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Minnesota Vikings: Get ready for a protracted long snapper battle

By Dan Zinski

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The Minnesota Vikings will go into training camp with two long snappers and the plan is for the two men to battle it out all the way into the preseason. So get ready for a long, tough, ugly battle.

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According to special teams coach Mike Priefer, incumbent long snapper Cullen Loeffler and newly-acquired Kevin McDermott will get an equal chance to prove themselves (via Minneapolis Star-Tribune):

"Priefer said McDermott has also performed well during the spring and plans to split the snaps evenly during the preseason.“Kevin has come in and the chemistry between all four of these guys has been fantastic,” Priefer said. “Kevin and Cullen, they’re both wonderful young men and they compete hard, but they also help each other out, they’re very encouraging with each other, they’re great in the locker room, so whatever one we decide to go with, I think we’re in good shape. I know we’re in good shape.”"

Two men enter, one man leaves.

The tale of the tape on the two combatants for Vikings Long Snapper Thunderdome 2015:

Cullen Loeffler

Age: 34

Height: 6-5

Weight: 247

The story: Loeffler has been with the Vikings since 2004, making him the longest-tenured member of the team. During that time he has long snapped for such NFL legends as Ryan Longwell and Chris Kluwe. Last season he blew a snap that led directly to a blocked punt for a safety. PFF ranked him the worst long snapper in the league in 2015. Is co-owner of an ice sculpture business.

Kevin McDermott

Age: 25

Height: 6-4

Weight: 240

The story: McDermott long snapped for current Vikings punter Jeff Locke at UCLA. Won the long snapping job in San Francisco in 2013 but lasted only one year. Was signed by the Ravens in 2014 to replace Morgan Cox when he tore his ACL. Was signed by the Vikings in April 2015.

Strap in Viking fans, this is going to be one helluva a long snapper fight.

Next: Jeff Locke not an NFL-quality punter

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