Pittman, Rogers ready for NFL season

By CASEY OLSON

The Mirror

A pair of Federal Way school district graduates are preparing for the upcoming National Football League season.

Bryan Pittman is entering his third season with the Houston Texans of the NFL. The 6-foot-3, 270-pound Thomas Jefferson graduate is the Texans’ long snapper on punts and field goals. Last season with Houston, Pittman made all 131 snaps on special teams, and completed all 150 of his snaps during his rookie season in 2003. Pittman signed with Houston after playing semi-pro football with the Puget Sound Jets in the Northwest Football League for two seasons. He got a tryout with the Cleveland Browns in April of 2003, but was cut by the Browns before signing as a free agent with Houston.

Pittman walked on as a long snapper at the University of Washington and played only one season (1997-98) with the Huskies. He also spent two years at Walla Walla Community College, where he started at tight end. Houston opens the season Sept. 11 at Buffalo.

Decatur High School graduate Victor Rogers is currently listed as the second-string left tackle on the Detroit Lions’ roster. The 6-foot-6, 331-pounder has had an injury-plagued three-year NFL career. After being drafted by the Lions in 2002 out of the University of Colorado, Rogers did not see his first regular-season action until last year. In 2002, he was placed on the reserve/injured list after sustaining a season-ending high ankle sprain. In 2003, he was inactive all season with a back injury. Last year he was active for two games and played against Minnesota Dec. 19.

The Lions open at home against the Green Bay Packers.

Sports editor Casey Olson: 925-5565, sports@fedwaymirror.com

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