SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- Heading into organized team activities, the scrum for the Panthers' long snapper position seemed to possess qualities that would make for riveting reality television -- spirited competition, urgency to fill the position and an unusual dynamic in which the aspirants were congenial, yet each knew that any shortcomings from the others could only help his own cause.
J.J. Jansen, Nick Sundberg and Patrick MacDonald took turns, with one serving as the primary snapper each day while the other two shagged footballs. But after OTAs, one had to go, and MacDonald's release left the second-year veteran Jansen and the rookie Sundberg.
The competition between Jansen and Sundberg was expected to be among the most crucial of training camp. But it only lasted five days, until Sundberg was cut when Carolina signed linebacker
The simplistic view is that Jansen won the job by being the last snapper standing. The reality is that his audition is ongoing, since there are far more potential snappers seeing employment than the 32 that handled the specialty for their respective teams last season.
"Just because I'm here right now doesn't really mean anything, other than the fact that I'm the only guy and I get the opportunity to take a lot more reps and get comfortable with John (Kasay) and Jason (Baker) and Rhys (Lloyd)," Jansen acknowledges.
Not sharing the work means that Jansen can get comfortable with
"Everybody wants something a little bit different," Jansen said. "It's getting used to the way they like to catch the snaps, where they want the ball, the timing and the tempo. These guys are such veterans; they've had great seasons, so I just want to make the transition as easy as possible.
"Certainly they're so good at what they do, they don't need to change anything. I need to be the one to adjust and work into what they do, and we'll just keep on working on that."
Ironically, former Panthers long snapper Jason Kyle, now with the New Orleans Saints, has helped guide Jansen as he finds chemistry with Baker. Kyle and Jansen worked out together in the Phoenix area during recent offseasons, and developed a bond through their shared specialty.
Kyle's advice? Take it slow with the snap.
"Not so much that it's a lollipop, but so that it's a good, consistent snap," Jansen said. "That's something I'm always working on."
Kyle began sharing his knowledge and techniques while Jansen was at Notre Dame, and their mentor-protege relationship continued after the Green Bay Packers signed Jansen last year, giving him a chance to win their long-snapping job -- which he did before losing his season to a torn knee ligament.
When Jansen talked with Kyle this year, however, there was some awkwardness. When Jansen was traded to the Panthers, Kyle had yet to sign with a team as an unrestricted free agent, meaning that he was already in position to succeed his mentor.
"I was a little nervous because he's a friend and a guy I look up to, and in getting traded here, I kind of felt like I was stepping on his shoes a little bit," Jansen said.But he was real nice to me about it. He congratulated me, and I congratulated him and we went forward from there. He made it real easy on me.
"I talked to him a little bit this summer when we were both back home. He had just signed with New Orleans. We talked a little bit. He told me what to expect. He was real open with me. ... He's been nothing but accomodating for me."
And if Jansen takes Kyle's lessons and can successfully apply them, the Panthers will have no worries about their second-year long snapper.
"I just do everything I can to not be noticed and let Jason (Baker) and John and the rest of the team be in the forefront and I'll just do my job behind the scenes," Jansen said. "If that's the way it's going to be, then I think we'll be real successful this year."
