As expected, Raiders long snapper Jon Condo has been added to the AFC Pro Bowl roster as a “need” player. He joins his fellow special teamers kicker Sebastian Janikowski and punter Shane Lechler in Hawaii. It will mark the second Pro Bowl appearance for Condo, who was also selected to the AFC squad following the 2009 season.
This past season, Condo snapped for Janikowski, who tied the NFL record with a 63-yard field goal in the season opener at Denver, tied an NFL record for most field goals in a game of 50 yards or more, and set a franchise record with six field goals in a game on November 27 against Chicago. He also snapped for Lechler, who averaged 50.8 yards per punt to rank second in the NFL and boomed a franchise record 80-yarder on November 27 against Chicago.
In addition to his solid long snapping, he is a standout special teamer on coverage and return teams. The 6-3, 250-pounder can also play linebacker which helps him to be such a force on special teams overall. He entered the NFL with Dallas in 2005 as a rookie free agent and played in three games for the Cowboys that year. He spent the 2006 training camp and preseason with the Patriots before being signed to the Raiders’ practice squad later that season.
Condo served as Maryland’s long-snapper and also saw action as a reserve defensive end for the Terrapins, earning the team award as “Top Special Teams Performer” — the first pure long snapper to earn the honor in Maryland history. Prior to that he was an all-conference running back, linebacker, and punter at Philipsburg-Osceola High School in Pennsylvania.
Condo becomes the fourth Raider selected to play in the 2012 Pro Bowl, joining Janikowski, Lechler, and defensive tackle Richard Seymour for the January 29 game in Honolulu.
Safety Tyvon Branch, defensive tackle Tommy Kelly, running back Darren McFadden, and fullback Marcel Reece were named Pro Bowl alternates.
Also See: Raiders could add more players to 2012 Pro Bowl
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