The Jon Dorenbos era in Philadelphia has come to an end.
The Eagles on Monday announced they have traded the veteran long snapper to the Saints for a seventh-round pick in 2019.
Dorenbos, who made a name for himself as a magician after making it to the finals of “America’s Got Talent,” went undrafted in the 2003 NFL Draft but was picked up by the Bills. After a one-year stint with the Titans, he joined the Eagles in 2006.
In New Orleans, Dorenbos will compete with Justin Drescher after the Saints signed the fellow long snapper earlier this month.
Dorenbos, 37, has appeared in 201 games over his 14-year career and appeared in a franchise-record 162 consecutive regular-season games for Philadelphia to tie former Eagles wide receiver Harold Carmichael. The two-time Pro Bowler has missed just three games over the last 10 seasons.
“I want to be clear. I’m a football fan. I played it most of my life, growing up and there’s rarely a Sunday that I’ve missed in my adult years,” said Deblaire Snell, senior pastor of First Seventh Day Adventist Church. “But there comes a point in time where I’ve got to prioritize my convictions more than my entertainment value.”
Instead, these men will devote themselves to community service, dedicating one to two hours on Sundays for the next 17 weeks to “pouring into” African-American boys and girls, something they’ll do even if Kaepernick gets picked up, and prayer for their community and government officials.
“This protest is not anti-flag because people of color love the stars and stripes,” Pollard said. “It is not anti-American because of people of color have loved this country even when this country has not loved us back. And this country is not anti-veteran because we support those who have made sacrifices so that our liberties have been secured. This protest is to ensure the rights of all Americans regardless of color or creed to be heard.”