Jon Dorenbos: A Long Shot at Long Snapper

Courtesy: Philadelphia Eagles

The Philadelphia Eagles today announced that long snapper Jon Dorenbos has been added to the NFC Pro Bowl roster today as a need player. For Dorenbos, it marks his first Pro Bowl berth of his eight-year NFL career.

He becomes the seventh Eagles player to be officially named to the NFC squad this season, joining David Akers, Trent Cole, DeSean Jackson, Jason Peters, Asante Samuel, and Leonard Weaver. Dorenbos becomes the 2nd Eagles long snapper to garner Pro Bowl honors, joining Mike Bartrum who played for the NFC squad following the 2005 campaign.

In 2009, Dorenbos helped the Eagles kicking game achieve some lofty marks as Akers, a fellow Pro Bowl pick as well as an All-Pro selection, led the NFC with 139 points after booting 32 of 37 field goal attempts, including 12 from 40+ yards. In addition, punter Sav Rocca set a franchise record with a 38.3 net punting average.

After battling a tremendous amount of personal adversity early in life, Dorenbos has worked hard and stayed focused enough to carve out a career as a NFL long snapper.

Originally signed by Philadelphia in the latter half of the 2006 season, Dorenbos has played in every game for the Eagles since then (including postseason) and inked a five-year contract extension in 2007, which will keep him in Philadelphia through 2012.

Dorenbos, who endured the murder of his mother by his father at a young age, took up magic to help ease his mind throughout the tough times. Dorenbos, in fact, has become so good at his craft that he has been hired for shows in Hollywood and Las Vegas.

There is a good chance the Eagles could also add an eighth player to the pro-bowl roster. Donovan McNabb, an NFC alternate at QB, could replace pro bowler Drew Brees or Brett Favre considering one of those two players will be playing on Super Bowl Sunday.