Long Snapper Joe Cardona First Navy Player Drafted in 20 Years [VIDEO]

Bill Belichick has been known to make some unexpected or even crazy moves on draft day (or any day for that matter), but the one he made in the fifth round no one likely saw coming. With their fifth round pick the team selected Navy long snapper Joe Cardona, the first Navy player drafted in 20 years.

Congratulations to Joe of course, but a long snapper Bill? Really?

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He is not the first long snapper Belichick has drafted. He took Hawaii long snapper Jake Ingram in the 6th round back in 2009. Ingram made the final roster, snapped through the '09 season, but was cut eight games in to the '10 season.

The ability to get the ball back to the holder or punter is key. The sooner the better and it helps if it goes right where it is supposed to as well. You are talking about a play that will either be boring because nothing goes wrong or exciting because the other team just got a big play.

Cardona's accuracy is spot on and he has the fastest long snap ever tested at more than 40 miles per hour.



Cardona is going to have one thing working against his NFL career though. As an academy graduate he has a commitment he has to serve as an active duty Naval Officer. There is a chance that some time could be waived, but there is no guarantee of that.

When the Dallas Cowboys drafted Chad Hennings back in 1988 out of Air Force he was not able t play till 1992, and that was because the final four years of his commitment were waived thanks to budget cuts.

Congratulations Joe and good luck. Hopefully something will work out for you.

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