Les Claypool...
Like, say, if you pick up a loose ball and rumble into the end zone w/it.
best wishes Brad,
Hope you do well with whatever it is that you are going to do now. Thanks for your services and the memories. Shane, kick one through for Brad.
No Choice
We had to do something and hopefully Harris will get the job done. Living on the edge with every snap is just too risky.
yea, well save the living on the edge for the last few seconds of the fourth quarter..
by 80%OFTHETIMEIMRIGHTEVERYTIME on Oct 13, 2009 8:45 PM EDT up reply actions
Watch.......
when the new guy hits the first extra point or fg snap perfect, he will get a standing ovation at PBS
CB85
by TennBengalfan on Oct 14, 2009 10:17 AM EDT up reply actions
Don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out
First time I shot her, shot her in the side.
Hard to watch her suffer, but with the second shot she died...
sucks for brad
but the bengals had little choice in the matter. now begins the odyssey to find another snapper. stupid we didnt sign weeks ago to the practice squad to be certain the new guy could handle it.
I think he will be better
i watch the 31 other teams kick extra points and its automatic, even in college. its like the Bengals are the only team in football that cant. plus i think Shayne is overrated and should be gone after this season. We need to Draft Jake Rodgers from the Bearcats anyway and draft ther long snapper as well and have a bearcat 3some goin on
CB85
by TennBengalfan on Oct 14, 2009 9:58 AM EDT up reply actions
even in the UFL they are automatic
only in cincy a extra point can be an adventure everytime
CB85
by TennBengalfan on Oct 14, 2009 9:59 AM EDT up reply actions
About time
Shouldve been done weeks ago we gave him a chance and he messed it up
by ak513 on Oct 13, 2009 9:25 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
he got sum big checks too
he can go play with DEDE and odell
CB85
by TennBengalfan on Oct 14, 2009 9:58 AM EDT up reply actions
Awesome
A move that shows life… The game will sell out for sure now.
by jrscheper on Oct 13, 2009 11:30 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Here’s to 10 years of great long-snapping (we can forget a few mistakes right?) and to ten more from Harris!
Who Dey!
This is our year!
cheers!
"Ghiaciuc's play was a distraction"
by Joe Goodberry on Oct 14, 2009 12:15 AM EDT up reply actions
Only two bad snaps before this year.
So let’s thank him for 9 good years. Kinda sad, I live in the city where he went to college Springfield, MO, but didn’t see him play in college or anything. Maybe he’ll get back on the field after he gets himself right.
Pathetic
I have never been so ashamed to be a Bengals fan as I am now – to read some of this sad crap people think witty. Brad was a very good long snapper and played well for much of his career. A man just lost his job. Show some compassion, dumb_sses.
Let me know when you get the BSL Shrine Built
I’ll come by and place some Tiger Lillies next to it and light a candle. Good player with good years of service, but that has come to an end.
Lucky
Considering he was employed in the NFL this long BSL should consider himself lucky. The average career last what, 4 years. While he has been a reliable snapper for the bu;k of his career, he is paid to do one thing, snap a football. And I am sorry, when you screw up as much as he has this year, the nature of the beast is too move on to the next guy. Good luck to BSL in his future endevours.
BSL kind of ruined his shot at the hall of fame this year
"Ghiaciuc's play was a distraction"
by Joe Goodberry on Oct 14, 2009 8:10 AM EDT up reply actions
So you think that the misses should go on?
it hasnt got better since week one, he had his chance to prove himself. at least 7 bad snaps in 5 games!! We are lucky it hasn’t cost us a game or it wasn’t a bad snap on a punt they ran back for a touchdown. you must not have watched any games this season! he has Shaynes timing all messed up. im not sure what you were suggesting, keep Brad? Your alone on that one bro. I like to know that the extra points are automatic like the other 31 teams in the NFL, i bet there is not another over the head snap with the new guy
CB85
by TennBengalfan on Oct 14, 2009 10:09 AM EDT up reply actions
well good riddance
we wont have his curse in our locker room
CB85
by TennBengalfan on Oct 14, 2009 10:10 AM EDT up reply actions
now after the season.....
let Shayne leave and try and get his money he wont get
Draft Jake Rodgers from UC
CB85
Thanks BSL...
Sorry it had to end this way! Thanks for years of service for the Bengals! Now lets go out there and score some point! (occasionally x3)
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