Tag: snapper

Saints sign 4-year contract extension with long snapper Zach Wood

The Saints signed an extension with long snapper Zach Wood, keeping one of their most underrated players on the team through 2027:

Now that’s what you like to see: the New Orleans Saints announced a four-year contract extension with long snapper Zach Wood, tying him to the team through 2027. Wood was one of several players we highlighted as priorities for new deals this summer, having become one of the team’s most underrated assets for his steady work on special teams. His presence is appreciated by teammates Wil Lutz and Blake Gillikin, who joined him for the formal signing at the team facility on Friday.

Wood’s arrival to New Orleans was more tumultuous than you’d expect. Back in 2017, the Saints were so unsatisfied with a training camp competition between Thomas Gafford and Chase Dominguez that they released both players and brought back veteran snapper Justin Drescher, who appeared to have lost his touch. That led them to trade for Philadelphia Eagles fan-favorite Jon Dorenbos — only to rush him into heart surgery after discovering a career-ending aortic aneurysm during his physical. Wood took part in a group tryout just days before the regular season started, won a roster spot, and he hasn’t looked back since.

This is the second extension the Saints have signed with Wood, now 30 years old; he previously inked a four-year deal back in 2020 after playing out his rookie contract. NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill reports that Wood received $2.3 million in guarantees, which would rank among the highest figures in league history for a long snapper (New York Jets specialist Thomas Hennessy currently leads the NFL with just over $2.6 million, per Over The Cap records). Hopefully Wood can continue to do his job well and be a part of the solution for New Orleans.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Florida angler stunned after ‘improbable’ snapper catch

Robert Bush Sr. told MyFWC Florida Fish and Wildlife that he was “stunned” after his recent catch of two gray mangrove snapper on one hook.

Robert Bush Sr. told MyFWC Florida Fish and Wildlife that he was “stunned” after his recent catch of two gray mangrove snapper on the same hook.

The agency wrote on Facebook: “It was an improbable catch that left Robert Bush Sr. ‘stunned’ from his incredible luck. He let us know he used shrimp for bait and both fish were released.”

While improbable, such luck is not unprecedented.

MyFWC asked followers to share similar “fish tales” and received several responses and a few images in the comments section to serve as proof.

ALSO ON FTW OUTDOORS: Why are Yellowstone wolves biting grizzly bears’ butts?

The Facebook post was titled, “Two-for-one Friday” but one follower corrected the term to read “fry day.”

–Image courtesy of Robert Bush Sr. 

Saints designate their first two players to COVID-19/reserve list

The New Orleans Saints placed linebacker Kaden Elliss and long snapper Zach Wood on the COVID-19/reserve list on Thursday’s NFL transactions

[jwplayer 2CPn5E98-ThvAeFxT]

The New Orleans Saints tested their entire roster for COVID-19 infections when players arrived for training camp last week, and they were one of a few NFL teams to not report any positive cases.

That changed on Thursday’s update to the NFL transactions wire, when the Saints placed linebacker Kaden Elliss and long snapper Zach Wood to the COVID-19/reserve list. Details are confidential, but this means that they either tested positive themselves or came in contact with someone who had. They will need to test negative twice before they can rejoin the team.

Elliss, 25, joined the Saints last season as a late-round draft pick out of Idaho. His path to the roster lies on special teams, though he’s shown some of the athleticism and smarts needed to be more than a backup on defense. As for Wood: the 27-year old out of SMU signed a four-year contract extension with the Saints earlier this summer, and it’ll be interesting to see how the Saints replace him during his absence. Free agent tryouts are difficult right now given how busy doctors are in fighting a public health crisis.

Hopefully neither Elliss nor Wood will be seriously affected by the coronavirus. Some additions to the COVID-19/reserve list should have been expected, even if the Saints got off to a great start in training camp. Saints coach Sean Payton has been the first to acknowledge that cases will be inevitable in a contact sport with such large rosters.

It’s also worth noting that false positive test results are possible; Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford is one recent example. So we should look for some movement on these situations in the days ahead.

The Saints had two players opt out of the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the NFL deadline for opt outs passed by without more of their teammates joining them, which was also expected. So they’re all in for the long haul.

[lawrence-related id=36736,36685,36661]

[vertical-gallery id=36627]