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Oh snap! Life of an NFL long snapper a pressure-packed gig (The Associated Press)

NEW YORK (AP) -- As the family legend goes, Tanner Purdum was about 3 when he reached down and grabbed a football, crouched and launched it between his legs for the first time.

The ball didn't travel very far, but a long snapper was born.

''For me, I could do that before I could even throw,'' said Purdum, entering his sixth season with the New York Jets. ''Whenever I could do it without falling on my head.''

Purdum has followed in a long line of long snappers. His father, a football coach, did it in college.