Just when you thought Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce getting engaged would steal the headlines, the Green Bay Packers had other ideas.
No, not because of their 53-man roster reveal. Not because retaining Nazir Stackhouse on the roster maintains a 20-year streak of keeping at least one undrafted rookie. But because the Packers have put together one of the most bizarrely timed contract extensions in history.
According to his agent Paul Sheehy, long-snapper Matt Orzech has signed a three-year extension with the Packers.
Packers hand long-snapper Matt Orzech a three-year extension
It's a well-deserved extension for Orzech, who has quietly done excellent work as the Packers' long-snapper for the past two seasons.
If you don't hear much about your long-snapper, it's usually a good thing. For all the faults the Packers have had on special teams in recent years, Orzech has ensured there is steady play at an underappreciated position. He has the trust of his field-goal unit teammates, kicker Brandon McManus and holder Daniel Whelan. The operation has been flawless again this summer.
When looking at a nightmarish list of upcoming free agents, it's easy to get drawn to names like Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Rasheed Walker, and Quay Walker. But Orzech was also entering a contract year.
The Packers have taken care of one upcoming problem and ensured they don't need to worry about the long-snapper position moving forward.
Again, his play isn't appreciated enough. Fans only notice the work of a long-snapper when something goes wrong, which is proof of how well he has performed.
The 30-year-old is a Super Bowl winner with the Los Angeles Rams, and his experience is incredibly valuable on a special teams unit that is steadily turning the corner under Rich Bisaccia's leadership.
Orzech deserves the new long-term deal that will keep him in Green Bay for an additional three seasons.