Posted: Wednesday, January 20, 2010, 10:09 AM | 20 comments |
 

Dorenbos going to Pro Bowl
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Another Eagles player was added to the NFC's Pro Bowl roster today, but it wasn't quarterback Donovan McNabb.

The team announced this morning that long snapper Jon Dorenbos has been added to the roster, bringing the total number of Eagles on the NFC squad to seven.

That number will rise to eight when McNabb, a first alternate, is officially added over the weekend. McNabb's addition is a lock because either Minnesota's Brett Favre or New Orleans' Drew Brees will be eliminated from the Pro Bowl roster because one of them is going to the Super Bowl after Sunday's NFC championship game.

For Dorenbos, it is his first Pro Bowl in eight seasons. Dorenbos just completed his third full season with the Eagles and fourth overall. He replaced Mike Bartrum as the Eagles' long snapper for the final five games of the 2006 season and has held the position ever since.

The only time you ever notice a long snapper, of course, is when he messes up and we haven't noticed Dorenbos much at all during his time here.

Dorenbos' tragic childhood, of course, has been chronicled many times before. His father Alan killed his mother Kathy after an argument in 2002. Dorenbos was 12 at the time.

"I cried last night in my garage," Dorenbos said.

And then he called his maternal grandfather Roy "Poppy" Surprenant.

"My grandfather and I are buddies," Dorenbos said. "For us to look back on the road our whole family has had, it's unbelievable. It stings like you can't describe and there are a lot of people out there who saw something in me and wanted me to succeed. You hope you're doing justice for all the people who went out on the line for me and got me to where I am today."

Dorenbos, a professional magician, said he will entertain his new audience of players on the NFC roster.

"Dude, I'm on this," he said. "The magic man will be out in full force."
Posted by Bob Brookover @ 10:09 AM  Permalink | 20 comments
20
Comments   
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:28 AM, 01/20/2010
    Congrats.
    — JerkStore
  • Comment removed.
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:29 PM, 01/20/2010
    too easy to makes jokes about this so I will refrain..... happy for him.
    — sima_down_nah
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:50 PM, 01/20/2010
    "is he doing a magic show at halftime? they might as well have an all-pro bench warmer...." He was probably added because they need someone who can long-snap and is willing to play on special teams...which is sort of what he does...duhhhhhh. Never heard of Dorenbos? Why even bother commenting then? You're just admitting that you haven't really followed the Eagles for the last few seasons anyway.
    — JimG
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:51 PM, 01/20/2010
    Terrific news for what sounds like a terrific guy, congradulations Jon ! Now can you make the Cowboys disappears - oops, the Vikes already too care of that one.
    — mrdip
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:35 PM, 01/20/2010
    Two things: 1. Any true Eagles' fan has heard of Dorenbos. 2. It's probably a good thing when the "casual fan" has never heard of the long snapper. It means he's doing his job...
    — dgreils
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:56 PM, 01/20/2010
    Congrat's Jon!!!!
    — bobbymansure
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:58 PM, 01/20/2010
    Nice job, congrats Jon! The people making negative commetns are just jealous.
    — scars73
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:34 PM, 01/20/2010
    Congrats to Jon. Jack Ripper is an a-hole. So sorry that your fellow man's ability to rise above extreme tradgedy and find success in life bores you. Now die.
    — TGRE
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 7:19 PM, 01/20/2010
    Nice. As a matter of fact, Dorenbos was an afterthought this season. Which, as pointed out, is a good thing for a long snapper. Do remember when the Eagles signed him. Mike Bartrum was one of the better long snappers in the league at the time when he went down, but Dorenbos came in a did a good job under tough circumstances. Who would of thought he would emerge as a pro-bowler?…“abracadabra holms”
    — Reality Speaks
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 7:53 PM, 01/20/2010
    He's on special teams! Bring back the fired special teams coach!
    — watsonmr
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:53 PM, 01/20/2010
    "For Dorenbos, it is his first Pro Bowl in eight seasons. Dorenbos just completed his third full season with the Eagles and fourth overall...His father Alan killed his mother Kathy after an argument in 2002. Dorenbos was 12 at the time.".... In 2002?, when he was 12? Was that his rookie year? Is he now 20? Was he 16 or 17 when the Eagles signed him? Is he the Doogie Hauser of long snappers? Come on GUYS...! Even in the drive-thru they read back the order....
    — vegasflyer
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:39 PM, 01/20/2010
    Good catch vegas... Doogie Hauser of long snappers....that's funny as hell!
    — Curse of Billy Penn


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About Jeff McLane and Jonathan Tamari






Jeff McLane (left) began covering the Eagles in April 2009 after covering college sports and Penn State football in particular. Before that he wrote about high school sports and before that he worked in the mailroom (not quite). Find Jeff on Facebook and follow him on Twitter for instant updates on the Eagles.

Jonathan Tamari (right) began covering the Eagles in April 2010. He previously covered New Jersey state government and politics, reporting and writing about elections, policy debates and the many personalities that drive the Garden State, from three recent governors to the many musicians bidding to write the state song. He has been at the Inquirer since June 2008. Follow him on Twitter at @JonathanTamari.

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