If you polled the 2,000 fans who were allowed into Cincinnati Bengals training camp practice combined Saturday and Sunday, there might be just a smattering who have heard of Clark Harris.
That you don't know him may not be a bad thing. A broadcast crew usually only brings up the long snapper when the ball is off-target. Harris has been incredibly accurate with 1,699 straight playable snaps.
Superstitious Bengals special teams coach Darrin Simmons may not want to make a big deal about it, but it is a pretty big deal.
"He's been super reliable," Simmons said. "We've had some close calls on some injuries and dings over time but he's been super dependable."
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Harris wears No. 46, but that often is obscured by the fact that he's bent over spiraling a football between his legs to Kevin Huber. Both are entering their 13th NFL season and both are on pace to pass former quarterback Ken Anderson on the all-time games played list.
Anderson played 192 games, trailing just Reggie Williams (206) and Ken Riley (207). Harris starts the season at 184, with Huber at 190. Heading toward a 13th season, the duo now approaches the Bengal longevity of Jim Breech, Anthony Munoz, Joe Walter and Rich Braham, a kicker and three offensive linemen.
"Thanks to Darrin Simmons for keep putting in a good word to keep us around here," Harris said. "I think we're the two longest-tenured guys in the league now. It's pretty cool, I don't have to move around the country like some other guys."
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Harris, a seventh-round pick of the Green Bay Packers in 2007 was a tight end at Rutgers who fortunately took up long snapping in high school when his team was in need. Back then, he had to take off his receiving gloves on fourth down to complete his task. Initially attempting to catch balls in the NFL, he bounced between the Packers and Lions before becoming a Bengal in 2009.
"I think he figured out this playing tight end thing was getting difficult for him to make it," Simmons said. "He was on practice squads and cut several times. He realized that snapping may be his 'in' and he made the right choice."
What Harris taught himself is now taught at numerous camps across the country where players attempt to make rosters with the specialized skill.
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"It's kind of become a position," Harris said laughing. "I mean Madden (game) hasn't accepted it as a position yet, but I'm blown away that it's really become a thing."
Where speed is emphasized in some circles, Harris and Simmons pride themselves on having an accurate snap. Simmons has pointed out that a quick snap requiring a reach is virtually the same as a slightly slower one on the money.
"I compare it to a pitcher in baseball throwing 100 miles an hour, but they're not going to do it every time when they need the accuracy," Harris said. "I take a little bit off just to get more accurate."
Harris made the Pro Bowl in 2017. At 37, he's the Bengals' oldest player, just ahead of his 36-year-old teammate Huber. Both are slightly younger than 38-year-old head coach Zac Taylor.
Huber was a fifth-round pick of the Bengals in 2009 and has been on the receiving end of most of the 1,699 playable snaps Harris has made. He made the Pro Bowl in 2014.
"Having Clark alongside the whole way has been really nice," Huber said. "Some guys have had multiple snappers. I've been on the end of all of them (snaps) except for a couple games when I got hurt back in 2013."
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As a punter, Huber's now been around longer in years and kicked for more yardage than Lee Johnson did from 1988 to 1998. Johnson kicked in 169 straight games for the Bengals and had a career NFL average of 42.4 yards per kick. Huber has a robust 45.3 average helped by last year's 47.2 yards.
The left-footed placement specialist leads the Bengals in almost every punting category including having the longest kick from scrimmage of 75 yards.
"It's flown by," Huber said of the years. "It seems like yesterday I was down in Georgetown (Kentucky). It's been a fun ride. I think me and Clark have a lot of time left."
With Tom Brady winning a Super Bowl in Tampa Bay at age 43, Huber and Harris have no plans to step aside.
"They're not old yet," joked Simmons. "They're on the back nine, but they've still got time left. Huber's gotten better and better over time. Maybe he's like a fine wine I guess, he keeps getting better with age."
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Added Harris, "I'm going to hang out here in Cincinnati 'til we win the Super Bowl. Sooner or later I'm going to get one!"
Huber is noteworthy locally having played in high school at McNicholas before becoming the punter of the Cincinnati Bearcats during the Brian Kelly regime. The Bengals did pick up another local, Drue Chrisman of Lawrenceburg, Indiana and La Salle High School. At Ohio State, he averaged 44 yards per kick but currently is unavailable due to injury.
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