The Los Angeles Rams made a move this offseason that might fly under the radar for most fans, but it’s a big deal for the guy snapping the ball: Joe Cardone is officially the Rams’ long snapper for the next two years, and the contract makes him the third-highest-paid long snapper in the entire league. That’s right, a $1.725 million salary might not sound like mega-bucks in the NFL, but it’s a raise of over $300,000 for Cardone, about a 20% bump that will surely impact his family.
The Unseen Grind and a Well-Deserved Raise
Let’s be real, the long snapper position is probably the least glamorous job in all of football. It’s like the bass player in a bar band; nobody even notices you’re there until you make a mistake. Odds are, 98% of all football fans can’t name two long snappers in the league, and a whopping 97% probably couldn’t name their own team’s guy. But they are absolutely critical. A bad snap can blow up a punt or a field goal, costing a game in an instant. This raise for Cardone signals the Rams know what they have in him: a top-tier, reliable specialist.
From Navy Discipline to NFL Specialist
Cardone’s path to becoming an elite long snapper is seriously unique. His father was a Navy man, and he instilled that ironclad discipline in Joe from a young age, teaching him that “on time” means fifteen minutes early. His dad even coached him in junior football, focusing on kicking, punting, and long snapping because he wasn’t sure Joe would grow big enough for other positions. Joe took that lesson to heart. Even after a growth spurt, he kept refining his long snapper skills. Joe himself said, “I was very fortunate that my father had the foresight to teach me a specialty. I probably didn’t have the genetics to be in the NFL unless I learned something different. I probably didn’t have the genetics to be a college football player, to be honest. Fortunately, I got a good head start.” Following his dad, Joe attended the Naval Academy, where he was encouraged to really hone his long snapper game. By the time he was ready for the draft, he was a solid 240 pounds. He wasn’t planning on the NFL, he was planning on being an officer, saying, “My thought process was, ‘Hey, if I can prepare to be the best Navy football player I can be and it turns into something bigger, then, that’s a win. At least I’m doing my job here.’”
A Decade of Snaps and Four Super Bowls
That “something bigger” definitely happened. Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots saw his talent, drafting Cardone in the 5th round of the 2015 draft, making him one of the few long snappers ever drafted. He played ten years for the Patriots, even making it to four Super Bowls. After his time in New England, the Dolphins scooped him up on a one-year deal. Maybe they should have locked him down longer, because now the Rams are ecstatic to have him. This guy brings consistency and experience that’s hard to find.
Cardone is locked in for the next two years, meaning the Rams can expect two more seasons of perfect snaps under pressure. His journey from a Navy-influenced kid who didn’t think he had the genetics for the NFL to a top-paid specialist is an awesome story, and he’s ready to prove his value every single game.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Turf Show Times.
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