Tom Curran • E-mail

It’s a job that’s conducted in a world turned upside down.

Long snapper. An unfortunately named position. It’s held by the man responsible for gunning the ball back through his legs to the punter on punts and the holder on field goals.

And one Mr. Tyler Schmitt has turned his ability to whip spirals through his wickets into a lucrative post-graduate career. The San Diego State product went in the sixth round of this draft to the Seattle Seahawks. The 189th pick went two picks after Hawaii quarterback Colt Brennan and 12 picks ahead of Michigan running back Mike Hart on Sunday. And that’s 10 picks before the Patriots selected quarterback Tom Brady back in 2000.

The Seahawks were up Schmitt’s Creek on the second day of the draft, selecting West Virginia fullback Owen Schmitt in the fifth round.

But the second Schmitt taken was the one that made eyebrows rise and tongues waggle on the NFL Network where draft maven Mike Mayock wondered who was going to swoop in and take a long snapper before Seattle did. Well, Schmitt himself said Saints coach Sean Payton was on the blower with him just before Seattle called so it was bound to happen.

The Seahawks had serious special teams travails in 2007 and employed three different long snappers. The importance of the position is rarely noticed until a snap goes awry and costs a team points. And that happens at least a couple dozen times per season around the league.

Speaking on a conference call with the Seattle media, Schmitt recounted his nascent moments at the position.

“I started snapping in fifth grade.," he said. "My Pop Warner coach came over and said, ‘Tyler, can you snap the ball through your legs?’ I said, ‘I’ll try it.’ I did it, I was good, and ever since then I’ve been snapping the ball. I never thought it would get me a full ride to San Diego State and never thought it would take me to the NFL, but everything happens for a reason. So it all worked out good.”

Well, that sucked
Who had a miserable weekend? Consider these names.

Colt Brennan: From record-setting quarterback at Hawaii to sixth-round pick (186th overall) by the Washington Redskins. Brennan’s slight frame and feeble postseason performances worked against him. "He’s a developmental project,” said NFL analyst Ron Jaworski. “I don’t care about all those productive stats everyone wants to throw out there. I just don’t see the consistency in Colt Brennan’s game.”

Pick-by-pick recaps, team reports, more Report card: Chiefs score; Raiders stink Rotoworld: Latest NFL analysis, rumors Dolphins, Rams go Long to start draft Big names among picks on second day 10 rookies who will shine next season  |  Vote Opinion: Draft picks who will flop  |  Vote Fans react to Jake Long  |  All-time No. 1 picks Expert: Wanna win? Better draft well The biggest draft busts  |  Best bargins

Jason Taylor: The soon-to-be-34-year-old face of the Dolphins was shopped to Tampa Bay and Washington this weekend. A new broom sweeps clean and, even though Taylor is showing few signs of decline, it’s apparent Dolphins overlord Bill Parcells isn’t interested in keeping this fixture around during renovations. So much for the Ballroom Blitz defense in Miami.

Chris Baker: The New York Jets incumbent starting tight end moped out loud about his contract recently. The Jets responded by moving up to draft Purdue tight end Dustin Keller with the 30th overall pick.

Mario Manningham: Once projected for the top 10, Manningham wound up going 95th overall to the New York Giants. Conversation about whether he’s a good guy swirled in the days leading up to the draft and Manningham’s disappointingly low measurables chased him from the first round all the way down to the third. “He’s got the three S’s: short, slow and gets no separation,” said analyst Cris Carter.

Dennis Dixon: The sensational Oregon quarterback was a Heisman Trophy frontrunner during the college season. Then he ripped his left ACL and couldn’t showcase his abilities during the predraft workouts. He wound up going in the fifth round, 156th overall to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

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