ASHBURN, Va. -- As her husband prepared for his first snap in an NFL game, former Olympic gold-medal gymnast Shawn Johnson East experienced something new at a sporting event: nerves. In tense situations as a gymnast, she retreated to what she controlled. Nerves vanished. Now? There was no preparation for being the wife of the Washington Redskins' long-snapper.
In Jacksonville on Dec. 16, Andrew East was preparing to send the ball back on the potential winning kick. A fan sitting in front of her, knowing East was her husband, turned and said, "Just make sure he doesn't snap it over his head and lose the game for everyone.