ALBANY – He’s a non-descript linebacker from Baylor whose admission to the party is based solely on a single specialty. He’s the most important player whose name you may never have known.
If you have never heard of Jody Littleton, you are not alone; but remember the name. Littleton is a fairly secure rookie who, in addition to being included on the final roster, will handle the ball more than Amani Toomer, Ike Hilliard and Jeremy Shockey.
The Giants’ chances for success will hinge heavily on Littleton’s performance. If he makes a mistake, the outcome of each game could turn in an instant.
“You’d better have a good guy there, because he’s got the whole team on his shoulders,” said Bruce Read, the Giants’ special- teams coach. “And when he lines up and bends over and grabs that ball, he’s carrying all of us.”
The spot where Littleton resides is long-snapper; he is the player who fires the ball between his legs, spiraling back at the punter. Littleton, in line to become the most anonymous Giant, was with the team in training camp last year, spent time in Frankfort of the World League and is now back on the scene.
“I’d rather be out on the field playing linebacker, but I know my role on the team,” said Littleton, who will snap the ball tomorrow night in the Hall of Fame Game preseason opener in Canton. “My role is to snap. Micheal Barrow’s role is to play linebacker, and he’s a better linebacker than me.”
There are quite a few players who are better at linebacker – but thus far, the Giants have not uncovered a better long-snapper. Jason Whittle handled the job last season, but now he’s the starting right guard. Ideally, the team uses a reserve player as its long-snapper, and Littleton is about as reserve as you can get.
There is no hiding the fact that at middle linebacker, Littleton is greatly overmatched. He plays on the third team, behind Barrow and rookie Nick Greisen, and would not be anywhere near this camp if he hoped to make his living exclusively on defense.
“I’m not an outstanding linebacker,” Littleton admitted, “but my ability to snap has got me where I’m at right now.”
Littleton gets a few practice reps every day with the third-team defense, and when it’s time for special teams, the 6-1, 235-pounder crouches over the line and does his thing.
“The best thing I can do is stay out of the news,” he said.
An unusual existence, to be sure. “As players we really don’t think about that guy,” said safety Shaun Williams. “I didn’t even know he was a long-snapper, to tell you the truth. I’m not on the punt team this year, fortunately. I remember Whittle used to do it. If you asked me, I’d probably say Whittle’s still doing it.”
Littleton has been long-snapping since high school and got plenty of practice in college. In more than 300 chances, he said, he never had a bad snap. “Playing for Baylor, against Michigan and Nebraska, we had to punt a few times,” he said.
“Think about what he does,” Read said. “He’s going to snap the ball between 85 and 95 times. A mistake by a snapper is so huge and glaring that it can completely overwhelm the game.”
Littleton is not looking to overwhelm anything. He just wants to snap.
“I’ve heard stories,” he said, “that once a player gets in as a snapper and establishes himself, he can stay in the league for 14 years.”
