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Former Sac State star shines on Pats’ special teams
By Daniel Dullum February 1, 2008 |
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PHOENIX, Ariz. – After seven years of performing one of football’s dirtiest jobs for one of the NFL’s premier teams, performing for the Sacrament State Hornets has become more and more of a distant memory for Lonie Paxton. “We didn’t have that many big games,” Paxton, the New England Patriots’ long snapper extraordinaire said. “Probably the games against UC-Davis, not much else.” The Super Bowl, obviously, is a much bigger stage. Not a bad place for a backup center that joined the Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2000. So, what attracted Paxton to the thankless chore of snapping for punts and field goals? “When I was a kid, my dad had season tickets for the Los Angeles Rams, close to the area where the special teams players were warming up,” Paxton, an Anaheim, Calif., native, explained. “I would watch the long snappers warming up and I thought it was so cool the way that you could throw the ball hard between your legs with a tight spiral like that, and be accurate. “In high school, the coach asked if anyone wanted to be the long snapper and I volunteered. It just went from there,” he continued. “I always did it to help the team.” At Sac State, Paxton started at guard and handled the long snapping chores for the Hornets. Slipping through the 2000 NFL draft, the New England Patriots signed him, primarily because of his unique skill. If anyone else was interested in his services, Paxton will never know, saying, “In a lot of the things I do in life, I go for the first opportunity. For me, that opportunity came from New England.” Like any clutch performer, Paxton has statistics to back up his efforts. He has snapped on 10 game-winning field goals, including Adam Vinatieri’s 48-yard game-winner in Super Bowl XXXVI (36 if you can’t count in Roman numerals). In 2004, the trio of Paxton, Vinatieri and holder Josh Miller produced 79 successful kicks out of 81 attempts. So far, in the 2007 postseason, Paxton has made good on every long snap attempt in Patriots wins over Jacksonville and San Diego. On Tuesday’s Media Day in Glendale, he said that focusing on the task at hand has been a big factor in his success, and for New England to take an 18-0 record into Super Bowl XLII. Timing can be everything, and Paxton has been fortunate enough to be around for New England’s three Super Bowl victories. He also earned a special place in fans’ hearts when, after the Patriots’ 16-13 victory over Oakland in the 2001 AFC Championship, he made a snow angel after Vinatieri’s game-winning 23-yard field goal. He repeated the snow angel routine at the Superdome in New Orleans after Vinatieri’s kick defeated the St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl 36. Looking at the manicured turf at University of Phoenix Stadium, Paxton said, “Obviously, I can’t make a snow angel here! But ever since, because so many people ask about it, I’ll make it a point not to!” But for Paxton, it all comes back to the task at hand, focusing on his duties and maintaining that synchronicity with kicker Stephen Gotskowski and punter Chris Hanson as the Patriots seek a level of perfection not previously seen in pro football history. “One of the things we do with the Patriots is focus solely on our job, whatever that job may be,” Paxton said. “I’m a specialist. [Long snapping] is my job, and I work at it to the best of my ability. “I didn’t set out to be a long snapper as a long-term goal. Originally it was just to help the team, and that hasn’t changed.” FRIDAY’S UPDATES New England Patriots – QB Tom Brady’s ankle injury is looking more like a non-factor. In Thursday’s practice in Glendale, he moved and threw well and his ankle was not taped over his shoe. … WR Jabar Gaffney’s participation was limited because of a shoulder injury. … Otherwise, Coach Bill Belichick insists his team is “ready to go.” New York Giants – WR Plaxico Burress, who didn’t practice Wednesday because of a chronic right ankle injury, missed Thursday’s workout in Tempe with a swollen left knee. … CB Kevin Dockery, who has missed four of the last five games with a hip flexor, and G Rich Seubert, who suffered a knee injury in the NFC Championship game at Green Bay, participated in practice and should be ready for Sunday. |
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