Yardbarker: Brian Jennings

Random 49ers Roster Facts and Figures

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 21:33:14 -0500

I'm sitting here in Seattle at Sea-Tac International Airport waiting for my shuttle bus and I thought I'd roll out a random post for you. Well first, normally I'm a fan of San Francisco International Airport. It's nice looking, easy to get to on BART, and all around an ok experience. My problem with them is their lack of Internet, or more specifically, FREE Internet. I don't travel a ton, but SFO is on a short list of airports without free wifi.&n...

Jennings snaps up some job security

Sat, 06 Jun 2009 22:25:22 -0500

For doing his job with such mind-numbing efficiency as to be practically invisible on game day, Brian Jennings was rewarded with a five-year contract extension by the 49ers, meaning one of the team's two longest-tenured players will have job security through...

Brian Jennings Gets 5 Year Extension

Sat, 06 Jun 2009 19:23:47 -0500

The 49ers are reporting that they have extended the contract of long snapper Brian Jennings. Jennings extension is for 5 years. No word on the amount of the deal. Jennings current contract was set to expire at the end of the 2009 season.

Snap judgment: Niners sign Jennings to extension

Sat, 06 Jun 2009 17:00:34 -0500

The San Francisco 49ers signed long snapper Brian Jennings to a five-year contract extension Saturday.

49ers sign long snapper Jennings to extension

Sat, 06 Jun 2009 16:59:00 -0500

The San Francisco 49ers announced Saturday that they have signed long snapper Brian Jennings to a five-year contract extension through the 2014 season.

Long Snapper Jennings Inked with a Five-Year Deal

Sat, 06 Jun 2009 16:43:31 -0500

The Niners have inked long snapper Brian Jennings to a five-year contract extension Saturday, locking up a flawless performer on their solid special teams units through 2014. Jennings hasn’t made a glaring mistake on Sundays ever since the club drafted him in the seventh round nine years ago. He’s been recognized as one of the NFL’s [...]

49ers Extend Jennings’ Deal

Sat, 06 Jun 2009 15:53:33 -0500

The San Francisco 49ers have signed long snapper Brian Jennings to a five-year contract extension, according to Matt Maiocco of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat. Jennings was entering the final year of his contract. Jennnings is regarded as one of the top long snappers in the league. He was added to the NFC Pro Bowl squad in 2004. The reserve [...]

49ers long snapper Brian Jennings signs 5-year extension

Sat, 06 Jun 2009 15:49:15 -0500

The 49ers have come to terms on a 5-year contract extension with long snapper Brian Jennings. Jennings was scheduled to be a free agent after this season, but this new deal will keep him with the 49ers through 5 years. I had said in the salary cap post earlier today that the 49ers would likely sign at least one more person to a contract extension. I have to say, I nailed that one...even if it wasn't the player I was expecting! Scot McCloughan had a few comments...

Helpful Hints from Brian Jennings: the Progression

Fri, 22 May 2009 18:54:53 -0500

In high school, they talk about toughness and commitment.

In college, they talk about pride and courage.

In the NFL, they talk about technique, unless you're on a losing team, in which case they start talking about pride again.

Pro Bowl Miracle

Sun, 08 Feb 2009 16:20:06 -0500

?Allow me to introduce you to my new buddy William Car. We met today as I pulled into the parking lot of AZ Golf Works. I needed to get my?driver fixed and he was out of "juice"--the batteries of his motorized scooter's batteries had died. My man Bill (as his friends call him), was on his way home when he?stalled. I asked him if he had a plan to resolve his dilemma, or if there was anyone I could call for him.

Unfortunately Bill's wife was unavailable, and his plan was to?find someone to help him. It turned out, I was that help. I was unable?to find an electrical outlet, so I had Bill jump on his scooter and I pushed him home (about a half mile). During our cruise down University Ave. in Tempe, I discovered that?Bill is a hell of a guy-trained soldiers to operate tanks during WWII, and moved to AZ years ago. He'll be 82 on April 7th.

It turns out, AZ Golf Works was closed so I headed home when I?realized the Pro Bowl is this weekend.?I was?nominated to the?2004 Pro Bowl as the "need player."? After the regular season, I received a phone call from Jason Jenkins (49ers PR guy) as I was headed to my class at ASU. I could not believe it because a Long Snapper had not been selected to the Pro Bowl since the 70's. I quickly contacted my family and we all headed to Hawaii. The 2004 Pro Bowl was one of the greatest times of my life during one of the worst times of my life. It truly made me believe that anything is possible.

When I was introduced before the game I laughed because I had not been introduced at a game since my Senior Day at ASU. I was an un-recruited walk on and never started a game in college. In high school I spent most of my time as a menace to society not a star athlete. When I was 17,?I was on house arrest for kids....the next thing I know I'm playing in the Pro Bowl.? Miracles happen.

