Bryan Pittman paid the steep price for not knowing the voluminous list of NFL banned substances

Published on May 25, 2009 by Seahawk Fanatic

Bryan Pittman paid the steep price of losing his job for not knowing the voluminous list of NFL banned substances. But the Thomas Jefferson High graduate has been given a second chance to redeem himself with the Seattle Seahawks.

Seattle recently signed the free agent long-snapper.

The six-year pro tested positive for a diuretic on the league’s list of banned substances during 2008 training camp. He was suspended for four games, ending his run of playing 92 consecutive games for the Houston Texans.

The 6-foot-3, 265-pound Pittman said he took the substance to make weight, but was not aware the substance was on the NFL’s list of banned substance.

“I looked at the banned substance list, and of course I don’t know half the crap that’s on there. No one does,” Pittman said. “But we’re responsible for what we put in our bodies, and that’s ultimately what led to the hearing and my appeal. Even though the league doctors told the hearing officer that there was nothing else in my system, the diuretic did not dilute the specimen, and I wasn’t taking anything, they still suspended me.”

Pittman took a circuitous route to the NFL. After high school, he spent two seasons playing at Walla Walla Community College, which ended its football program, before walking on at the University of Washington and earning the long-snapper job there. Pittman said he was promised a scholarship his senior season but didn’t get one, so he turned pro.

“I wasn’t ready physically, emotionally for the big leagues,” Pittman said about his decision.

He moved to Arizona to train and refocus before returning to the Puget Sound area and playing three seasons with the semi-pro football Puget Sound Jets.

At a training camp for kickers, punters and long-snappers, Pittman got noticed by NFL special teams coaches and signed a deal with Cleveland that eventually led to him to Houston.

Pittman, considered one of the top long-snappers in the NFL before the drug test, hopes to finish out his career in Seattle.

“My ultimate dream was to be a Seahawk,” Pittman said.

Pittman, 32, will compete with free agent Ryan Senser.

Seattle has been trying to replace J.P Darche since he suffered a hip injury in February 2007.

The Seahawks drafted Tyler Schmitt in the sixth round last year, but back issues landed him on the injured reserve.

via Dream job may follow NFL ban for Seahawks’ Pittman | The News Tribune – Seahawks / NFL | Seattle-Tacoma News, Weather, Sports, Jobs, Homes and Cars | South Puget Sound’s Destination.

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Tags: Bryan Pittman, Circuitous Route, Consecutive Games, Diuretic, Football Program, Four Games, Free Agent, Hearing Officer, Houston Texans, Kickers Punters, Nfl Banned Substances, Puget Sound, Puget Sound Area, Puget Sound Jets, SEATTLE SEAHAWKS, Second Chance, Semi Pro Football, Snapper, Steep Price, three seasons

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