Rather than stay for a seventh season with the New York Giants, veteran long-snapper Casey Kreiter signed with the Arizona Cardinals in free agency. He joined former Giants special teams coach Michael Ghobrial there.
The Giants brought in two potential replacements. They signed 35-year-old journeyman snapper Zach Triner, who snapped in just four NFL games over the past two seasons. They also signed undrafted free agent Ben Mann, giving the Boston College long-snapper $10,000 in guaranteed money.
The
Giants waived Triner on June 1, leaving the 24-year-old Mann as the team’s only long-snapper. They have not added anyone else to compete with Mann. Does that mean Mann will be the snapper for the Giants when the season begins?
It sure looks that way.
Mann was solid all spring. There were no noticeably bad, or wobbly, snaps. As Chris noted in an earlier profile, the 6-foot-4, 235-pounder is an elite athlete for the long-snapper position. That should translate into having an opportunity to be helpful on punt coverage.
Mann spent three seasons at Yale before finishing his college career at Boston College. He is the grandson of Super Bowl champion Chuck Mercein, who played for the Green Bay Packers in the “Ice Bowl.”
Have head coach John Harbaugh and special teams coordinator Chris Horton already seen enough from Mann to be comfortable going into the season with him in the critical long-snapping role?
We will find out over the next few weeks.