The spring of 2005 was the lowest and most challenging times of my life,?as the?Pro Bowl happened amid a series of personal tragedies that began on April 22, 2004 and continued through August 20,2005. The?first date may sound familiar--the day Pat Tillman was killed. The second date is the day that Thomas Herrion died after one of our preseason games. During this year and a half misfortune hit my life like a freight train. Including a 2-14 season, a pair of family crisises, and the death of a couple more of my friends including Brandon Falkner (March 26, 2005) who was killed while leaving a night club in Scottsdale. The cumulative effects of these events?forever changed the direction of my life. Yet some how, some way, I was selected to the Pro Bowl--the one bright spot or ray of hope during some dark days. A little encouragement to keep going and the knowledge that each day could contain a miracle.

In February 2004 I needed some help, today my man William Car needed some help. It took a few minutes out of my day and William made it home safely. When I was named to the Pro Bowl, Coach Mora did not know that I was stuck, floundering, and drifting into depression, but he helped me out when I needed it. I will forever be grateful to the NFL and Coach Mora for taking me to the Pro Bowl that year, and as for Bill, his sincere handshake and thank you was?more than?I needed.

God Bless and Go Team.

Congratulations Coach Nolan

Wed, 14 Jan 2009 20:26:32 -0500

Coach Nolan was hired by the Denver Broncos to coach their defense. I would like to wish both Mike Nolan and the Broncos luck in the AFC West. Mike Nolan is a great man and will help the players, staff, and organization in many ways.

When Mike Nolan arrived at our facility he brought order to chaos, filled the building with great people, and built a team. Unfortunately, and regrettably, we were unable to win for him.

At some point in the not-so-distant future Mike Nolan be again be a head coach. It would not surprise me one bit if goes on to win the Super Bowl. But for now he will help the Broncos defense get back on their feet.

Congratulations Denver Broncos and good luck when playing everyone but the 49ers.

Go Team

On the Diagonal

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 11:50:21 -0500

Hey Yardbarkers--

As I was trying to figure out what to write in my first blog in the 'Yard, I went to Whole Foods to get some dinner. I ordered a sandwich, and as the lady who made it began to cut it, I kinda cringed. She cut my sandwich in half from the side, not on a diagonal. Although probably insignificant to you, for me that single cut evoked a long-repressed childhood memory.

When I was a kid my brother (Mark) and I constantly competed--all sports, wrestling, riding skateboards or bikes. I even learned to tie my shoes by racing my brother (to win I went to Velcro for a year). When it came to eating or sharing food we did not let up. At all.

Because I was the youngest by three and a half years, it took me some time to figure out how to compete and eventually win in these kitchen contests. For an extended period of time, my brother would both cut the food that was to be shared and pick his "half." Eventually I made a rule: one person cuts the food, the other person gets to choose his piece first. Mark quickly agreed, but as he started to cut into the prized chocolate bar he paused and said, "That's not fair." He realized his scam would no longer work. He handed me the knife and I confidently made my diagonal cut. He could not distinguish which side was larger and for the first time in my life I got my fair share.

I love to compete; I've done it my whole life. I look for angles, strategies, and techniques that will result in victories. I have been snapping footballs for the 49ers for the last 9 years and I love the ruthless competition of the NFL. I often teach college and high school kids how to long snap. Here is what I tell them:

I can teach anyone to long snap, but I can't teach anyone to want to do it. It takes all of the following:

Orientation - put your body between the ball and the target
Stance - kinda like you're about to do a power clean but set your feet wider.
Grip - like you throw the ball overhand with the opposite hand mirrored symmetrically
Aim - aim small, miss small, to hit the target
Decide - visualize the desired result
Fire - let go and let God
Follow through - patience as the ball leaves your fingers
Balance - block your guy

Start by snapping a round ball (soccer or volley) like a chest pass in basketball but through your legs. Practice doing it correctly. Always start with perfection then advance from there to make progress. For example, fifteen yards is pretty far, so start from nine or ten. Once you get a perfect snap from that distance advance one yard, then repeat. Do not practice a crappy snap from fifteen yards, practice a perfect snap from an appropriate distance. Perfect practice makes perfect. Build velocity by snapping a medicine ball six or seven yards.

Now comes the hard part. Practice until you believe you are the best in the world. Practice until you know that if you make a mistake there was nothing you or any other mortal person could have done to prevent it. Practice until it is not possible to miss but if that unfortunate day should come, you will have done everything in your power to avoid it. Practice until you know you can not fail.

My fundamental approach to football comes from a book called Psycho Cybernetics by Maxwell Martz. If you're interested, and you probably are because you're reading this, this book will give you a greater insight into the minds of successful athletes.

I listened to the audio version of the book.

I hope they cut my sandwich on a diagonal next time.

My brother insists on cutting everything.

Go team.